Oundle RFC Safeguarding Team
Meet the Oundle RFC Safeguarding & Inclusion Team
We’d like to introduce ourselves — Sam, Lisa, Mark, Christie and Emily.
Between us, we have a mix of familiar faces who have been part of the club for many years and some who are newer to the Oundle RFC family. We’re known across different age groups and bring a range of different experiences, skills and perspectives with us.
But there’s one thing we all have in common: we genuinely care about the people who make our club what it is. We’re passionate about the wellbeing, safety and happiness of everyone involved at Oundle RFC — our players, families, coaches and volunteers — and about making the club a place where everyone feels welcome, included, supported and able to be themselves.
We’re here to listen, whether you have a safeguarding concern, need a DBS completing, something on your mind, a question, or simply an idea you think could make the club even better.
Any of us can be contacted using the telephone numbers or email address provided. You don’t need to worry about whether something is “big enough” to get in touch. If it matters to you, it matters to us.
We’re really looking forward to working with everyone across the club and helping make Oundle RFC a safe, welcoming and positive place for all. 🏉
Safeguarding Policy
Here at Oundle RFC we have adopted the RFU Safeguarding Policy.
Rugby union is a fantastic sport for youngsters, building their confidence and character and introducing them to values that will help them in rugby and throughout life. Every one of the young people involved in our sport is important to us. We take our responsibility for their welfare and wellbeing very seriously and want the rugby environment to be a safe and happy one.
The core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship are important both for children in rugby and all the adults they meet, who we hope will serve as role models providing a positive experience. Safeguarding children is of paramount importance and involves promoting children’s welfare in every way. It means protecting them from abuse and neglect but also ensuring their appropriate development and maximising their opportunities. Safeguarding is about creating child-centred rugby and all that we do to prevent problems arising. We rely on our many volunteers who give up their time to organise mini and youth rugby and aim to provide the highest standards of care for children in a safe and enjoyable environment.
If you are a player, coach, parent, volunteer or teacher, this safeguarding policy exists to help you to protect our children from harm and to provide a positive experience for them. The RFU has robust safeguarding procedures and acts swiftly in cases of possible abuse, working with multiple-agencies to deliver integrated support to children and families.
This policy, its guidance and procedures are aimed at empowering children and young people. The policy provides information about abuse, identifying problems, and guidance and procedures for use by everyone involved in delivering rugby union nationwide. The RFU provides support for clubs, helping them to make safer recruitment decisions and providing systems for dealing with allegations or concerns. We have excellent training programmes for everyone working with young players, as well as effective systems for working with other relevant agencies. With your help we will remain at the forefront of protecting young people in sport.
Download the full RFU policy here: Download
Our current Safeguarding lead is Sam Palmer-Sheldon. You can report incidents in complete confidence by emailing safeguarding@oundlerfc.com