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At 5th Port Dollymount Sea Scouts, the safety and well-being of every young person in our care is our absolute highest priority. We are committed to providing a fun, educational, and adventurous environment where all our members can thrive, learn, and grow, feeling secure and respected at all times.
We understand that sending your child on adventures, especially water-based ones, comes with questions about safety. Rest assured, we operate under the stringent guidelines and policies of Scouting Ireland, which are designed to ensure the highest standards of safety and child protection across all activities. Our leaders are dedicated to creating a secure and supportive atmosphere where children can explore, learn, and build friendships confidently.
To uphold our commitment, we adhere to comprehensive policies and procedures:
Garda Vetting / Safeguarding Training: All members are registered with our National Association, Scouting Ireland. Leaders are required to complete Garda Vetting followed by a training course which includes Safeguarding prior to becoming an active leader. Both safeguarding and vetting are updated every 3 years .
Child Safeguarding: The scout group operates under the guidelines of the ‘Safeguarding Policy’ which is the child welfare and protection policy laid down by Scouting Ireland. This policy can be found on www.scouts.ie. The policy states that all adult leaders in the organisation should strive to protect all members from physical, emotional and sexual harm whilst in their care. Within Scouting Ireland there is a dedicated Safeguarding Manager. If you or anyone has any child protection concerns the dedicated contact details are available on the scouting Ireland website here.
Leader Training: Our leaders also attend ongoing training courses over their time as a Leader such as First Aid, Planning, Water and Outdoor Skills, etc.
Equipment Standards: We use well-maintained, safety-certified equipment, including properly fitted buoyancy aids, helmets and life jackets for all water-based activities.
Safety Briefings: Before any activity, especially on the water, clear and comprehensive safety briefings are given to all participants.
Appropriate Ratios: We maintain appropriate adult-to-child ratios to ensure effective supervision and support for all members.
We believe open communication is key to a safe environment.
All sections in the group operate an Open Door Policy and Parents should always feel free to call in and see any of the programme sections in operation. If you ever have a concern about your child's safety or well-being, or the conduct of any adult involved with the group, please do not hesitate to speak directly with your child's Section Leader or the Group Leader. All concerns will be taken seriously and handled with discretion and according to our Child Protection Policy. Additionally you can contact Scouting Ireland directly (details here)
We collect comprehensive emergency contact and medical information for every child annually via a digital consent form. Failure to complete the form may result in your child unable to take part in certain activities.
We encourage parents to familiarise themselves with our policies, particularly the Child Protection Policy and Code of Good Practice, both of which are available for download in the Parent Hub. Your partnership in reinforcing safety messages and communicating any relevant information about your child's needs is invaluable to us.
We are proud to offer a safe, challenging, and rewarding experience for all our Sea Scouts. If you have any questions or require further clarification on our safety and child protection measures, please reach out to us.