parkrun Ireland Child Safeguarding Statement

parkrun Ireland is a not-for-profit company delivering regular, free, timed, volunteer-organised walk, jog, run events across Ireland. parkrun Ireland organises two types of event: 5k parkruns and 2k junior parkruns.

The events take place weekly, at 9:30 am every Saturday (5k) and Sunday (2k), in areas of open space. They are simple to organise and a team of local volunteers manage each event. The events attract people of all ages, including children. junior parkrun is for 4-14-year-olds.

For all participants, and children, in particular, participation is primarily for fun, being free from undue pressure from parents, other adults or their peers, and in the full understanding, they are participating in a volunteer-delivered timed walk/ jog/run rather than a race.

parkrun Ireland is committed to safeguarding all children and young people. All our events work under the guidance of our Safeguarding Policy. All our volunteers and staff working with children throughout the organisation seek to create a safe environment for children and young people to participate, whether they are running, walking or volunteering.

The parkrun Ireland Safeguarding Risk Assessment indicates the areas of potential risk of harm at a junior parkrun, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents required to alleviate these risks. It has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015 (the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice). In addition to our Risk Assessment document, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children whilst they are at junior parkrun, including:

• Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child participating in parkrun in any way.
• Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children
• 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.

For further information please contact safeguarding@parkrun.com

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. We are committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm whilst at parkrun. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed every two years.