KACC and Canoeing Ireland Child Welfare Policy, 2022

KACC as a registered club of Canoeing Ireland work to the policies and procedures of Canoeing Ireland.

The full document is at this link: http://canoe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/2016-ChildProtectionPolicy.pdf

Currently the Children’s Officer is Joan McGrath

Designated Liason Person Roger McClure

Contact numbers are on the club noticeboard.

Kilkenny Aqua Canoe Club Child Protection Policy January 15th 2022

Introduction

Sport can have a very powerful and positive influence on young people. Not only

can it provide opportunities for personal enjoyment and development, it can also

help to develop valuable qualities such as self-esteem, leadership, teamwork and

hopefully a lifelong passion for their chosen sport.

KACC Child Protection Policy is based on Canoeing Ireland Policies and it’s overall Code of Ethics & Conduct, which includes all of the Canoeing Ireland

policies and procedures relating to ethics, conduct, disciplinary, and appeal

procedures.

Ethos in relation to Young People

All young people should be treated in an equitable and fair manner irrespective of

age, gender, religion, race, ability, social or ethnic background, or political

persuasion, and have the right to protection at all times from physical, emotional or

sexual abuse.

KACC is committed to creating a child-centered ethos within its organisation, which ensures that participation; competition and specialisation are kept in their appropriate place. Canoeing Ireland is committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of behavior and conduct at all Canoeing Ireland activities, competitions and events.

All those involved in the KACC are expected to respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person, treating everyone equally. In particular, they must be aware of the special needs of young people and the need to maintain their well being.

All those involved in KACC have a responsibility to ensure that every young person involved in canoeing is able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and to be protected from any form of abuse.

Duty of Care

KACC is committed to ensuring that all canoeing activities, whether recreational or competitive, organised under the auspices of Canoeing Ireland or in KACC, operate to the highest standards and in an environment that promotes safety, equality, and fairness.

KACC accepts that it has a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of any person involved in canoeing activities run by Canoeing Ireland and its affiliated clubs and to support all individuals placed in a “duty of care” situation through their involvement in the promotion, organisation and development of canoeing activities.

KACC will maintain an ongoing risk assessment policy that will contribute to ensuring that the KACC makes every effort to minimize all risks involved at all participation levels within the Club.

All instructors / coaches, event organisers, and clubs should have a clear understanding of operating with an appropriate code of ethics, awareness of what their “duty of care” is, and how this duty relates to their position of being responsible for others

Child Protection Policy Statement

For the purposes of this policy any person under the age of 18 years is considered a

Child / young person. The term adult includes any person over 18 years whether

A participant, athlete, instructor, coach, official, employee, or anyone operating in a

voluntary capacity within the Clu

The key principles underlying the KACC Child Protection Policy are:

Responsibilities

KACC will:

1. Promote the health and welfare of young people by providing opportunities for

them to take part in canoeing activities, whether these activities are

recreational or competitive.

2. Respect and promote the rights and aspirations of young people;
3. Support procedures, which recognise that adults have a duty of care to young

people; to safeguard their well-being; and to protect them from poor practices;

4. Recruit, train and supervise adults so as to encourage the adoption of best practices to safeguard and protect young people from poor practices and abuse, and themselves against false allegations;
5. Require adults to adopt and abide by the KACC/ CI Child Protection Policy which

form an integral component of the KACC/ Canoeing Ireland Code of Ethics & Conduct;

6. Aim to ensure that young people who take part in any Irish Canoe Union activities are able to do so in a fun and safe environment and be protected from neglect, bullying and any form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse;
7. Respond to any allegations appropriately;
8. Review and evaluate the CI Child Protection Policy on a regular basis.

Principles

The guidance given in the following procedures is based on the following principles:

1. An adult has a moral and statutory duty for the care, custody, and control of any young person under the age of 18 under their supervision;
2. A young person’s welfare is paramount;
3. All young people involved in canoeing, whether recreational or competitive, should expect protection from poor practices and abuse, whatever their age, culture, disability they may have, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and sexual identity;
4. All incidents of poor practice or suspicion of poor practice and allegation or suspicion of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;

5.Every young person who takes part in canoeing activities under the auspices of KACC should be able to do so in a fun and safe environment, and be protected from neglect, bullying and any form of physical, emotional or sexual abuse;

6. All young people should expect appropriate management and support with

regard to their involvement in canoeing;

7.It is the responsibility of statutory authorities to determine or not if serious

abuse has taken place, but it is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns;

8. Confidentially should be upheld in line with data protection legislation;

9.All those involved in the management of young people whilst involved in

canoeing have a duty to ensure that they are: allowed access to canoeing in a way that is appropriate for their age and ability; instructed or coached by appropriately qualified instructors / coaches;

not required to take part in so many competitions or training sessions that their well-being is threatened; not subjected to physical, verbal or racial abuse from any source;

not subjected to bullying or undue pressure from any source; encouraged to achieve their full potential at all levels.

Review

The KACC Child Protection Policy will be regularly monitored and reviewed:

1. In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of

young people or changes within Canoeing Ireland;

2.Following any issues or concerns about the protection of young people within

the Club or

3. At least annually.

Monitoring and review of the KACC Child Protection Policy are within the remit of the

Canoe Club Comittee who will take advice from the Canoeing Ireland National

Child Protection Officer and the relevant Canoeing Ireland Technical Committees

Assent

All individuals whether a participant, athlete, coach, official, employee, or anyone

operating in a voluntary or professional capacity within the Irish Canoe Union must

agree to abide by the KACC Code of Conduct for the Protection of Young People as

outlined in the KACC Child Protection Policy.

All such individuals by virtue of their involvement in canoeing run under the auspices of the KACC and the Irish Canoe Union are deemed to have assented to and as such recognise and adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in this KACC Code of Conduct.

Section 2

Recruitment, Employment, and Deployment of Staff and Volunteers

Recruitment, Employment, and Deployment of Staff and Volunteers

Introduction

All reasonable steps should be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented

from working with young people. It is essential that the same procedures are used

consistently for all posts whether paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time.

Recruitment by KACC

It is recognised that there are many individuals within KACC Club have worked with young people in a voluntary capacity for many years. Whilst it is not being suggested that these individuals should now have to undergo a comprehensive recruitment process, it is considered in the best interests volunteers themselves to undergo some level of the screening as outlined in the Canoeing Ireland Volunteer Recruitment Procedure.

Any individual within a club not currently working with young people and who wishes to move to a post with substantial access to young people should undergo the Canoeing Ireland Volunteer Recruitment Procedure or alternatively a club volunteer recruitment procedure which is in line with the Canoeing Ireland Volunteer Recruitment Procedure should be implemented.