Our Commitment to Safeguarding Children
We take the safety and well-being of all children very seriously. As an England Football Accredited Club, we are committed to upholding The Football Association's (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.
We understand that a "child" is anyone under the age of 18, and we are dedicated to creating a safe and positive environment where all young people can enjoy football.
Safeguarding Principles
We are committed to the following core safeguarding principles:
- The Child's Welfare First: The well-being of every child is our top priority. This principle underpins all our safeguarding practices.
- Protection for All: All children and young people have the right to feel safe and protected from abuse, regardless of their background or circumstances. This includes protection based on age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and other characteristics.
- Taking Action on Concerns: We take all reports of suspected abuse seriously. We will respond swiftly and appropriately to any concerns raised.
- Working Together: Collaboration is key. We work in partnership with other organisations, children themselves, and their parents/carers to ensure everyone's safety.
We believe that all children and young people participating in football deserve a safe and enjoyable environment. This requires vigilance from everyone involved in our club, including coaches, parents, and carers. We will clearly communicate these expectations to all our members throughout the season.
Empowering Young People:
We believe children and young people have the right to participate in our club. Their voices matter. We strive to create an environment where they feel comfortable expressing their views and opinions, and where these are considered when making decisions that affect them.
Our Role in Safeguarding
We take our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people very seriously. This includes protecting them from physical, sexual, or emotional harm, neglect, and bullying.
We understand that The FA's Safeguarding Children Regulations (as outlined in The FA Handbook) apply to everyone involved in football, regardless of their position or whether they are paid or a volunteer. This includes coaches, managers, volunteers, match officials, helpers on club trips, medical staff, and any other club official or helper.
We are committed to upholding these regulations and creating a safe and positive environment for all our young players.
Safeguarding Through Recruitment
We are committed to following The FA's Safer Recruitment guidelines to ensure the safety of children and young people in our club. Here's how we achieve this:
- Clear Job Descriptions: We clearly define each role and the associated tasks before recruiting.
- Verification of Identity: We request identification documents from all potential hires.
- Thorough Interview Process: We hold in-person meetings and, whenever possible, conduct formal interviews with applicants before making decisions.
- Reference Checks: We obtain and follow up on references before finalising appointments.
- DBS Checks: For eligible roles involving children and young people (e.g., coaches, managers, first-aiders), we require an up-to-date DBS check with a barred list check, as mandated by The FA's Safeguarding Children Policy and Regulations.
We uphold these standards for both existing staff and new recruits in these roles.
Addressing Concerns:
If you have any concerns about the suitability of someone currently involved with our club or someone who has expressed interest in joining, we encourage you to reach out. We will always seek guidance from the County Football Association's (CFA) Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) in such situations.
The FA prioritises protecting children and young people by keeping those with a serious history of offences away from them. This includes preventing them from working with children or having any say in how youth programs are run. This two-pronged approach safeguards children from both direct harm and potential manipulation within the sport.
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Your Club Welfare Officer
The well-being of our young players is a top priority. That's why we have a dedicated Club Welfare Officer (Youth Teams) (CWO) in place. Our CWO meets The FA's designated role profile and has completed the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Courses. We are committed to supporting the CWO's ongoing professional development through relevant training provided by The FA or the County Football Association (CFA).
The CWO serves as the first point of contact for everyone involved in the club. This includes parents/carers, players, and club officials who may have concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. We ensure everyone knows who to reach out to for support by widely communicating the CWO's role and contact information throughout the club.
Our CWO works collaboratively with the CFA's Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and is familiar with the procedures for reporting any safeguarding concerns. They also play a proactive role in raising awareness within the club about important topics such as respect, acceptable behaviour, handling low-level concerns, and reporting abuse.
To ensure a visible and accessible presence for all our members, we may appoint Assistant Club Welfare Officers (Youth Teams) to support the CWO. Together, they will work to implement this policy and foster a safe and proactive safeguarding culture.
Standing Up to Bullying
We take bullying very seriously. We acknowledge and endorse The FA's classification of bullying as a form of abuse. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable within our club.
We have a clear Anti-Bullying Policy readily available for all players and parents/carers. This policy outlines the reporting process and assures everyone that all incidents will be addressed appropriately.
If you witness or experience bullying, please report it to the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) immediately. They are here to listen and take appropriate action.
In cases of repeated or particularly serious bullying, the CWO may involve the County Football Association's Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) to ensure a thorough investigation and appropriate resolution.
By working together and upholding a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, we can create a safe and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
Respectful Interactions with Young Players
Everyone involved with young players at Ballon Dor, whether paid staff or volunteers, has a responsibility to behave appropriately. We are all accountable for creating a safe and positive environment for our young players.
Every child deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We expect all adults within our club to uphold this principle and maintain the highest standards of conduct in their interactions with young people.
We have adopted The FA's 'Acceptable Behaviour' guidance (5.7) to ensure everyone understands what is expected. Additionally, we have implemented codes of conduct for Players, Parents/Spectators, Officials, and Coaches.
These codes clearly outline acceptable behaviour and potential consequences for breaches. For repeated or serious misconduct at the club level, we have defined disciplinary actions we will take.
We also acknowledge the possibility of further sanctions that may be imposed by the County Football Association (CFA) in more serious situations.
By working together and maintaining these standards, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all our young players.
Reporting Process
Our dedicated Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is the first point of contact for all concerns. The CWO can:
- Manage lower-level concerns and seek guidance from the County Football Association's Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) if necessary.
- Make referrals to the DSO for more serious concerns.
- Contact the Police or Children's Social Care in emergency situations.
- Take a child for immediate medical treatment if needed (hospital or ambulance), notifying them it's a child protection concern.
The CWO will keep detailed records of all actions taken and maintain communication with the DSO.
Alternative Reporting Channels
If the CWO is unavailable or the concern is particularly serious, you can also:
- Contact the DSO directly.
- Contact The FA's Safeguarding Team via Safeguarding@TheFA.com.
- Contact the Police or Children's Social Care.
- Seek advice from the NSPCC Helpline by calling 0808 800 5000 (Monday-Friday 8am-10pm, weekends 9am-6pm) or texting 88858. You can also email them at help@nspcc.org.uk.
Remember, early reporting is crucial. By working together and speaking up, we can help protect children and ensure their safety within our club.
Speaking Up: The Importance of Whistleblowing
We fully support The FA's Whistleblowing Policy. This policy empowers anyone, adult or young person, to report concerns about an adult in a position of trust within football.
If you have any concerns, you can "whistle blow" by contacting our Safeguarding Team at welfare@ballondorfootballacademy.com Alternatively, you can report directly to the Police, Children's Social Care, or the NSPCC.
We encourage everyone to familiarise themselves with The FA's Whistleblowing Policy and to use it without hesitation if a situation arises. Remember, speaking up can help protect children and ensure a safe environment for everyone involved in football.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
As an England Football Accredited Club, our committee is committed to upholding our Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.
We ensure that safeguarding is a regular item on the agenda at committee meetings, allowing for ongoing review and discussion. We are proactive in sharing our policy, procedures, and the contact information for our Club Welfare Officer (CWO) with all our members.