Page 16 - 2020ClareCamogieBoardAGM

Children’s officer report

As Children’s Officer for Clare Camogie, one of my key roles is to provide support to clubs
and their Children’s Officers in ensuring that the welfare of children is paramount in our
training and games. It is also my responsibility to ensure that any safeguarding developments
at national level are communicated county wide. Throughout the year I have consulted with
club Secretaries and Children’s Officers to ensure that we at club and at county level are
doing everything that is required of us by the Camogie Association when working for and
with children and young girls.
Toward the end of 2019 we were asked to review and update our Risk Assessments and
Safeguarding Statements across the county. The purpose of the Risk Assessment was to
enable clubs to consider the potential for harm that may come to children while they are
participating in our games and other activities and to minimise and address such risks in an
appropriate manner through the publication of a Child Safeguarding Statement.

This Safeguarding Statement reflects how the club, having recognised the risks, will then
ensure through good practice and as far as is practicable. Children shall be safe from harm
while participating in our games and activities. These good practice procedures include the
vetting or background checks of all persons who work in a role of responsibility with
children, ensuring that all coaches and mentors of underage players attend child safeguarding
training and that all coaches also have a minimum coaching qualification. Clubs should also
have and display an anti-bullying statement in their club grounds.
Soon after being asked to complete Risk Assessments and Safeguarding Statements, we were
asked to complete and return Safeguarding Compliance forms to our national Children’s
Officer Roberta Farrell. I am very pleased to say that ALL clubs have completed and returned
their compliance forms. Thank you!!

As a county we have worked very hard in ensuring that child welfare and protection are
paramount in our everyday camogie activities; As a result, our children and young people are
training and playing in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Child Safeguarding Training during Covid 19 restrictions

While much focus has been on the restrictions relating to games and training that have arisen
due to the Covid 19 pandemic, many safeguarding services, including face to face
safeguarding workshops, have also been severely impacted upon during this time.

Some modifications have been made to the delivery of the Gaelic Games Associations Child
Safeguarding Training and these changes, outlined below remain in place until further notice.

Safeguarding 1Training

Most people working with children in our Associations undertake the Child Safeguarding 1
Programme (Child Protection in Sport Awareness Workshop) and then attend the online
refresher after 3 years or re-attend the face to face workshop, if they are still working at
underage level. As we are aware all face to face workshops are now indefinitely postponed
and the Child Safeguarding 1 workshop has been replaced by a virtual and interactive
workshop.