Woburn & Wavendon Football Club The Football Association – Safeguarding Children

The Football Association – Safeguarding Children

Given the serious information that continues to come to light regarding child abuse in football, The FA has commissioned a dedicated NSPCC helpline for adults who were victims of sexual abuse in childhood within the football industry.

The launch of the free, independent helpline follows former footballers Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, David White and Paul Stewart bravely speaking out about the abuse they suffered as young footballers.

Staffed by independent, experienced NSPCC professionals, the helpline will offer support and guidance for adults who were victims of childhood sexual abuse within the game at all levels from grassroots to Premier League and is a safe space for any further whistleblowing.

The helpline will be available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642.

England leaders explain four steps to safeguarding in new film

As part of The FA’s role in aiming to do everything it can to support a safe and enjoyable framework for football, a new film has been made outlining the four key steps to safeguarding.

The film, featuring Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton, Jack Rutter and Nathaniel Chalobah, explains how both parents and children can raise concerns they have about adults working in football and centred around how the 8,500 safeguarding officers working across England football take the following four steps:

1. Checked – to ensure adults are suitable to work with youngsters
2. Trained – from coaches to referees, all are given suitable safeguarding training
3. Hear – concerns from both children and adults will be listened to
4. Report – the importance of raising concerns about a child’s welfare

Following these simple but crucial steps means that there is a framework in place to ensure that, if standards ever fall short with poor practice or unacceptable behaviour, they can be addressed.

Anyone who has a concern about the welfare of a child or the behaviour of an adult towards a child or young person under 18 years of age in football, is required to refer it to The FA Safeguarding team. The team is staffed by professionals who are experienced in dealing with these concerns.

 

Referring a concern can be done via your club, league or County FA – all will have a designated safeguarding officer (DSO) – Bedfordshire F.A | Sarah DaCosta | safeguarding@bedfordshirefa.com. Alternatively, you can email the F.A directly via safeguarding@thefa.com.

If the matter is urgent and you cannot contact your club or County FA designated safeguarding officer, you can call The NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000 – or if it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the police or children’s social care in your area.

If you are concerned that someone may be behaving inappropriately or seeking to groom a child in an online environment, then please use the CEOP reporting button that will take you directly to the team at the National Crime Agency, as well as informing your County FA or The FA via safeguarding@thefa.com

• If you are a victim of historical sexual abuse in football please call 0800 023 2642

• If you are child or parent concerned about safeguarding children in the game today please call 0800 1111

For more information on safeguarding please click here.

The F.A Safeguarding Parents Leaflet

Safeguarding our players:- always our priority

Woburn & Wavendon FC is all about delivering fun and excitement for all our members, and especially our young players.  The Club has a comprehensive system of checks, tools and procedures that help to ensure child safety is a priority.  We continuously look to update and improve these procedures so that safeguarding is maximised and risk minimised.

We would encourage all involved with our Club to read our Child Protection Policy:- https://ww-fc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Child-Protection-Policy.pdf

This document has been in place for a number of seasons and its principles applied.

WWFC is blessed with two exceptionally good Child Welfare Officers. For the Lions:- Sally Basham | 07904253007 | E-mail The Welfare Officer

For the Lionesses:- Clare Fisher | 07771 866949 | E-mail The Welfare Officer    If you have any safeguarding concerns, they are here to help.