Section 1 – Club Information
The East Coast Surf Club provides various sporting activities and opportunities for young people through participation in clubs, regional/provincial events and through our national teams.

NGB/Club details:

  • Name: East Coast Surf Club
  • Sport: Surfing
  • Location (National/Local level): Dublin/Ireland
  • Size (Number of staff/members/clubs): 140 members / 10 Committee
  • Activities: Surfing

Section 2 – Principles to safeguard children from harm
East Coast Surf Club is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of our NGB 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 Irish Surfing 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 IdentifiedProcedure in place to manage risk identified

Club and Coaching Practices Lack of coaching qualification.   Supervision issues.   Unauthorised photography & recording activities.   Behavioural Issues.   Lack of gender balance amongst coaches   No guidance for travelling & away trips     Lack of adherence with misc procedures in Safeguarding policy  		  Coach education policy/Recruitment policy.

Supervision policy/Coach education policy   Photography & Use of Images policy     Code of Conduct / Safeguarding 1 / Complaints & Disciplinary policy.   Coach education policy / Supervision policy.   Travel/Away trip policy / Child Safeguarding Training.   Safeguarding Policy / Complaints & disciplinary policy    

Complaints & Discipline Lack of awareness of a Complaints & Disciplinary policy.   Difficulty in raising an issue by child & or parent   Complaints not being dealt with seriously

Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy / Communications procedure.   Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy / Communications procedure.   Complaints & Disciplinary procedure/policy.      

Reporting Procedures Lack of knowledge of organisational & statutory reporting procedures   No DLP appointed.   Concerns of abuse or harm not reported.     Not clear who YP should talk to or report to.

Reporting procedures/policy / Coach Education policy / Code of Conduct/Behaviour.

Reporting procedures/policy.   Reporting procedures/policy / Child Safeguarding Training – Level 1     Post the names of CCO, DLP and Mandated person.    

Use of Facilities Unauthorised access to designated children’s play & practice areas & to changing rooms, showers, toilets etc…..

Unauthorised exit from children’s areas.   Photography, filming or recording in prohibited areas.   Missing or found child on site.   Children sharing facilities with adults e.g. dressing room, showers etc…

Supervision policy / Coach Education.

  Supervision policy / Coach Education.   Photography policy and use of devices in private zones.   Missing or found child policy.   Safeguarding policy.      

Recruitment Recruitment of inappropriate people.   Lack of clarity on roles.   Unqualified or untrained people in role.

Recruitment policy.   Recruitment policy.   Recruitment policy.

 

Communications Lack of awareness of ‘risk of harm’ with members and visitors.   No communication of Child Safeguarding Statement of Code of Behaviour to members of visitors.

Unauthorised photography & recording of activities.   Inappropriate use of social media & communications by under 18’s   Inappropriate use of social media & communications with under 18’s.  

Child Safeguarding Statement / Training Policy.

Child Safeguarding Statement (display) / Code of Behaviour (distribute).


Photography & Use of Images policy   Communications policy / Code of conduct     Communications policy / Code of conduct

 

General Risk of Harm Harm not being recognised.     Harm caused by: Child to Child. Coach to Child. Volunteer to Child. Member to Child. Visitor to Child.   General behavioural issues.   Issues of Bullying.   Vetting of staff/volunteers.   Issues of Online Safety

Safeguarding policy / Child Safeguarding Training.   Safeguarding policy / Child Safeguarding Training.



Code of Conduct.   Anti-Bullying policy.   Recruitment policy / Vetting policy.   Social Media / Online Safety policy.


The Risk Assessment was undertaken on (insert date)

Section 4 – Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015 and Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. 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.

East Coast Surf Club 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.

Please note that all procedures listed are available on request.

The Mandated/Relevant Person for East Coast Surf Club is Aoife Adams.

Section 5 – Implementation

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our NGB/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.

Please note the following:

  • That all staff have been furnished with a copy of this statement.
  • This statement is available to parents/guardians, the Agency and members of the public on request.
  • This statement will be displayed in a prominent place by the Club.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in February 2027

(On behalf of the East Coast Surf Club)
Signed:   Des  Byrne    Chairperson – chairperson@eastcoastsurfclub.com Date: 11/03/2025                               

For queries on this Child Safeguarding Statement, please contact:
Aoife Adams – childprotection@eastcoastsurfclub.com