The Round Norfolk Relay Child Protection Policy

Introduction

The Round Norfolk Relay Child Protection Policy is informed by The Children Act 1989 and is primarily intended to protect and safeguard junior runners and those deemed to be vulnerable adults from harm. The RNR child protection policy is intended to ensure that event meets the highest standards of safeguarding junior runners or those who are identified as being vulnerable adults.

A child/young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children's Act 1989).

A vulnerable adult is a person over 18 who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness.. A vulnerable adult is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or is unable to protect him or herself from significant harm or serious exploitation. A person's vulnerability will depend on their circumstances and environment, and each case must be considered individually.

Within this policy individual teams competing in the race have the primary responsibility for protecting their junior runners and in accordance with their own child protection policy.

Commitment

The Round Norfolk Relay Committee is committed to:

• Ensuring the welfare of the child is paramount.
• Ensuring that children over the age of 15, regardless of their culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to participate in the RNR in a safe environment.
• Taking all reasonable steps to protect children from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
• Take seriously and to respond quickly and appropriately to suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse.
• Work within the Child Protection Policies already established by competing clubs and teams and to brief all those involved with the management and organisation of the RNR in good practice and child protection procedures.

Good Practice

All personnel involved with the event, whether competitor or official, should adhere to the following principles and action:

• Always work in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).
• Make the experience of the RNR fun, enjoyable and promote fairness and good sportsmanship.
• Treat all young people equally and with respect and dignity.
• Always put the welfare of the young person first.
• Avoid unnecessary physical contact with young people. Where any form of manual/physical support is required it should be provided openly and with the consent of the young person. Physical contact can be appropriate so long as it is neither intrusive nor disturbing and the young person's consent has been given.
• All RNR officials should strive to be an excellent role model for junior runners.
• Always give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Keep a written record of any injury that occurs to junior runners, along with details of any treatment given.

Poor Practice

The following are regarded as poor practice and should be avoided:

• Unaccompanied junior runners should only be transported by an official in the event of an emergency. In such a case the race director and/or the team manager should be informed of the circumstances as soon as possible.
• Similarly, if during the race a junior runner is hurt and requires attention or in any circumstances becomes distressed, confused or argumentative the matter must be reported without delay to the race director and/or the team manager.

Draft 1/09.