Safeguarding Compliance for Junior Events.
All races are open to Juniors (under 18’s) and must comply with the following:
Republic of Ireland
Adult Clubs Running A Junior Event
Under Children First legislation in ROI and following consultation with Sport Ireland, race organisers who belong to an adult-only club or are a commercial entity will need to complete a Safeguarding risk assessment and a Child Safeguarding Statement which should be posted to the race website/Facebook page along with race details. If there is no website it can be emailed out with race details. This falls under Schedule 1 section 2, (5a) of the Children First Act, ‘the provision of recreational, leisure, social or physical activities to children’.
Junior Clubs Running A Junior Event
Clubs with junior sections will have a Child Safeguarding Statement complete already but will still need to complete a shorter risk assessment specific to the event. This can be done as part of the event management plan.
Northern Ireland:
Adult Clubs Running A Junior Event
Race organisers in Northern Ireland who are in clubs with no junior section or are a commercial entity will just need to complete a risk assessment.
Documents:
See link to Children First Safeguarding Statement
See pages Safeguarding Section of the Event Management Plan
Safeguarding Guidelines for Event Organisers
There is a Risk Assessment integrated into the Event Management Plan. This should be completed with any risks specific to your event in consultation with the event Designated Safeguard Person.
Sample risks would include:
Unathorised photography at the event
Public access to event area or changing area
Juniors left unsupervised
Safeguarding Lead.
This person is responsible for undertaking the responsibilities detailed in the Event Management & Safety Plan as well as the Safeguard Risk assessment and must ensure that safeguarding requirements are implemented on the day.
Republic of Ireland:
Events will need to appoint a Designated Safeguard Lead who must be Garda Vetted through TI, complete a Safeguard 1 Course and sign a code of conduct.
This person is named on the Child Safeguarding Statement where one is created specifically for the event.
Northern Ireland:
Events will need to appoint a Designated Safeguard Lead who must complete the Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport course and sign a code of conduct.
While it is not a legal requirement that the person performing this role as a ‘once off’ has completed an Access NI check, where possible, the individual should have completed an Access NI check through TI. However, if this person is a club children’s officer or they are taking on this role more than once then an Access NI check through TI is mandatory.
For more information on Safeguarding, please click here
TI Contact: niamh@triathlonireland.com
