Athletics Ireland Child Welfare newsletter - November 2014 View this email in your browser Welcome to our Athletics Ireland child welfare newsletter. In each issue we will keep you updated with the latest safeguarding news and Garda vetting news. We will also look at current trends and practices. Please feel free to share this newsletter within your club. This week is anti-bullying week in Northern Ireland. Its always good to discuss bullying and how it can affect everyone in our sport but most especially children and those who are most vulnerable.The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit has prepared a range of resources to communicate key anti-bullying messages to young people.These resources are now available to download from here. This month Athletics Ireland implemented the ISPCC Stand Up to Bullying Reporting tool on the child welfare page of the Athletics Ireland website. This is a confidential service for any child or young person to use if they are affected by bullying. Please share with children and young people in your club. This is a service offered by Athletics Ireland. It is a monitored secure service where children and young people can voice any concerns they may have about bullying. We have been told by the ISPCC that we are the first sport to adopt this service in Ireland. Childline remains the first support service that children recall when prompted. Childline is for young people up to the age of 18. Their freephone number is 1800 66 66 66. You may also contact Teentext by texting Talk or Bully to 50101. These services are available from 10am to 4am every day. Please share this information with the children in your club. We are delighted to announce our Athletics Ireland Mental Health and Well Being partnerships. Aware will partner us with information campaigns, training and support services in 2015. Jigsaw can support clubs on a regional basis with workshops on Well Being for young people, coaches and parents. Console are available to help members and clubs with Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Services. Littlethings is a wonderful campaign from the HSE with lots of positive messages for clubs to download and display in clubhouses for all to see. Clubs can order #littlethings poster packs from the HSE health promotions office. Athletics Ireland is working closely with these partners to help promote and signpost support services for those in need in our sports community. Click on any of our partners links for further information or contact [email protected] or by phone on 086 2450134. Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter Website Website Social media is a terrific tool for athletic clubs to communicate with members. Used properly it can strengthen clubs and communities. A few simple guidelines can help make social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter safer and more productive places for athletes, coaches and parents. Club coaches and leaders should never place themselves in a compromising position by communicating with children directly via social media or text with children. All such communications should be via approved club channels to the parents or guardians of the child. For more details check out our communicating with children policy from the Child Welfare section of the Athletics Ireland website. It is recommended that this policy is adopted into the codes of conduct for sports leaders. The AAI code of conduct for coaches can be downloaded from here. Copyright © 2014 Athletics Ireland, All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter in your role as club Childrens Officer or Designated Person. It would be great to send this newsletter to all of your members to keep them informed of Child Safeguarding topics and supports. Our mailing address is: Athletics Ireland 19 Northwood Court Santry Dublin, Dublin Ireland
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 18:32:21 +0000