Safeguarding
What Is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding is not just about protecting young people and vulnerable adults in cycling; it is also about safeguarding your Club and your volunteers. The more aware you are about how sport can be used to harm young people the more vigilant you will be. The Cycling Ireland Code Of Practice For Young and Vulnerable Cyclists outlines our policy and procedures for the protection of young people and provides valuable information for clubs.
An App produced by the Irish Sport Council is also available to download for both Apple and Android Devices and is a useful source of information for coaches, volunteers, parents and young people
How can Clubs Promote Good Practice in Safeguarding
- Appoint a club safeguarding officer and promote their contact details
- Arrange Safeguarding training for all volunteers
- Ensure all volunteers are safely recruited including AccessNI checks
- Ensure there is a link to the safeguarding section on the Cycling Ulster web site
- Plan for any events where there will be young riders
- Obtain parental consent forms
- Share safeguarding information with all their members on a regular basis
- Provide a welcome pack for parents and young people
- Verify ID for AccessNI Checks and send to Access Signatory
Step 1 – Vetting Checks
One of the first ways to protect everyone in the club is to ensure that volunteers working with Young People and Vulnerable adults have been checked through AccessNI, which is the approved body for carrying out criminal record checks in Northern Ireland. They can also facilitate our members who live in the South of Ireland and require checks to carry out activities in the North or in Britain.
Garda checks are also available for members who live in the South of Ireland. All those working with young people where cross border travel is envisaged for events must be vetted through both Garda Vetting and AccessNI
Who Should be Vetted?
- The Club Safeguarding/Child Protection Officer
- Designated Signatories
- All coaches, Sprocket Rocket leaders and Youth leaders
- Volunteers involved in youth activities
- Club PRO or Photographer
- Helpers on away trips or residentials
- Youth event organisers
- Commissaires
- Team Managers
- Team Mechanics
- Soigneurs
- Drivers where youth members are being transported
Cycling Ulster also recommends that the Club Management Committee set an example by completing application forms. The more volunteers in the club that have been checked the better as the club will have a wider pool of people available to help out in an emergency.
Cycling Ulster Requires that all Staff and Volunteers working with young people complete an Enhanced Access NI Application.
Access NI Application
Please Note: To make an application for an Enhanced Certificate you will need a six digit pin number to put on the Form from the Designated Signatories. You CANNOT complete the Application Form without this number.
Marian Lamb : Access NI Pin Number 864278
Brigid O’Dea : Access NI Pin Number 407911
Pin Notification and ID Verification
Full instructions including the pin number for Cycling Ulster’s Lead AccessNI Signatory can be found on the AccessNI ID Validation Form. Once you have submitted your details to AccessNI your application CAN NOT be processed by the Signatory until your ID is verified. This is usually done by presenting three forms of identification to your club chairperson, secretary, treasurer or safeguarding officer who must complete and sign the ID verification form . All information regarding the relevant documents can be found on the ID Validation Form. The form must then be scanned and emailed to the Cycling Ulster Designated Signatory or sent by post. When the Signatory receives this confirmation then the Access Application will be processed by Cycling Ulster.
If you do not belong to a club the ID must be presented in person to the Signatory or you must liaise with a local CI club chairperson. In special circumstances ID verified ad stamped by the PSNI/Garda/Doctor will be accepted.
If you are attending a course organised by Cycling Ireland you should begin the application process and note your ten digit number on the ID Validation Form. You should then bring the ID form and relevant ID documents to the course. The course instructor or Cycling Ireland staff member will be able to verify your ID. The instructor should retain the ID Validation forms and return them to the Cycling Ireland counter signatory. In this case you should use the ID Validation Form which relates to Cycling Ireland’s Safeguarding Officer, Brigid O’Dea as this will contain her unique pin number.
Currently Cycling Ulster requires that checks are carried out very three years but this is subject to change and possible legislation.
Applicant instructions
- Go to gov.uk/accessni.
- Select the option AccessNI applications and then click the link to ‘Apply for an enhanced check through a registered body’. Do not apply for a standard check as your application will be returned to you.
- From this web page, click the green button to Apply for an enhanced check through a registered body.
- Register your account by creating a user ID and password and follow online instructions to log in. [keep these details safe as you will need them to track the progress of your case].
- Once you have successfully logged in, you will be taken to the on-line application.
- Enter the 6 digit PIN number given to you by your governing body at Step 1 of the form completion. (Lead Designated Signatory – Marian Lamb : Pin Number 864278
Countersignatory – Brigid O’Dea : Pin Number 407911) - Complete the remainder of the on-line form and click on Confirm and Proceed to finish the on-line process. Every time you click next the page will be saved.
- You must note the 10 digit AccessNI reference number you are provided with on the confirmation page and email when you complete your details on the AccessNI on-line system.
- Please return the ID validation form to the person who asked you to undertake an AccessNI check and present relevant identification as listed on final page of the ID validation form.
Garda Vetting
All Staff members and volunteers working with young people and who travel to the south with them must also be Garda Vetted.
A record of all people cleared and in progress is kept by Cycling Ireland. The procedure is currently under review due to new legislation in the south.
Step 2 – Safeguarding Courses
While all those working with young people must be vetted they should also attend a Basic Safeguarding Awareness Course. These are organised by local authorities, Sport NI and Cycling Ulster. We recommend that a club encourage volunteers to attend. The course last approximately three hours. Cycling Ulster will run courses, free of charge , on demand for clubs. Cycling Ireland’s Safeguarding Officer will also run courses for those in the South of Ireland.
The Club Safeguarding Officer must complete the basic safeguarding course and then the Designated Officers course. Such courses will be delivered by both Sport NI and local councils. Club committees should liaise with their local councils about upcoming Designate Officer courses.
Step 3 – Safe Recruitment at Club Level
All clubs must now appoint a Club Safeguarding/Child Protection Officer. Cycling Ulster recommends that clubs involved in Youth work aim to have two officers – one male and one female. They should ensure that at least one male and one female receive appropriate training.
An AccessNI disclosure is only accurate on the day it is printed. Any subsequent information to an individual’s criminal record will not be included. Whilst AccessNI disclosures are an important tool in recruiting individuals they are not a guarantee of an individual`s character/background.
Clubs should ensure new volunteers and coaches within the club are correctly recruited. This will include:
- Application process/formally establishing the individuals previous involvement or experience
- 2 references, preferably relating to previous experience in a similar role (referees should not be related to the volunteer)
- Completion of Self Declaration form
- Completion of AccessNI Application
- On going monitoring once individual is in position
- The Cycling Ireland Code Of Practice For Young and Vulnerable Cyclists has pro-formas and guidelines for some of the forms mentioned above.
For further information relating to Safe Recruitment Procedures please visit the NSPCC website.
Once a volunteer has been accepted by a club to work with young people he/she should be both supported and monitored in this role. From time to time the club should also carry out a review of the volunteer both to ensure that the work is satisfactory but also to determine any training or other issues that the volunteer may have.
Reporting your concerns
Cycling Ulster takes all allegations relating to Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Adults very seriously. It is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns they may have.
Advice for Young People
Cycling Ulster wants to provide the best possible environment for young people involved in the sport of cycling. You deserve to be given enjoyable, fun and safe sporting opportunities, free of abuse of any kind. You have rights, which must be respected, and responsibilities that you must accept. You can’t do that if you feel unhappy – if someone is bullying or abusing you. Remember – Just Tell.
