Bridgwater Wolves FC

Child Protection Policy

Use of images of children/young people under the age of 18

Bridgwater Wolves FC will adhere to the "FA Guidelines on the use of images of Children / Young Persons under the age of 18"

Bridgwater Wolves FC. (the club) acknowledges, and accepts, as its main responsibility, the well-being and safety of those children who are training or playing with the Club. The Club will abide by the F.A’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures, and all coaches will be requested to complete the FA Level 1 Certificate in Coaching Football, which includes a Child Protection and Best Practice–Workshop and a First Aid course. All managers & assistants will be required to complete an FA CRB Form (Criminal Records) by September 2008.

The Club will be appointing a designated Child Welfare Officer (CWO) who accepts responsibility for monitoring all Club procedures in relation to child protection issues. Parents and children coming to the Club will be made aware of our child protection policy.

The Club aim to introduce a programme of Football Association accredited training for all coaches.

BRIDGWATER WOLVES FC CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1. Bridgwater Wolves FC acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s child protection and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy statement contained in that document.

2. The key principles of The FA child protection policy are that:

• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration

• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents or carers is essential.

We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. Bridgwater Wolves FC recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

3 Bridgwater Wolves FC has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.

4 We endorse and adopt The FA’s child protection and best practice guidelines for recruiting volunteers and will:

• Develop a role profile

• Request identification documents

• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing

• Request and follow up with two references before appointing

• Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.

All current Bridgwater Wolves FC members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Bridgwater Wolves FC guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.

It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

5 Bridgwater Wolves FC supports The FA’s whistle blowing policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Child Protection Manager on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC.

Bridgwater Wolves FC encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.

6 Bridgwater Wolves FC has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with The FA’s role profile and required completion of the child protection and best practice workshop. The post holder will be involved with designated person’s training provided by The FA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of
poor practice and abuse amongst club members.

7 We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club.If bullying does occur, all
players, parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO, a member of the committee or, in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.

8 Codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by Bridgwater Wolves FC. In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious circumstances. All prospective memberswill be informed of these codes.

9 Further advice on child protection matters can be obtained from:

• The County Football Association’s Child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook

• The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection

• 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000

• www.TheFA.com/Goal

• The FA child protection team 0207 745 4649.




The F.A. Child Protection Policy

The introduction of this Child Protection Policy should be seen as a clear signal by The Football Association that it is determined to ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect from harm, those children and young people who participate in football at all levels. The policy establishes The Football Association’s position, role and responsibilities and, together with the Procedures Handbook, clarifies what is expected of other organisations and individuals involved in football. It very clearly highlights the importance placed by The Football Association on the protection of children and young people.

The F.A. Child Protection PolicyThe Football Association Limited, September 2001Registered Office 25 Soho Square London W1D 4FA Incorporated in LondonRegistered Number 77707 Telephone: 0207 745 4545 Fax: 0207 745 4546Produced by The Media Group 01949 21049The introduction of this Child Protection Policy should be seen as a clear signal by The Football Association that it is determined to ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect from harm, those children and young people who participate in football at all levels. The policy establishes The Football Association’s position, role and responsibilities and, together with the Procedures Handbook, clarifies what is expected of other organisations and individuals involved in football. It very clearly highlights the importance placed by The Football Association on the protection of children and young people.

Acknowledgments
The Football Association would like to thank the NSPCC, the National Coaching Foundation, the Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain, Kidscape, Moorside Rangers and Childcare (N.I.) for their assistance in the development of this document.

I am delighted to present The Football Association’s Child Protection Policy. This is the cornerstone of our commitment to developing a culture in which children and young people can participate in football in a safe and enjoyable environment. Over half a million adults are involved in organising football in the national game. Through this initiative it is our stated aim to ensure every individual is better prepared to play their part in the protection of children. A successful Child Protection Policy would go a long way to achieving the aim of both The F.A. and our partner, the NSPCC, in ending all cruelty to children.
Geoff Thompson
Chairman
The Football Association

Every child and young person who plays football should be able to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.
We recognise, however, that child abuse is also a very emotive and difficult subject. It is important to understand the feelings involved but not to allow them to interfere with our judgement about any action to be taken. The Football Association recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is determined to meet its obligation to ensure that those clubs and organisations providing football opportunities for children and young people do so, to the highest possible standard of care. Clear practices and procedures, in addition to a detailed training programme already under way, will ensure that everyone knows exactly what is expected of them in relation to the protection of children and young people within our sport. It is essential that those children and young people attracted to and participating in football are able to do so in a quality, safe and enjoyable environment. In striving to attain this, The Football Association has the following objectives:

- A requirement that The F.A. Premier League and The Football League include in their rules a policy statement concerning child protection.

- A requirement that all bodies affiliated to The Football Association as Charter Standard Organisations, affiliated through the County Associations, which provide the opportunity to work with children and young people up to the age of eighteen, include in their rules a policy statement concerning child protection.

- To provide ongoing development and training opportunities to all organisations as mentioned above.

- To provide ongoing development and training opportunities:
for members of The F.A. Coaches Association
as an integral part of all F.A. Coach and Medical Education courses and courses for Referees
– in staff development courses for members of The F.A. Premier League and The Football League
– through the County Football Association structure
– through the process of attaining and maintaining the Charter Standard Award

The aims of The F.A. Child Protection Policy are:
[1] To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
[1] To deliver quality assured child protection training and build a network of tutors to facilitate this delivery, in conjunction with, and supported by, the NSPCC.
[1] To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
[1] To promote ethics and high standards throughout football.

The key principles underpinning this Policy are that:
[1] The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
[1] All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity.
[1] All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

Working in partnership with children and young people and their parents/carers is essential. Social Services Departments have a statutory responsibility to ensure the welfare of children and young people. The Football Association is committed to working together with Social Services Departments and local Area Child Protection Committees (ACPC) in accordance with their procedures. The Football Association’s Regulations on child protection are defined in The F.A. Handbook.

1. Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
2. In these Regulations the expression “Offence” shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes
The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children
3. Upon receipt by The Association of:
3.1 notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence; or
3.2 notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, social services or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
3.3 any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then The Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
4. In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be made The
Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:-
4.1 whether a child is or children are or may be at risk of harm;
4.2 whether the matters are of a serious nature;
4.3 whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded.
5. The period of an order referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end.
6. Where an order is imposed on an individual under Regulation 3 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
7. Where a person is convicted or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football for such period (including indefinitely) and on such
terms and conditions as it thinks fit.
8. For the purposes of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
9. Notification in writing of an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonably practicable.

CONCLUSION
The Football Association, through confirming this Policy Document, has indicated its determination to ensure that children and young people can participate in all forms of football activity and do so with their safety being of paramount importance.
It is essential that this document is representative of a process of continual improvement in the area of child protection within football. It is for all adults engaged in football activities to promote good practice and procedures, whilst being ever vigilant and aware of their responsibilities towards the children and young people in their care