RYA Northern Ireland is committed to ensuring that everyone who takes part in the sport should be able to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment which promotes inclusion and protects from harm, bullying and abuse.
This means that we provide a wealth of safeguarding resources, have trained professionals which can be contacted for safeguarding advice and provide regular training for anyone wishing to stay up to date about correct safeguarding policies.
Upcoming Training
- A general safeguarding training course will be hosted on the 13 March 2024 and can be booked here.
- A Welfare Officer course will be run on 25 March 2024 and can be booked here.
- An online Welfare Officer course that can be booked by emailing the safeguarding team. RYA also offers CPD throughout the year to RYA registered Welfare Officers. More information around safeguarding training opportunities can be found on the safeguarding hub.
If you would like Safeguarding training organised for your club please contact lisa.mccaffrey@rya.org.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
We don’t have a junior membership, but sometimes there are children on site, do we need a safeguarding policy?
Yes, even if you don’t have children and young people regularly accessing the club, we still recommend you have a policy and procedure in place.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and the policy will ensure that everyone in the club is equipped with the knowledge and information should they need to use it. A concern may arise with the club from outside of the club activities, which must be acted upon.
What experience or qualification should the person responsible for welfare have?
We suggest that someone undertaking the welfare role has some knowledge of safeguarding. However, we understand that this may not always be possible.
When a new Welfare Officer registers with RYA they receive a comprehensive information pack. In the pack is a role description, policy templates and useful guidance documents.
What can you do as a club?
If your club has members or participants aged under 18 you should adopt a safeguarding policy and along with supporting procedures and make all club members aware of them.
All RYA Recognised Training Centres Offering training to under-18s are required to have a safeguarding policy and procedures in place.
Clubs are advised to ensure that a safeguarding policy is adopted by the club as a whole, not just the Training Centre or the Sailability group, and that all members are aware of it.
Making a referral
If you are aware of any safeguarding concerns, we encourage you to do so through this link or via any of the following contacts:
- Safeguarding contact details: RYA – Safeguarding@rya.org.uk
- Office Hours (9am-5pm Mon through Friday) | 02380 012796, choosing option 1
- Emergency Out of Hours (5pm – 10pm Monday through Sunday) | 02380 012796, choosing option 3 .
- RYA NI – dsco.ryani@gmail.com or gayle.logan@rya.org.uk 02891 827154
RYA also runs Let’s Talk Safeguarding every Wednesday from 12.30-13.30. For more information go to Let’s Talk.
