Raising Awareness

Safeguarding and Welfare

Safeguarding within Northumberland - help us Keep Football safe and enjoyable for everyone

Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. If you are involved in a club or league, which involves anyone under the age of 18 or thinking of setting up one, you need to ensure you have the correct safeguards in place to protect yourself, the organisation and the individuals involved.

This video outlines why safeguarding is so important, and how you can play your part in safeguarding children.


 

Every affiliated club and league with youth teams must have in place a Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedure - you can download the FA template policy here:

FA-safeguarding-children-policy-template-for-clubs

You must also have a Welfare Officer who has an FA criminal records check (CRC) which must be renewed every 3 years. Please see the information at the bottom of this page. The Welfare Officer must also complete the Safeguarding Children Workshop and Welfare Officer Workshop.

 

There is also a requirement for specified club committee officers to complete the free online Safeguarding for Committee Members course. While mandatory for specified officers, the course is open to anyone to raise their awareness of potential situations and how to deal with them.

 

Report Your Concerns

 

Safeguarding children is everyone's responsibility. If you are worried about a child it is important that you report your concerns - no action is not an option.

If you are concerned about your child or another child in your club, you would normally contact your Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in the first instance. You should be given the contact details of the CWO at the start of the season.

If you do not know who your CWO is, speak to a coach in your club and ask for their details. The CWO will normally deal with cases of poor practice and behaviour within your club.

Please use the contact information supplied on this page to report any cases or concerns regarding safeguarding. And see the links below for more information and guidance on social media

 

Get in Touch:

Designated Safeguarding Officer,

Gill Upperton

safeguarding@northumberlandfa.com 
(for all safeguarding inquiries)

By Phone: 0191 2700 700

By Mobile: 07736924862

'It's our game, not yours'

My Magic Sports Kit - A video from the NSPCC

This brilliant video shows several children involved in different sports describing how the behaviour of parents and spectators deteriorates when they wear their ‘magic sports kit’ – that is, when they compete.

The young people talk about a range of bad adult behaviours and how these negatively affect them. They then describe and promote positive behaviour - and explain why this is so important.

  

Criminal Records Checks

Safeguarding Policies and reporting concerns

safeguarding

Links to other key safeguarding organisations

Many of these offer specialised services
Online Safeguarding Service

Taking Safeguarding Online

OBTAINING A CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK (CRC)

Coaches working within an affiliated youth football club must complete their Criminal Records Check (CRC) with their club. This can be carried out via the Club Welfare Officer or County FA.
The method for carrying this out is as follows:

 

If you require your Criminal Records Check to be verified then a list role specific verifiers can be found here. The cost for this method is £10. 
When attending a verification meeting please ensure that you bring along all of the correct documents which are detailed on the guidance notes provided.
The verifier has to sign a legal declaration that they have seen all the correct documents so the County FA cannot be held responsible for incomplete applications which result in the applicant having to attend another verification meeting.
 

 

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