Athletics Ireland Child Safeguarding Statement

Section 1 – NGB / club information

Club Name: Lucan Harriers AC is affiliated to Athletics Ireland and provides various sporting activities and opportunities for children and young people through participation in clubs, regional/provincial events and through to our national teams. Organised events involved the provision of athletic championships and games that involve in some instances require attendance at weekend events and overnight trips for clubs and their members. Athletics Ireland is a voluntary led organisation that provides its members with opportunities to participate in the sport of Track and Field Athletics across all age grades from Juvenile (u9 to u16), Youth (u18), Junior (u20), Senior (u35) and Master (35+).

·      Club Name and Address: Lucan Harriers AC Newcastle Rd Lucan Co Dublin

·       Sport: Track and Field Athletics, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking.

·       Location (National/Local level): Local and County.

·       Number of members in your club: 560 approximately

·       Activities: Track and Field, Cross Country, Road Running and Race Walking.

Section 2 - Principles to safeguard children from harm

Athletics Ireland is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of our Safeguarding Policies our staff, both volunteers and employed, working with our young people, throughout the organisation, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop within sport. The following set of principles should be adhered to:

·       Importance of childhood - The importance of childhood should be understood and valued by everyone involved in sport.

·       Needs of the child - All children’s sport experiences should be guided by what is best for children. This means that adults should have a basic understanding of the emotional, physical and personal needs of young people.

·       Integrity in relationships - Adults interacting with children in sport are in a position of trust and influence. They should always ensure that children are treated with integrity and respect, and the self-esteem of young people is enhanced.

·       Fair Play - All children’s sport should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair play. The principles of fair play should always be emphasised, and organisers should give clear guidelines regarding acceptable standards of behaviour.

·       Quality atmosphere & ethos - Children’s sport should be conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere.

·       Competition - Competition is an essential element of sport and should be encouraged in an age appropriate manner. A child centred ethos will help to ensure that competition and specialisation are kept in their appropriate place.

·       Equality - All children should be valued and treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age, gender, religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion.

Section 3 - Risk Assessment

This Athletics Ireland Club written Risk Assessment document indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents require to alleviate these risks. The list of risks identified and procedures to manage these risks are contained in the following categories:

 

 

Risk Identified	Procedure in place to manage risk identified
Club and Coaching Practices   ¾   Lack of coaching qualification.   ¾   Supervision issues.   ¾   Unauthorised photography & recording activities.   ¾   Behavioural Issues.     ¾   Lack of gender balance amongst coaches   ¾   No guidance for travelling & away trips     ¾   Risk of harm of sexual abuse of a child by a volunteer/member of staff while away on an overnight trip   ¾   Lack of adherence with misc procedures in Safeguarding policy	¾   Coach education policy/Recruitment policy.   ¾   Supervision policy/Coach education policy   ¾   Photography & Use of Images policy     ¾   Code of Conduct / Safeguarding 1 / Complaints & Disciplinary policy.   ¾   Coach education policy / Supervision policy.   ¾   Travel/Away trip policy / Child Safeguarding Training.   ¾   Travel/Away trip policy, Code of Ethics, Code of conducts for sports leaders and parents   ¾   Safeguarding Policy / Complaints & disciplinary policy
Complaints & Discipline   ¾   Lack of awareness of a Complaints & Disciplinary policy.   ¾   Difficulty in raising an issue by child & or parent   ¾   Complaints not being dealt with seriously	¾   Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy / Communications procedure.   ¾   Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy / Communications procedure.   ¾   Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy.
Reporting Procedures   ¾   Lack of knowledge of organisational & statutory reporting procedures     ¾   No DLP appointed.   ¾   Concerns of abuse or harm not reported.       ¾   Not clear who YP should talk to or report to.	¾   Reporting procedures/policy / Coach Education policy / Code of Conduct/Behaviour.   ¾   Reporting procedures/policy.   ¾   Reporting procedures/policy / Child Safeguarding Training – Level 1     ¾   Post the names of CCO, DLP and Mandated person.
Use of Facilities   ¾   Unauthorised access to designated children’s play & practice areas & to changing rooms, showers, toilets etc…..   ¾   Unauthorised exit from children’s areas.   ¾   Photography, filming or recording in prohibited areas.   ¾   Missing or found child on site.   ¾   Children sharing facilities with adults e.g. dressing room, showers etc…	¾   Supervision policy / Coach Education.       ¾   Supervision policy / Coach Education.   ¾   Photography policy and use of devices in private zones.   ¾   Missing or found child policy.   ¾   Safeguarding policy.
Recruitment   ¾   Recruitment of inappropriate people.   ¾   Lack of clarity on roles.   ¾   Unqualified or untrained people in role.	¾   Recruitment policy.   ¾   Recruitment policy.   ¾   Recruitment policy.
Communications   ¾   Lack of awareness of ‘risk of harm’ with members and visitors.   ¾   No communication of Child Safeguarding Statement of Code of Behaviour to members of visitors.   ¾   Unauthorised photography & recording of activities.   ¾   Inappropriate use of social media & communications by under 18’s     ¾   Inappropriate use of social media & communications with under 18’s.	¾   Child Safeguarding Statement / Training Policy.   ¾   Child Safeguarding Statement (display) / Code of Behaviour (distribute).     ¾   Photography & Use of Images policy     ¾   Communications policy / Code of conduct       ¾   Communications policy / Code of conduct
General Risk of Harm   ¾   Harm not being recognised.     ¾   Harm caused by: Child to Child. Coach to Child. Volunteer to Child. Member to Child. Visitor to Child.   ¾   General behavioural issues.   ¾   Issues of Bullying.   ¾   Vetting of staff/volunteers.   ¾   Issues of Online Safety	¾   Safeguarding policy / Child Safeguarding Training.   ¾   Safeguarding policy / Child Safeguarding Training.           ¾   Code of Conduct.   ¾   Anti-Bullying policy.   ¾   Recruitment policy / Vetting policy.   ¾   Social Media / Online Safety policy.

 

 

Section 4 – Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, (the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice). In addition to our Risk Assessment document described above, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our activities.

Athletics Ireland has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding Policies:

·       Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities.

·       Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.

·       Procedures for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.

·       Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities.

·       Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons.

·       Procedure for appointing a relevant person (Club Children’s Officer).

Please note that all procedures listed are available on request.

Kieron Stout is the relevant person for Athletics Ireland, and he is also a mandated person as set out in the Children First Act 2015. Kieron can be contacted on 086 2450134.

Section 5 – Implementation

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our club is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our activities. The provider of the relevant service is the Club Childrens Officer.

Please note the following:

·       That all volunteers and staff have been furnished with a copy of this statement.

·       This statement is available to parents/guardians, the Agency & members of the public on request.

·       This statement will be displayed in a prominent place by the Club.

The Athletics Ireland Child Safeguarding Plan including all policies and procedures is available on request or at the following webpage for download. https://www.athleticsireland.ie/juvenile/child-welfare

You can also email childwelfare@athleticsireland.ie if you would like any information sent to you.

Signed: Kevin Donoghue Date: 5/4/2026

(By the Club Children’s Officer (Relevant Person) On behalf the Club)

Name: Kevin Donoghue Phone no: 085 1744475

For queries on this Child Safeguarding Statement, please contact the Relevant Person (CCO) Kevin Donoghue

 

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed two years from the date of signing.

 

Version	Release Date	Author	Changes
1.0	23rd of February 2019	Child safeguarding	New Version
1.1	22nd of February 2021	Child safeguarding	Reviewed by TUSLA Child and Family Agency – no recommendations made
1.2	15/08/2023	Child safeguarding	Tusla review
1.3	11/03/2026	Child safeguarding	Reviewed by TUSLA Child and Family Agency – amendment recommended and adopted