Safeguarding at Grove Rugby Football Club

If you are worried about the welfare of a child or adult at risk in rugby – even if you are unsure – please report it by clicking here. It is always better to raise a concern. If you believe a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm, call the Police on 999.

Full details on reporting methods and key contacts are contained within this article.

At Grove Rugby Football Club we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. Our Safeguarding Policy aims to protect the welfare of all children and adults at risk involved in rugby at our club.

As an RFU–affiliated club, Grove RFC follows the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy and RFU Regulation 21 – Safeguarding. These set out the standards that all rugby clubs must meet to keep children and adults at risk safe.

Our Safeguarding Pledge

1) Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at Grove RFC. Players, parents, coaches, volunteers and spectators all have a role to play. We take every concern seriously and encourage you to report anything you are worried about.

2) Every member of Grove RFC who works with children or adults at risk will:

• Have a preliminary discussion with the Club Safeguarding Officer and Chair at the volunteer recruitment stage
• Receive an introduction to safeguarding and their responsibilities
• Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with RFU requirements

3) All Minis and Juniors coaches will also complete official RFU “Play It Safe” safeguarding training.

4) We provide a confidential and anonymous safeguarding referral route which is accessible to everyone at the club.

5) We will take every concern seriously and respond within 7 working days.

6) The Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO) is a member of the Grove RFC Board and will ensure safeguarding is reflected in every aspect of the club’s activities.

7) We will carry out regular reviews with club members, children and parents about our safeguarding policy, their understanding of it and how we can continue to improve.

Who our policy applies to

Our Safeguarding Policy applies to:

• All children and young people under 18 who play, train, officiate or volunteer at Grove RFC
• Adults at risk (adults with care and support needs who may be unable to protect themselves)
• All coaches, managers, helpers and volunteers
• Parents, carers and spectators
• Club officials and committee members

How to report a concern

If you are worried about the welfare of a child or adult at risk in rugby – even if you are unsure – please report it. It is always better to raise a concern.

In an emergency
If you believe a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm, call the Police on 999 or contact your local authority Children’s or Adults’ Social Care services straight away. You can still inform the club afterwards.

At club level
You can raise a concern in any of the following ways:

• Directly with Any Grove RFC Coach, or Official either in person, or find contact details by clicking here
• Speak to the Club Safeguarding Officer Nic Wilson in person at the club
• Email safeguarding@groverfc.co.uk
• Phone the Safeguarding Officer on 07791 250679

You can ask for your concern to be treated in confidence and you can raise concerns anonymously if you prefer. Information will be shared only with those who need to know, in line with RFU policy and data protection law.

Any child or young person can speak directly to their coach, team manager, volunteer or any club official if they have a worry or feel unsafe. Every adult at Grove RFC will listen and take concerns seriously.

In accordance with RFU safeguarding requirements, all concerns raised with any member of staff will be passed immediately to the Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO) to ensure the child’s welfare is protected and concerns are managed appropriately

Outside the club
If you do not feel able to raise a concern through the club, or you need further advice, you can also contact:

• Oxfordshire RFU Safeguarding – see the ORFU Safeguarding pages for details and reporting forms.
• RFU Safeguarding Team – see the RFU Safeguarding pages including “Sharing concerns” and “Contact the RFU Safeguarding Team”.

Key Contacts at Grove RFC

Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO)
Nic Wilson
Email: safeguarding@groverfc.co.uk
Tel: 07791 250679

Club Chair
Nigel Dixey
Tel: 07825 525125
Email: safeguarding@groverfc.co.uk

Our Policies and Further Information

Our full Grove RFC Safeguarding Policy can be downloaded from the Documents section of this website (under “Policy and contracts”). This sets out our detailed procedures in line with:

• RFU Safeguarding Children Policy
• RFU Regulation 21 – Safeguarding
• Oxfordshire RFU Safeguarding Policy

Parents and volunteers can also find helpful guidance on:

• Safeguarding information for parents and volunteers – England Rugby
• Safeguarding guidance and contact details – RFU Safeguarding hub

Review
This page summarises how Grove RFC approaches safeguarding in line with RFU and Oxfordshire RFU requirements.
Policy last updated to cover period 2024-2025. This page is reviewed annually or sooner if RFU guidance changes.