Safeguarding and codes of conduct

Safeguarding and codes of conduct    21/03/23

Introduction

Fermanagh Orienteers (FERMO) is committed to the safety, well-being and enjoyment of all those involved in the sport including competitors, volunteers, coaches, parents and members of the public.  The club recognises that everyone has a shared responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe, enjoyable environments in Orienteering whether as an Orienteer, parent, coach, club official or spectator.

Policy

Fermanagh Orienteers (FERMO) is affiliated to British Orienteering, the national governing body, and Northern Ireland Orienteering Association. It is bound by the governing body’s rules and regulations for the conduct of the sport.  FERMO has adopted British Orienteering’s relevant safeguarding policies and guidelines which are:

  • the Child Safeguarding Policy
  • the Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
  • the Supplementary Safeguarding Guidance document
  • the Code of Ethics and Behaviour
  • the Safeguarding Regulations
  • the Remote Teaching and Coaching Guidance document

These current documents can all be accessed from https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/safeguardingandsafety

The British Orienteering Incident Reporting Form can also be accessed from this page.

Reporting a Safeguarding or Safety concern

The FERMO Club Safeguarding Officer will ordinarily be the first point of contact within the club in respect of safeguarding queries and concerns (including in respect of poor practice), and they will in turn report concerns to British Orienteering and NIOA using the procedures detailed in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

The Club Safeguarding Officer may be contacted through the organiser at an event; by phone Jean O’Reilly Tel 07855812562

or by email to FERMO.safeguarding@niorienteering.org.uk

Reports can also be made directly to British Orienteering using the Incident Reporting Form.

Supplementary Safeguarding Guidance

Fermanagh Orienteers follows the guidance set out in the British Orienteering Supplementary Guidance document which covers the following areas:

  • Good practice
  • Responding to a safeguarding concern or a child making a disclosure
  • Making an Incident Report
  • Finding volunteers for positions of trust
  • Working with children and coaching ratios
  • Transporting children
  • Using social media
  • Taking of pictures and video at activities and events
  • Using images of children
  • Non-Formal accommodation

Further Resources and Guidance

In addition to the policies and guidance referred to above Fermanagh Orienteers will follow:

There is also now a British Orienteering Social Media Policy and a Social Media Rules and Good Practice for Coaches guidance document.  These documents are elsewhere on the British Orienteering website but can be accessed from links on page 4 of the Supplementary Safeguarding Guidance.

What you can expect from us

Fermanagh Orienteers concurs with the British Orienteering statement on Safeguarding and Safety which states that:

When you bring your children or adults-at-risk orienteering, we will help you to ensure their welfare and safety by ensuring that:

  • the people who run the sport are safe to be with
  • we take all reasonable steps to ensure that your children or adults-at-risk will be safe from other participants and strangers
  • the challenges set will be manageable so that your children or adults-at-risk are able to find their way around the course
  • they are not likely to be injured but if they are there are people and procedures in place to look after them
  • your children’s or adult-at-risk’s individual needs will be considered as far as possible within the nature of the sport.

Whilst they refer to children or adults-at-risk these statements apply to all those involved in the sport.

Code of Ethics and Behaviour

Fermanagh Orienteers expects that all individuals involved in orienteering will at all times follow the British Orienteering Code of Ethics:

  • Respect the spirit of fairness in orienteering. This is more than participating within the rules – it also incorporates the concepts of friendship, respect for others and always participating with the right spirit.
  • Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others.
  • Conduct themselves in a manner that takes all reasonable measures to protect their own safety and the safety of others.
  • Promote the reputation of orienteering and take all possible steps to prevent it from being brought into disrepute.
  • Protect themselves and others involved in orienteering from verbal or physical abuse and threatening or intimidating behaviour.
  • Never use inappropriate language or gestures.
  • Abide by the British Orienteering Child Safeguarding and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policies and Supplementary Safeguarding Guidance.
  • Abide by the British Orienteering Equality Policy.
  • Abide by the British Orienteering Anti-doping Rules.
  • Take personal responsibility to ensure that they are suitably insured for their activities.

Useful Safeguarding Contacts

Orienteering Contacts

Peter Brooke, British Orienteering, Lead Safeguarding Officer
British Orienteering, Scholes Mill, Old Coach Road Tansley, Nr Matlock DE4 5FY
07540 150963

The FermO Club Safeguarding Officer may be contacted through the organiser at an event or by email to FERMO.safeguarding@niorienteering.org.uk

Local Contacts

SocialServices – Enniskillen – 66 326604 / Omagh – 82 252202

PSNI CARE Unit – 028 90 650222; in an emergency contact via 999

NSPCC (free phone) 24-hour helpline – 0808 800 5000

Coaching NI – 028 90 686940

Child Protection in Sport Unit – 028 90 351135

Date adopted: 23rd March 2023

Review date: Spring 2026

Unless there are subsequent changes to British Orienteering’s policies and/or the legal situation.

FERMO Orienteering Club StatementDownload

Irish Orienteering Association at http://www.orienteering.ie/about-us/resources/child-protection/