Child Protection

Child Protection Officers

Sandra O”Malley
Phone icon+353 86 388 9677
David Goode

Phone icon087-2237447

KBTC Child Safeguarding Statement

The Killaloe/Ballina Tennis Club (KBTC) child safeguarding statement is available here in this embedded document. If slow to load, please refresh this page. (FYI holding the Shift key down and clicking the Recycle icon on your browser will force a refresh)

Code of Behaviour for Adult Helpers and Children

  • The welfare of each child is paramount.
  • All children have the right to be protected and to be treated with respect.
  • All children have the right to be listened to and have their views taken into consideration.
  • All children have the right to be praised and encouraged.
  • Adult helpers should be sensitive to the risks involved in playing tennis.
  • Adult helpers should never physically punish or in any way be verbally abusive to a child.
  • Adult helpers should never tell jokes of a sexual, degrading or discriminating nature in the presence of a child.
  • Adult helpers should be sensitive to the possibility of developing favouritism or the risk of becoming over-involved with a particular child.
  • Adult helpers should not find themselves alone with a child.
  • Children are encouraged to report cases of bullying.

Anti-Bullying Code

Our tennis club is a place where:

  • every member can feel secure.
  • it is known that bullying is not acceptable behaviour.
  • name calling is not tolerated.
  • no one suffers abuse of any nature.
  • no one is victimised.
  • members are supported and listened to.
  • it is each member’s responsibility to ensure that everyone is treated equally.

Child Protection Training Provided by the KBTC Child Protection Officer

The KBTC child protection officer shall provide child protection training for all committee and sub-committee members of the KBTC, as well as all coaches, trainers, helpers and club members who undertake any duties whatsoever on behalf of the KBTC involving the care of children. Child protection training shall consist of classroom-based instruction, and shall be open to all KBTC members as well as those specifically mentioned above. The first set of child protection training classes was provided in June 2007, and this shall be repeated as considered necessary by the executive committee of the KBTC on the advice of the child protection officer.

Procedure in Case of an Allegation of a Child Protection Nature Against a Club Member

In the event of an allegation of a child protection nature against a club member, the following procedure shall apply:

  • The allegation shall be communicated in writing by the person bringing the allegation to the chairperson and to the child protection officer without delay.
  • The child protection officer shall ensure that the appropriate child protection policies are followed.
  • The chairperson of the tennis club shall ensure that procedures of natural justice prevail for all parties at all times.
  • A member against whom an allegation is made shall be advised not to have any contact with children within the tennis club while the allegation is being dealt with.
  • Any adult member who is found to have a criminal conviction of a sexual nature against them shall be deemed unsuitable to hold a position of trust within the club. A position of trust consists of any role beyond normal club membership.

Risk Assessment

Below you will see details of our Risk Assessment, which was conducted in May 2023.