Shannon Athletic Club
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
| Policy owner | Shannon Athletic Club Committee
| Approved by | Club Committee
| Date approved | 08/05/2026
| Review date | Annually, or sooner if required
| Version | 1.0
| Approved by | Club Committee
| Date approved | 08/05/2026
| Review date | Annually, or sooner if required
| Version | 1.0
1. Introduction
Shannon Athletic Club (SAC) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in club activities. The club recognises that all children have the right to participate in athletics in a safe, positive and supportive environment free from abuse, harm, neglect, bullying or exploitation.
This policy outlines the club’s commitment to child safeguarding and protection and explains the procedures and responsibilities in place to help protect children and young people participating in club activities.
This policy outlines the club’s commitment to child safeguarding and protection and explains the procedures and responsibilities in place to help protect children and young people participating in club activities.
2. Purpose of the Policy
The purpose of this policy is to:
Promote a child-centred and safe environment within the club.
Protect children and young people from abuse, harm and exploitation.
Provide guidance to coaches, volunteers, committee members and parents/guardians.
Ensure safeguarding concerns are managed appropriately and in line with legislation and Athletics Ireland guidance.
Promote safe recruitment, training and supervision practices.
Promote a child-centred and safe environment within the club.
Protect children and young people from abuse, harm and exploitation.
Provide guidance to coaches, volunteers, committee members and parents/guardians.
Ensure safeguarding concerns are managed appropriately and in line with legislation and Athletics Ireland guidance.
Promote safe recruitment, training and supervision practices.
3. Scope
This policy applies to all Shannon Athletic Club activities, including training sessions, competitions, events, trips, meetings and any activity organised under the name of the club. It applies to all coaches, volunteers, committee members, parents/guardians, officials and visitors involved with juvenile members.
4. Policy Statement
SAC is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment where children and young people are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
The welfare of the child is the club’s paramount consideration. The club has zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, neglect or inappropriate behaviour towards children.
The club will follow the safeguarding guidance and requirements of Athletics Ireland, Sport Ireland, Tusla and relevant Irish legislation.
The welfare of the child is the club’s paramount consideration. The club has zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, neglect or inappropriate behaviour towards children.
The club will follow the safeguarding guidance and requirements of Athletics Ireland, Sport Ireland, Tusla and relevant Irish legislation.
5. Roles and Responsibilities
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility across the club.
The Club Committee is responsible for ensuring safeguarding procedures are in place and reviewed regularly.
The Club Children’s Officer and Designated Liaison Person (DLP) are responsible for supporting safeguarding procedures, responding to concerns and acting as contact persons for safeguarding matters.
Coaches and volunteers are responsible for creating a safe environment, maintaining appropriate boundaries and reporting concerns.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to remain informed about club activities and communicate any relevant information regarding their child’s welfare or support needs.
Children and young people should be encouraged to speak openly if they feel unsafe, worried or uncomfortable.
The Club Committee is responsible for ensuring safeguarding procedures are in place and reviewed regularly.
The Club Children’s Officer and Designated Liaison Person (DLP) are responsible for supporting safeguarding procedures, responding to concerns and acting as contact persons for safeguarding matters.
Coaches and volunteers are responsible for creating a safe environment, maintaining appropriate boundaries and reporting concerns.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to remain informed about club activities and communicate any relevant information regarding their child’s welfare or support needs.
Children and young people should be encouraged to speak openly if they feel unsafe, worried or uncomfortable.
6. Recruitment, Vetting and Training
SAC is committed to safe recruitment practices.
All coaches and volunteers working with children will:
Complete Garda Vetting through Athletics Ireland where required.
Complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role.
Agree to follow club codes of conduct and safeguarding procedures.
Receive appropriate induction and support.
The club will encourage ongoing safeguarding education and refresher training.
All coaches and volunteers working with children will:
Complete Garda Vetting through Athletics Ireland where required.
Complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role.
Agree to follow club codes of conduct and safeguarding procedures.
Receive appropriate induction and support.
The club will encourage ongoing safeguarding education and refresher training.
7. Codes of Conduct and Behaviour
All adults and children involved in the club are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately.
Coaches and volunteers must:
Act as positive role models.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid inappropriate language or behaviour.
Ensure activities are adequately supervised.
Promote inclusion, respect and fair participation.
Athletes are expected to:
Treat others with respect.
Follow club rules and instructions.
Avoid bullying, intimidation or abusive behaviour.
Raise concerns with a trusted adult if needed.
Coaches and volunteers must:
Act as positive role models.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid inappropriate language or behaviour.
Ensure activities are adequately supervised.
Promote inclusion, respect and fair participation.
Athletes are expected to:
Treat others with respect.
Follow club rules and instructions.
Avoid bullying, intimidation or abusive behaviour.
Raise concerns with a trusted adult if needed.
8. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
Any safeguarding concern, disclosure, allegation or suspicion of abuse must be taken seriously and reported promptly.
Concerns should be reported to the Club Children’s Officer or Designated Liaison Person.
The club will:
Respond to concerns appropriately and sensitively.
Maintain confidentiality where possible.
Keep accurate records of concerns and actions taken.
Refer serious concerns to Tusla, An Garda Síochána or Athletics Ireland where appropriate.
No individual should investigate concerns themselves unless directed by the appropriate authorities.
Concerns should be reported to the Club Children’s Officer or Designated Liaison Person.
The club will:
Respond to concerns appropriately and sensitively.
Maintain confidentiality where possible.
Keep accurate records of concerns and actions taken.
Refer serious concerns to Tusla, An Garda Síochána or Athletics Ireland where appropriate.
No individual should investigate concerns themselves unless directed by the appropriate authorities.
9. Anti-Bullying and Online Safety
SAC is committed to creating a positive environment free from bullying, cyberbullying and harassment.
Bullying behaviour will not be tolerated and may include:
Verbal abuse or intimidation.
Exclusion or humiliation.
Online harassment or inappropriate messaging.
Physical aggression or threatening behaviour.
The club encourages responsible use of phones, social media and online communication in line with safeguarding best practice.
Bullying behaviour will not be tolerated and may include:
Verbal abuse or intimidation.
Exclusion or humiliation.
Online harassment or inappropriate messaging.
Physical aggression or threatening behaviour.
The club encourages responsible use of phones, social media and online communication in line with safeguarding best practice.
10. Photography, Video and Social Media
SAC recognises the importance of protecting children’s privacy.
The club will:
Seek parental/guardian consent for photography and media use.
Avoid sharing unnecessary personal information alongside images.
Encourage appropriate and respectful use of social media.
Ensure photographs and videos are used in a safe and appropriate manner.
The club will:
Seek parental/guardian consent for photography and media use.
Avoid sharing unnecessary personal information alongside images.
Encourage appropriate and respectful use of social media.
Ensure photographs and videos are used in a safe and appropriate manner.
11. Supervision, Transport and Activities
Children participating in club activities should be appropriately supervised at all times.
Parents/guardians remain responsible for children outside designated activity times.
The club will:
Promote safe supervision arrangements.
Maintain attendance records where practical.
Encourage safe collection and drop-off arrangements.
Ensure activities are age-appropriate and safely organised.
Parents/guardians remain responsible for children outside designated activity times.
The club will:
Promote safe supervision arrangements.
Maintain attendance records where practical.
Encourage safe collection and drop-off arrangements.
Ensure activities are age-appropriate and safely organised.
12. Confidentiality and Data Protection
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where necessary for child protection, welfare, safeguarding or legal purposes.
The club will store safeguarding records securely and in line with data protection requirements.
The club will store safeguarding records securely and in line with data protection requirements.
13. Review and Monitoring
This policy will be reviewed annually by the committee, or sooner if there are changes to safeguarding legislation, Athletics Ireland guidance or club activities.
The club is committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding practices and will learn from incidents, feedback and safeguarding reviews.
The club is committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding practices and will learn from incidents, feedback and safeguarding reviews.
14. Approval
This policy was approved by Shannon Athletic Club Committee.
Contact Information for Safeguarding Concerns
Club Children’s Officer / Designated Liaison Person: Sinead Lenihan
Email: info@shannonac.ie
Phone: 0872806195
Email: info@shannonac.ie
Phone: 0872806195
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