Secretary’s PitchDear Reader, A message to all Mini & Junior parents... Youth Rugby – Keeping Children Safe – The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) The law considers youngsters up to 18 years of age as children. At Grove RFC, we have over 200 young members and we all want to ensure that they train with us in a safe, friendly environment and enjoy their rugby. To this end, we ask that all of our coaches, and anyone coming into regular contact with children, go through the simple procedure of a check with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB, soon to become the Independent Safeguarding Authority). As a result we have over 70 Club members who hold the Enhanced Disclosure Certificate issued by the CRB. This is the same class of certificate as that held by those who work in schools. The ISA will compile a national register of those who work with children and vulnerable adults. Coaches, kitchen staff, those who accompany tours and those who help the coaches with the necessary admin tasks are among those cleared. In fact, anyone who comes into regular contact with your children is asked to submit a Disclosure Application Form to the Club Child Protection Officer with proof of identity. This is then sent to the Rugby Football Union in Twickenham and thence to the CRB. In the fullness of time, and depending on the time of year, a certificate is issued after the necessary checks. Oxfordshire RFU is informed of these and a register is kept at club level. There are annual training evenings for Child Protection/Welfare Officers held within the County. Unfortunately, there seems to be no centralised cross-referencing of applications across different clubs and community-minded citizens who are involved with a number of different organisations have to submit a form for each. Hopefully, this might change under the Safeguarding Authority. Fortunately, although somewhat tedious, there is no cost involved for volunteers or for the clubs. Your Club needs you to help develop our future senior players. Who knows, you might be helping to develop future internationals.* ...and a message to all members On 14th May 2009, Grove RFC became Grove Rugby Football Club Limited and everyone who joins therefore has a stake in helping to make it a success. Anyone who wishes to raise any issue with the new Board is invited to write to the Secretary (e.ashford@tiscali.co.uk) and the matter will be raised at the following Board Meeting and a reply sent after the Board has discussed the matter. Members of our Board are to be found on the 'Club Info > Board Members' website link together with the dates of Meetings. Membership Forms are available to download together with fixture lists at the appropriate time (use Internet Explorer to download) and we will need these completed forms together with the appropriate subscription from each of you. There will also be membership forms available at the bar, and/or with the Mini/Junior coaches. In return, you will receive a Membership Card and a Club Handbook and the privilege of using the Clubhouse. The information on the Membership Form is particularly relevant as it will enable us to keep up-to-date information and contact you by post or email about any Club matters. It will help us enormously if you could notify us of any changes in these details. Everyone, even members of long standing, must complete a Form this year under our new status. Results for all of our Senior teams will be posted weekly on the website, together with up-to-date league tables taken from the RFU site. We are always seeking new players at all levels so if you know of anyone interested in joining a friendly, welcoming club, please point him/her in our direction. Yes, we have a girls’ section as well. Please help us to help you by becoming active in the Club, whether playing, by bringing your children along on a Sunday morning, and staying to coach our Minis and Juniors -- if you’ve a mind to -- or in some other capacity. We hope to keep you in touch through this website or by email, so, if you have a contribution to make, please make contact. You can keep in touch with the deliberations of the Board (albeit a month in arrears) because condensed Minutes are posted on the web under the Board Matters link. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday 13th May 2010 at the first Annual General Meeting of our new company. Agendas, Minutes of last year’s meeting and a financial report will be available from 7.30pm for an 8.00pm start. Sincerely, Earl (Duke) Ashford, March 2010
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