At Foróige, the safety and wellbeing of young people and their protection from harm is our highest priority. We are fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of every young person who engages with our work. It is the policy of the Board of Foróige that our staff and adult volunteers take all reasonable care to ensure that all children and young people involved in our clubs, groups, projects, services and programmes are protected from harm and abuse of any kind

We aim to create environments that are not only safe, but also supportive, respectful, and empowering. In all aspects of our engagement with young people, we strive to: 

• Exercise positive and developmental leadership and support 
• Establish appropriate structures and a safe setting 
• Provide safe and appropriate programmes and activities 

These measures help ensure that the dignity of every young person is both respected and promoted. Through this, young people can grow into more confident, caring and creative individuals.

Our Approach 

We have robust safeguarding, child protection policies and procedures in place across the organisation. These are designed to ensure that all staff and volunteers are equipped to keep young people safe from harm.

• All Foróige staff and volunteers complete child safeguarding training. 
• Our recruitment processes include Garda Vetting and comprehensive background checks. 
• Our programmes are delivered in line with best practice in youth work, always with the welfare of the young person at the centre.

Compliance and Oversight 

Foróige operates in full compliance with the Children First Act 2015 and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (Tusla 2017). Our Child Safeguarding Statement is  reviewed and updated every two years, or sooner if there are significant changes impacting the sector. The review ensures the statement accurately reflects current practices and complies with the Children First Act 2015.

We are proactive in our approach to safeguarding in both physical and digital settings. As online youth engagement becomes increasingly common, we continue to develop and implement specific guidance and supports to ensure safe participation in digital spaces.

Reporting Concerns 

If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of a young person involved in Foróige, we encourage you to report it immediately. Concerns can be raised with any Foróige staff member or through our designated child protection email [email protected].

Together, we can ensure that every young person involved in Foróige experiences a safe, respectful and empowering environment.