Safeguarding Policy Statement
“Lancashire Football Association is committed to its responsibilities to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people involved in football. Lancashire 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 the choose to do so.”
Key Principles
Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential. The FA is committed to working in partnership with the Police, Social Services Departments and Local Safeguarding Children's Boards (LSCB) in accordance with their procedures. This is essential to enable these organisations to carry out their statutory duties to investigate concerns and protect all children and young people.
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.
Therefore all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children and young people. Sound recruitment and selection procedures will help to screen out those who are not suitable to work in football.
Lancashire Football Association is working with the FA as part of its National Game Strategy for 2008-12 and acting on legislation outlined in the Children’s Act (2004) and Every Child Matters.
Requirements
Youth League Welfare Officers (YLWO) and Club Welfare Officers (CWO) are:
- Mandatory for the season 2010-11 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 2010-11.
- Completed The FA Safeguarding Children workshop (formerly known as Child Protection and Best Practice workshop) by the start of season 2010-11.
- Completed The FA's Welfare Officer Workshop (WOW) by the start of season 2010-11.
Lancashire FA will then look to offer support and guidance by delivering Safeguarding Children, WOW Workshops and Advisory Groups.
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.
County Welfare Officer
Neil Yates
Tel - 01772 624000
Email - neil.yates@lancashirefa.com