In accordance with Section 11 (1) of the Children First Act 2015, we have prepared the following written assessment of the potential risk of harm to a child while availing of the activities provided by the Irish Pony Club.

• The Irish Pony Club has approximately 3,000 members, aged from 5 to 25 years, the majority of whom are under 18 years of age.

• At present, there are 56 Branches within the twenty-six counties.

• A District Commissioner (DC) is responsible for the running of each Branch with the help and support of about 10 volunteers.

• Each Branch has a Children’s Officer, a Safety Officer, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  The DC is also the Designated Liaison Person.

• The Laois Pony Club will use several locations within its geographical area when organising its activities. 

• Occasionally we may arrange an outing which might be either socially or educationally based.

• National competitions take place at different venues throughout the country.

• There are no permanent premises.

• Realistically there could be between six and seven hundred volunteers in the Irish Pony Club.

• In the Laois Pony Club, we provide the following services to children and young people:

  • We offer instruction and coaching in riding and the care of horses to all levels of ability, in a safe and fun way, through our Branches. 

  • The disciplines catered for include Show Jumping, Musical Rides, Tetrathlon, Dressage, Mounted Games, Eventing and Hunter Trials.

  • Competition, in accordance with current ability, is provided for those who wish to take part.

  • When more experienced, the members may qualify at Area level and then be eligible take part in our championships.

  • Successful teams from the disciplines sometimes travel overseas.

  • We have a wide range of efficiency tests available, which we encourage our members to take, though none of these are mandatory.

  • For those who plan to go into the equine industry achieving the higher tests allows them access to professional qualifications above the standard entry level.                       

 We believe that:

1. Our priority, to ensure the welfare and safety of every child and young person who attends our service, is paramount.

2. Our guiding principles and procedures to safeguard children and young people reflect national policy and legislation and we will review our guiding principles and child safeguarding procedures every two years.

3. All children and young people have an equal right to attend a service that respects them as individuals and encourages them to reach their potential, regardless of their background.

4. We are committed to upholding the rights of every child and young person who attends our service, including the rights to be kept safe and protected from harm, listened to and heard.

5. Our guiding principles apply to everyone in our organisation.

6. Workers and volunteers must conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of our organisation.

The Laois Pony Club provides sporting activities and opportunities for children and young people through participation in our branches and regional events and with our representative teams at national level. The Laois Pony Club is committed to safeguarding children and young people. The Laois Pony Club works under the guidance and policies of our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. All our volunteers and staff working with children throughout the organisation, seek to create a safe environment for children and young people to participate in equestrian sports.

We have completed a Safeguarding Risk Assessment that indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and give the required policy, guidance or process documents required to alleviate these risks.  A list of potential risks of harm has been identified along with the management of these risks.

We have the following procedures in place as part of the Irish Pony Club Safeguarding Code in addition to our Risk Assessment:

• Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities.

• Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.

• Procedures for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.

• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to the Statutory Authorities.

• Appointing Children’s Officers at our Branch who will be point of contact in respect of Safeguarding for the relevant body and for this statement.   Names and contact details for our Children’s Officer and the Branch Designated Liaison Person (DC) will be available.  The Irish Pony Club will appoint a National Children’s Officer.

• We are committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our services.

• Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been prepared in accordance with the legislature requirements contained in the Children First Act 2015 and the Children (NI) Order 1995 and as required by our organisation.

• The relevant procedures and documents will be available on request to all members and their families, volunteers and officials. 

• The Safeguarding Statement will be displayed at Laois Pony Club activities where practicable and available to view on our Website.

 

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed every 2 years.  Next review November 2023.

 

Branch Children’s Officer / Relevant Person (Sandra Giles)

 

Designated Liaison Person / District Commissioner (Peter Roe)

 

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