While Conradh na Gaeilge is not responsible for the Cultúr Club workshops that local facilitators organise in their own areas, we would like to draw all facilitators' attention to child protection guidelines, whenever and wherever in the world you are running events involving young people.
Child Protection Policy
You can read Conradh na Gaeilge's protection policy - 
Polasaí um Chumhdach Chonradh na Gaeilge - in Irish here and below is a sample child protection checklist:
- Has every volunteer and/or member of staff been vetted?
- Does someone on the team have first aid training?
- Has the team written a child protection policy and associated guidelines?
- Has everyone read, agreed and signed the guidelines?
- Have the children's parents/guardians been informed about the policy?
- Has someone been named as the child protection contact in the policy?
- Has this person received the appropriate child protection training?
- Are there clear guidelines in the policy as regards the use of images/video from the workshop on social media or elsewhere?
- Has every child's parent/guardian given permission to take photos of the children?
- Are there sufficient volunteers or other staff members available to supervise the workshop adequately, i.e. at least one adult male and one adult female?
- Do the team appreciate that any inquiry into child abuse will be dealt with under strict confidentiality?
- Do the team understand that the police - and/or the appropriate child and family welfare services in your own area - are responsible for dealing with all child protection inquiries, not the named contact?
Please note that under Irish legislation, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18, unless he/she is or was previously married; you should check this definition in your own are as a starting point for any child protection policy.
Photography Permission
If you want to take photographs of children partaking in Cultúr Club activities, for promotional purposes or as evidence of events for funders for example, you should follow the guidelines set out in Conradh na Gaeilge's Child Protection Policy and obtain their parents' or guardians' written permission beforehand.
This is general good practice, even if the applicable law allows photos to be taken in open public spaces without prior written permission.
Registered branches of Conradh na Gaeilge can use this draft parental permission form in Irish and in English, or others can use the 
sample form as a template for their own needs.
Legislation & Guidelines
You will find more information on legislation on recognising and reporting child abuse and child welfare concerns in Ireland and in the countries participating in the 2018 pilot schemes at the links below.
You should look for information about the relevant legislation in your country of residence before starting a Cultúr Club in your own area.
Ireland
Children First Act, 2015
What is Children First? (HSE)
Children First Guidance (DCYA)
National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (TUSLA)
Children and rights in Ireland (Citizens' Information)
Child Protection Procedures for Schools (DES)
Quality Early Years Care and Education: What to Look for in an Early Years Service (Barnardos)
New Zealand
Vulnerable Children Act 2014
Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children
Child protection policies and safety checks required under Vulnerable Children Act
Ministry of Education's Child Protection Policy
Child Matters' Child Protection Policy
Australia
National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009–2020
Australian Child Protection Legislation
Children and Young People Act 2008 (ACT)
Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW)
Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT)
Child Protection Act 1999 (Qld)
Children's Protection Act 1993 (SA)
Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1997 (TAS)
Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (VIC)
Children and Community Services Act 2004 (WA)
Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade's Child Protection Policy 2017
PLAN International's Child Protection Policy
UK
Safeguarding children: What organisations need to do to protect children from harm
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, 2014 (Scotland)
Children (Scotland) Act 1995
Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
Sexual offences (Scotland) Act 2009
Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011
Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
Digital Economy Act 2017
Limitation (Childhood Abuse) (Scotland) Act 2017
Child protection in Scotland: At a glance
Child protection in Scotland: Legislation, policy and guidance
United Arab Emirates (UAE)
The United Arab Emirates' Government Portal: Children
Ministry of Interior Child Protection Dimensions
Community Development Authority (Dubai): Child Protection
Together to Prevent Child Abuse
National Programme for Happiness and Positivity
Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 (Child Protection Law) (Wadeema’s Law)
Guide for parents on anti-bullying
Canada
Canadian Child Welfare Research Portal
Indian Act 1985
Youth Criminal Justice Act 2002
Criminal Code of Canada 1985
Child, Family and Community Service Act (British Columbia)
Adoption Act (British Columbia)
Provincial and territorial child protection legislation and policy (2018)
Commit to Kids Program Kit
Kids in the Know National Safety Education Program
The Canadian Centre for Child Protection
Child Rights Toolkit
Jersey, The Channel Islands
Safeguarding Partnership Board
Child Protection Procedures
