Scotland Rugby League has traditionally come under the banner of Rugby Football League, the governing body
for rugby league in the UK; adopting most of its policies and procedures.
Last summer, recognising the differences in law in Scotland, SRL made a conscious decision to write its own
Child Protection Policy, utilising the best of which was already available within the RFL’s existing policy and incorporating
legislation in Scotland, supported by CHILDREN 1ST. The policy is underpinned by the R.E.S.P.E.C.T programme, (Responsible,
Encouraging, Sporting, Positive, Enjoyable, Considerate, Tolerant), a code of conduct for the whole sport.
The policy and procedures come in six sections:
1. policy statement
2. recruitment, employment and deployment of staff and volunteers
3. promoting good practice with young people
4. recognition of poor practice, abuse and bullying
5. roles and responsibilities of the club child protection officer
6. responding to disclosure, suspicions and allegations.
The new SRL Child Protection Policy and Procedures will be adopted by all agencies working within Rugby League:
clubs, service areas, regions etc.
To assist these agencies and to ensure that the policy is being effectively implemented, SRL will hold a
series of workshops on a monthly basis to train new and existing child protection and welfare officers in the use of the policy.
These workshops will include sports coach UK’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children and CHILDREN 1ST’s In Safe Hands.
For further details about Scottish Rugby League and the RFL’s Child Protection and R.E.S.P.E.C.T programme
please visit www.rfl.com or www.scotlandrugbyleague.org.uk.
If you would like more information, please contact: Mark Senter, National Development Manager (SRL), on 0141
774 3736.
