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 Safeguarding Policy and Vetting Policy outlines our policies 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
Download Safe Sport in App Store
Download Safe Sport in Google Store
The Lead Safeguarding Officer for Cycling Ulster is Pamela Ward
Mobile: +44 7970 781290
Email : safeguarding.ulster@cyclingireland.ie
Cycling Ireland has a part-time paid employee in charge of Safeguarding
Email : safeguarding@cyclingireland.ie.
Please see CI Safeguarding Policy
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.
Cycling Ulster carries out check on behalf of its members in line with the accessni-code-of-practice.
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. For more about Garda Vetting click HERE.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily debar you from working with Cycling Ulster/Cycling Ireland. This will depend on the nature of the position, together with the circumstances and background of your offences or other information contained on a disclosure certificate or provided directly to us by the police.
A copy of Cycling Ulster’s Policy on Ex-Offenders can be found HERE.
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
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Team Managers
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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.
For more information about AccessNI visit www.nidirect.gov.uk/accessni
Access NI Application
Applicants are required to undergo an online AccessNI check using the Government’s NI Direct web-site
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.
Cycling Ulster Designated Signatory – Gemma McNamara : Access NI Pin Number 142149
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. (Access 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. (Access ID Validation Form). The form must then be sent to the Cycling Ulster Designated Signatory. 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 and stamped by the PSNI/Garda/Doctor will be accepted.
Alternatively the ID Validation can be carried out by the Lead Safeguarding Officer/Counter Signatory at a Safeguarding Course or by meeting with the officer in person. For any queries on this matter telephone Gemma McNamara +44 7768 171 827
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 send the ID Validation forms to gemma.mcnamara@cyclingireland.ie
Currently Cycling Ireland requires that checks are carried out very three years but this is subject to change and possible legislation.
Applicant instructions
- Go to nidirect.gov.uk
- Scroll down and click The Green Box
- Create or Login to an nidirect account or apply for an Enhanced Check
- Go to I need an Account and click The Green Box
- CREATE AN ACCOUNT
- From this web page, click the green button to Apply for an enhanced check through a registered body. (Cycling Ulster is the 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 of Lead Designated Signatory Gemma McNamara : Pin Number 142149
- 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.
- When it asks for Organisation Reference please insert your club name if relevant
- 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 Note : By applying for an Enhanced AccessNI Certificate you should be aware that the process will include a check of the Barred List in relation to Young People.
An enhanced check contains details of all spent and unspent convictions, informed warnings, cautions and diversionary youth conferences as well as a check of police records held locally and, for positions working with children and vulnerable adults, may include information held by the Disclosure and Barring Service
Fixed penalty tickets, parking fines, some motoring offenses and other minor offending, such as failure to pay a TV licence, will not be included in any checks. Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may also be filtered and not disclosed on an enhanced check.
For more details regarding enhanced checks click HERE
The AccessNI Designated Signatory for Cycling Ulster may consider discussing any matter revealed in a Disclosure Certificate with appropriate staff in Cycling Ireland such as the National Safeguarding Officer. We are only able to discuss what is contained on a Disclosure Certificate, and not what may have been sent under separate cover by the Police, with the subject of that Disclosure before considering withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.
The Enhanced Certificate will be returned to the applicant and only those entitled to know will receive any information. This will be discussed with the applicant who will have the right at any time to withdraw from the recruitment process.
Garda Vetting
All Staff members and volunteers working with young people and who travel to the south with them must also be Garda Vetted. Garda Vetting is now an online process and all information can be found HERE.
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.
For further details on Garda Vetting contact
Donal Gillespie National Safeguarding Officer : Email – safeguarding @cyclingireland.ie
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 and Sport NI. We recommend that a club encourage volunteers to attend. The course last approximately three hours. 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.
It is Cycling Ireland’s Policy that all volunteers and staff working in a Regulated Position with Young People (U18) will undergo the Vetting Process every three years.
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 Safeguarding Policy 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.
If you have any queries in relation to the above please contact Gemma McNamara on +44 7758 171 827 or Donal Gillespie at safeguarding@cycling ireland.ie.
Useful Contacts
Child Protection in Sport Unit Northern Ireland Tel: 028 90351135
This organisation has many sample policies, information leaflets and resources for those involved in sport with young people. Visit their website on http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/cpsu/cpsu_wda57648.html
You can also contact Paul Stephenson from the Unit on pstephenson@nspcc.org.uk
NSPCC – Tel:0808 800 5000 Website : www.nspcc.org.uk
Gateway to Children’s Social work Service – Belfast Gateway – Tel: 02890507000, Out of Hours – Tel: 02890565444
Northern Health and Social Services – Tel: 03001234333, Out of Hours – Tel: 028 99504 9999
Southern Health and Social Services – Tel: 0800 7837745, Out of Hours – Tel:028 99504 9999
South Eastern Health and Social Services – Tel: 03001000300, Out of Hours – Tel: 028 99504 9999
Western Health and Social Services – Tel: 02871314090, Out of Hours – Tel: 028 99504 9999
Parents Protect – www.parentsprotect.co.uk, stop it now helpline 0808 1000 900
Irish Sports Council – Bernie Priestly Email: bpriestley@irishsportscouncil.ie – Website: www.irishsportscouncil.ie
Lifeline Suicide Prevention 24/7
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.
In case of an emergency situation contact:
Police-Telephone- 999
NSPCC 24 Hour Helpline – Telephone- 0808 800 5000
Childline – Telephone- 0800 1111
If you are unsure please contact your club Safeguarding Officer in the first place or Cycling Ulster’s Safeguarding Officer Pamela Ward safeguarding@cyclingulster.com +44 7970 781290.
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.
You can also use the Childline Service which will allow you to talk to someone in confidence.
Childline Website – www.childline.org.uk
Childline Tel No – 0800 1111
