Introduction

Park Celtic Football Club (“PCFC”) is committed to ensuring that all necessary steps will be taken to

protect and safeguard the welfare of children who participate in football. This Policy document clearly

demonstrates the importance placed by PCFC on their protection and safety.

All children who participate in football should be able to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment. While

doing so they should be protected from any form of abuse be it physical, emotional, sexual, neglect or

bullying. The responsibility for protecting children lies with all adults involved in this club and in football in

general.

PCFC recognises and accepts its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children by protecting them

from physical, emotional or sexual harm and from neglect or bullying.

These policies, practices and procedures, in addition to offering relevant training programmes, will ensure

that everybody in PCFC knows exactly what is expected of them in relation to protecting children within

football.

It is vital that children who participate in PCFC activities are able to do so in a safe, enjoyable and quality

environment.

In pursuit of this goal PCFC will:

(a) Advise all members of PCFC (coaches, players, parents and spectators) of their

responsibilities in relation to the welfare and protection of children while participating in

football;

(b) Operate within the recommended Football Association of Ireland codes of conduct and

best practice guidelines;

(c) Appoint a Club Children’s Officer in line with Football Association of Ireland

requirements;

(d) Provide a child protection and welfare module in staff induction and development

programmes

PCFC’s child welfare officer is Emer McGrath, who can be contacted at childwelfare@parkceltic.ie, or

089 4757472

The aims of PCFC’s Child Protection Policy are:

(i) To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children

and young people who participate in football, in order for them to do so in a safe

and enjoyable environment.

(ii) To provide appropriate guidance and advice to all club members (players, coaches,

volunteers, spectators and parents) in all matters concerning child welfare and

protection.

(iii) To demonstrate best practice in the area of child welfare and protection.

(iv) To promote ethics and best practice standards throughout football.

The key principles underpinning this Policy are that:

(v) The welfare of the child is the first and paramount consideration.

(vi) All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse of any kind

regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious

beliefs or sexual identity.

(vii) All suspicions and allegations of abuse/poor practice will be taken seriously and

responded to swiftly and appropriately. It is essential that we work in partnership

with children and young people and their parents/carers. The HSE has a statutory

responsibility to safeguard and protect the welfare of children and PCFC is

committed to cooperating fully with them in accordance with procedures as

outlined in “Children First” National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of

Children 2011.

(viii) PCFC will cooperate fully with the Football Association of Ireland National

Children’s Officer, Gardai and HSE in any investigation of child abuse in football.

The Football Association of Ireland’s regulations in regard to child welfare and protection are defined in

the rulebook as:

RULE 71. THE PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF CHILDREN

(a) In line with legislation and Government Guidelines (The Child Care Act 1991 and

the Protection for Persons Reporting Abuse Act 1998) in relation to child protection

and welfare, it is mandatory that all participants, clubs, leagues, divisional

associations and other football bodies shall be bound by the FAI recommended codes

of conduct and best practice guidelines

(b) Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or

poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour

which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.

(c) Breaches shall become a disciplinary offence. Any member issued with a ban from

football activity shall have their name notified to all League Secretaries for onward

dissemination to all Club Secretaries. The notification shall state the name of the

individual and the fact a ban has been issued.

(d) Any participant who is the subject of a Statutory Inquiry in relation to any child

welfare concern must stand down from all football activities pending the outcome of

that inquiry and any subsequent internal disciplinary proceedings.

(e) Any member convicted of an offence by the Irish Courts or Courts of any other

jurisdiction involving the welfare of children shall be automatically banned from

membership of the Association. For the avoidance of doubt no disciplinary or other

hearing shall be necessary in order to implement this automatic ban.

RULE 95. PROTECTION AND WELFARE OF CHILDREN

1. All participants, clubs, leagues, divisional associations and other football bodies

shall be bound by the FAI rules, codes of conduct and guidelines governing the

protection and welfare of children, and breaches of such rules, codes and guidelines

shall be subject to disciplinary sanction.

2. The disciplinary body may impose any sanction it deems appropriate.

3. Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or

poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour

which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.

4. Any participant who is the subject of a statutory inquiry in relation to any child

welfare concern must stand down from all football activities pending the outcome of

that inquiry and any subsequent internal disciplinary proceedings.

PCFC through confirming this policy document has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that

children and young people can participate in all football activities with their safety and welfare being of

paramount importance.

It is essential that this document represents a process of continual improvement in the area of child

protection and welfare in football.

It is the responsibility of all adults involved in football to actively promote safe and best practice standards

whilst being ever vigilant and aware of their responsibilities to children and young.

N.B. Please find FAI Guide to Concern – Complaints Procedures here..