Cheltenham Rugby Football Club (RFC) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults involved in Cheltenham RFC from harm.

The welfare of young people under the age of 18 playing rugby is paramount, therefore, like the game of rugby, we like to take safeguarding seriously within the club, we are constantly working hard towards generating an environment for the players to feel safe and of course always have fun.

Everyone shares the responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe environments in rugby union whether as a parent, coach, spectator or club official.

All should operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour to both safeguard children and protect all personnel from allegations of abuse or poor practice. Children, who are anyone under the age of 18, must be cared for in the correct manner, as set out in the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy.

At all times we are always looking into ways of improving therefore, raising awareness to players, club members and the supporting community is fundamental to achieving this. We have a duty to ensure that safeguarding children is prioritised and that each child’s rugby experience is as good as possible.

The club has its own Safeguarding Policy, Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy and we follow guidelines and procedures adopted from the Rugby Football Union.

DBS checks are a requirement for all our coaches, club staff and parent volunteers and to be in compliance with the club’s code of conduct. All players, coaches and volunteers are expected to follow the guidelines as set by the club’s Safeguarding Policy and the RFU Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.

The great facilities we have at Newlands Park enables the club to offer its home to the RFU to host Rugby courses and training. Safeguarding, In touch and Rugby Ready courses, attract many coaches, safeguarding officers/assistants and parent volunteers from numerous clubs in the county and neighbouring counties to Newlands Park. If you wish to get involved and take an active role in the club please contact us via email or speak with your Team Manager/Coach.

Cheltenham Rugby Football Club (RFC) is committed to developing a culture where it is safe and acceptable for everyone involved in rugby union to raise concerns about any unacceptable practice, behaviour, wrongdoing or misconduct.

If you have a concern about unacceptable behaviours or misconduct, you can speak up. Speaking up will enable concerns to be investigated and dealt with for the benefit of all involved and for that of the wider game. Anyone speaking up can be confident that the matter will be handled appropriately and with an appropriate level of confidentiality.

Concerns can be raised with the coaching team or directly with the clubs safeguarding officer.

In addition, you can speak up via emailing the Speak up Hotline (speakup@rfu.com)

David Gamblin
Safeguarding Officer
Cheltenham RFC
Email: safeguarding@cheltenhamtigers.com

RFU Safeguarding
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding/

RFU Safeguarding Information
safeguardingpolicybooklet.pdf (englandrugby.com)

RFU Regulation 21 – Safeguarding
https://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/General/General/01/32/72/80/RFURegulation21_English.pdf

RFU Regulation 15 – Age Grade Rugby
https://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/players/age-grade-rugby/rules-and-regulations/

1. Cheltenham RFC acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in [club name] from harm.
2. Cheltenham RFC confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.
3. A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old male player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his safety and wellbeing are protected.
4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:

• The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.
• All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.
• All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor

practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.

• Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory

agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children.

• Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social

development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted and

managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

5. Cheltenham RFC recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice. Cheltenham RFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
6. Cheltenham RFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.
7. The Club Safeguarding Officer is David Gamblin who can be contacted on 07881786961 or in non-urgent circumstances via e-mail at safeguarding@cheltenhamtigers.com.

If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult has been put at risk you must in the first instance inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Executive.

If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Head of the Mini and Junior Section, Guy Dixon and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Executive.

8. All members of Cheltenham RFC who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.
9. Cheltenham RFC will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB or the RFU:

• Working alone with a child.
• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.
• Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
• Smoking in the presence of children.
• Humiliating children.
• Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.
• Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children.
• Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’
• Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

11. Cheltenham RFC manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Cheltenham RFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children.
12. Cheltenham RFC will endeavour to comply with the Guidance for Websites as set out on the RFU website.
13. Cheltenham RFC will ensure that its coaches [and team managers] will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role.
14. Any events held on Cheltenham RFC premises must comply with this Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by Cheltenham RFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

Tour resources and forms (englandrugby.com)

15. If you have witnessed or heard about an incident which concerns you, it is important to report it to someone in authority, in the first instance to the Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO).

Remember to:

• Stay calm, but don’t delay;
• Re-assure the child that they are not to blame;
• Do not make any promises of confidentiality or outcome;
• Keep questions to a minimum;
• Do not use leading questions;
• Make brief accurate notes at the earliest opportunity.

In their absence, you can contact the following external agencies for advice linked to safeguarding:

• RFU
• Gloucestershire County Council children’s social care department
• NSPCC

The RFU runs a 24-hour unmanned child protection line, which you can reach on 0208 831 6655. You can access this number 24 hours a day, but please note that the line is unmanned, and you will be met with a voicemail. You will receive a response within 24 hours of your call. All safeguarding referrals, feedback or general enquiries should go to safeguarding@rfu.com.

If a child is at immediate risk of harm and contact cannot be made with the safeguarding officer, please contact the police or out-of-hours children’s social care.

• Gloucestershire County Council children’s social care department (01452 614194)
• Report a child protection concern | Gloucestershire County Council

You can also call the NSPCC on their contact line, 0808 800 5000, which operates between 10:00 AM – 16:00 PM Monday to Friday.

You can find more details on their website. Report child abuse | NSPCC

Updated August 2025

Next Review August 2026