Safeguarding

Safeguarding Children - County Welfare Department

“Lincolnshire Football Association is committed to its responsibilities to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people involved in football. Lincolnshire FA extends this responsibility to every adult involved in youth football whether as managers, coaches, referees, parents or spectators.

We maintain the conviction that all children and young people have the right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, language, culture, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or social/economic background.

We are dedicated to creating and maintaining a safer, more enjoyable and inclusive environment for all children and young people to participate in football to the best of their abilities for as long as they choose to do so.”

Key Principles

Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility. Lincolnshire County FA works in accordance with The FA’s strategy to keep children safe throughout all affiliated football:

• Getting the right people involved in the game – carrying out references and CRB checks

• Creating a safe environment – codes of conduct, education and best practice

• Promoting clear systems to deal with any concerns – policy and procedures

Grassroots football would not exist without the many thousands of volunteers involved today. Ensuring that we encourage those individuals that are suitable for the many roles football has to offer, is essential. Remember that a friendly, well run club is more likely to be successful in encouraging additional volunteers. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that anyone may have the potential to abuse children and young people.

Lincolnshire Football Association is working with the FA as part of its National Game Strategy for 2011-15 and acting on legislation outlined in the Children’s Act (2004) and Every Child Matters.

Requirements

 Mandatory for the season 2011-12 for all Clubs and Leagues with youth teams.

 An ‘accepted’ or as a minimum an ‘in progress’ enhanced CRB check via The FA CRB Unit for the season 2011-12.

 Completed The FA Safeguarding Children workshop (formerly known as Child Protection and Best Practice workshop) by the start of season 2011-12.

 Completed The FA's Welf

Welfare Officer Workshop (WOW) by the start of season 2011-12.

Lincolnshire FA will then look to offer support and guidance by delivering Safeguarding Children, WOW Workshops and Network Events.

Please go to the FA’s website regarding Welfare Officers FAQ’s
Click the Link to download more details.

thefa.com/TheFA/WhatWeDo/FootballSafe/WelfareOfficersFAQs.aspx

Safeguarding Children downloads:
Please go to The FA website to access FA policies and procedures relating to safeguarding children:

Click the Link to down load more details

thefa.com/TheFA/WhatWeDo/FootballSafe/Downloads.aspx 

    
Why is Football important to children?
Football and Sport in general helps children and young people to grow healthily and develop personally, socially, emotionally and physically. It can provide them with opportunities to have an enormous amount of fun and increase their circle of friends. Also, by being supported in setting and achieving their own goals in sport, young people can overcome the impact of challenges and barriers in other areas of their lives. Through football children can develop valuable qualities including leadership, independence, cooperation, confidence and self-esteem.

Safeguarding Children is high on The FA's and the Lincolnshire Football Association’s agenda. Our “goal” is to have someone at every club in the country aware of child protection and best practice, whether it's a professional club with an Academy or a Sunday morning youth side."Goal" is about doing things the right way, doing things properly. It's about allowing children to enjoy the game without abuse of any kind. That means bullying, physical, emotional or sexual abuse and neglect.

The FA and the Lincolnshire F.A. believe football can have a powerful positive influence on children. But that means everyone involved in football must take on the responsibility of looking after those children that want to play the game.

Safeguarding Children Workshops

What are they?

These are three hour workshops which aim to encourage a safer environment for everyone. You will be encouraged to discuss some of the most important Child Protection issues in football. The aim is to explore what appropriate and inappropriate behavior looks sounds and feels like. Clear guidance is given on best practice in football and on what actions should be taken if there are worries about the welfare of a child or young person.

Why are they important?

Football, like any activity with children and young people, can and does attract people who wish to abuse their power over children. Sometimes this is sexual and sometimes it is physical or emotional and may include bullying or racist abuse.

Some people will have been coached or trained or brought up to think that shouting and even hitting children is acceptable in football. This workshop confirms that bullying and abuse in any form is unacceptable and we all have a legal and moral responsibility to be aware of and look out for children in our care.

How do I get on one?

Contact your County FA, they have a range of courses running and can direct you to the nearest one. The cost, which includes delivery by a Football Association accredited Tutor, a comprehensive resource pack and a certificate of attendance, to find out more contact paul.hamnett@lincolnshirefa.com