Sligo Regional Sports Centre acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and

promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding

practice reflects statutory responsibilities, and government guidance and

complies with best practice and Sport Ireland requirements. The policy

recognizes that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances.

It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, race, religion or belief,

sex or sexual orientation, or socio-economic background, all children have a positive

and enjoyable experience of sport in a safe and child-centred environment and are

protected from abuse whilst participating in athletics or outside of the activity.

Sligo Regional Sports Centre acknowledges that some children, including disabled

children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be

particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable

and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare by working with the child’s parents or carers.

Sligo Regional Sports Centre is committed to ensuring children and young people

enjoy their sports in a safe, fun and fair way and we would appeal to everyone

involved in sports to play their part.  Child protection in sports is all our responsibility.

We all have a duty to care to act if we have a concern for a child or a young person.

The well-being and safety of all children and young people are paramount and all

Sligo Regional Sports Centre team are vetted and undergo safeguarding awareness training as required by legislation.

AS PART OF OUR SAFEGUARDING POLICY SLIGO REGIONAL SPORTS CENTRE WILL:

 Promote and prioritise the safety and well-being of children and young people.

 Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of

safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning to recognize, identify

and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns

relating to children and young people.

 Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support.

provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.

 Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding

concerns are maintained and securely stored.

 Prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals and maintain a

safe recruitment and vetting policy.

 Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.

TO CONTACT OUR CHILD LIAISON OFFICER PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING:

Every club/organisation should designate a person to be responsible for dealing with any

concerns about the protection of children. The Designated Liaison Person is responsible for

reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse to TUSLA Child and Family Agency and /or An Garda Siochána.

We have appointed Club Children’s Officer and Designated Liaison Persons to deal with any

concerns that may arise. If you have any concerns about a child in your club or your

community, please contact your local Tusla office (Child and Family Agency) or Garda

station. If you have any concerns about child welfare at Sligo Regional Sports Centre you

can contact Fergal on 071 9130882 or by email at [email protected]

Our team of Designated Liaison Persons is headed up by Fergal Corrigan. In his absence,

all concerns should be passed on to Lorretta Kearns. Both members of the team have

completed level 3 of the DLP necessary training course through the local sports partnership group.

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY SUMMARY

As a leisure provider in the Co. Sligo area Sligo Regional Sports Centre aims to provide a

comprehensive range of facilities and services available to all. As a company, we fully

understand that we have both a moral and legal obligation to providing a duty of care to all

young people while delivering all our services. With this in mind, we have implemented

policies and procedures to safeguard their wellbeing as well as protecting them from abuse.

We also aim to do so while being respectful of children’s rights while at the same time

promoting their wishes and feelings.

To achieve this, considerable consideration is given to the recruitment, training, and

development of all Sligo Regional Sports Centre staff. As an ongoing measure, close

supervision of all staff and application of their duties is applied to ensure that principles of

best practice are always adhered to. This is in place so as a company we can protect all

young people from possible situations of abuse and protect staff from the possibility of any

false allegations. In the event of any allegations being received Sligo Regional Sports Centre

commits to respond to all such allegations immediately and implement the appropriate

investigation, disciplinary and appeals procedures.