The below Child Safeguarding Statement is set out in accordance with the FAI Rulebook, FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy as well as our legislative requirements set out by Children First Act 2015. This statement is binding on all our club staff, volunteers and club members.
Finn Harps Football Club provides various sporting opportunities for young people through participation in our national league teams and various local events across the county of Donegal and the North West. Finn Harps Football Club is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of safeguarding policies and procedures.
Our staff working throughout the organisation are committed to providing a safe and fun environment for our young people to grow and develop. We have six National League teams competing in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland and each team has a panel of 22 players ranging from ages 11-20 and 3 qualified coaches per each squad. The leagues we compete in at Youth level are the u14, u15, u17 & u20 League of Ireland including the women’s u17 & u19 National League and all our coaches are fully Garda Vetted and Safeguarded.
Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm
This statement recognises that in accordance with legislation and the requirements of the FAI Rulebook, FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy, other FAI policies and procedures that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances.
Finn Harps Football Club is established on a number of core principles: the needs of the child, integrity and respect, environment, equality, fair play, welfare and safety in football. These underlying principles underpin our rules, policies and procedures to ensure when Children participating in our activities, they do so, as far as is practicable, in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Risk Assessment:
In preparing this statement Finn Harps Football Club have completed a risk assessment of the potential risk of harm to children when they are participating in any of our games and attending our activities. The risks were reviewed under the following headings;
∙ Club and Coaching Practices
∙ Complaints & Discipline
∙ Reporting Procedures
∙ Use of Facilities
∙ Recruitment
∙ Communications
Finn Harps Football Club – Finn Park – Navenny Street – Ballybofey – Co. Donegal – Tel: 074–9130070 – Email: [email protected]
∙ General Risk of Harm.
The below Risk Assessment table was updated on the 12th May 2024. Finn Harps Football Club Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, The Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.
| Potential Risks Identified | Likelihood of harm happening L-M-H | Procedures/Policies in Place |
| Risk of harm including assault, ill treatment or neglect of a child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health,
development or sexual abuse of a child. |
L | ∙ Child Welfare and
Safeguarding Policy ∙ Concern-Complaint Policy ∙ Safeguarding Training ∙ Garda Vetting ∙ Specific Guidance |
| Bullying of a Child | L | ∙ Child Welfare and
Safeguarding Policy ∙ Social Media Policy ∙ Specific Guidance |
| Risk of harm through Social Media and Online Abuse | L | ∙ Social Media Policy
∙ Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy ∙ Specific Guidance of rules |
| Risk of of abuse when hosting a team activity or an away trip | L | ∙ Safeguarding Training
∙ Concern-Complaint Policy ∙ Child Welfare & Safeguarding Policy ∙ Specific guidance, rules or handbooks in place for an event, trip, camp or competition. ∙ Follow all health guidance set out by the HSE. |
Finn Harps Football Club – Finn Park – Navenny Street – Ballybofey – Co. Donegal – Tel: 074–9130070 – Email: [email protected]
Finn Harps Football Club has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding Policies:
∙ Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or
volunteers against a child availing of our activities.
∙ Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.
∙ Procedures for the provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
∙ Procedures for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities. ∙ Procedures for maintaining a list of the persons in the relevant service who are mandated. ∙ Procedure for appointing a relevant person.
All procedures/policies listed are available on request.
The Designated Liaison person is Ian Harkin who can be contacted on 083 1309836 & the Club’s Children Officer is Shane Elliott who can be contacted by email at [email protected] or on 0863494127.
Finn Harps Football Club recognise the implementation is an ongoing process.
Our Football Club is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the accompanying child welfare and safeguarding policies and procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while participating in our activities.
This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on the 30th June 2025 or as soon as practicable after there has been material change in any matter to which the statement refers.
This statement has been published on the finnharps.ie website and displayed in a prominent place on the premises.
It has been provided to all staff, volunteers and any other persons involved with the service. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request.
A copy of this statement will be made available to Tusla and members of the public if requested. Yours in sport,
