OUR RESPONSIBILITIES
As an England Football Accredited Club, Bournemouth Sports Football Club acknowledges our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of very child and young person and are committed to providing a safe environment for all. We recognise that a child is anyone under the age of 18 and subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures. Our Football Club endorses and adopts the following key safeguarding principles:
• 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, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability, pregnancy and maternity;
• all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; and
• working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential
Bournemouth Sports Football Club acknowledges that every child or young person who plays or participates in football must be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice, inappropriate behaviour and abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club, including the parents/carers of our players and we will effectively communicate this to our members throughout the season. Bournemouth Sports Football Club commits to ensuring that children and young people have the right to take part, be heard and have their views and opinions taken into consideration when making club decisions and actions that concern them.
OUR CLUB WELFARE OFFICER (CWO) : JEMMA HECKFORD
Bournemouth Sports Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (Youth Teams) (“CWO”) in line with The FA’s role profile who has completed the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer Courses. We commit to supporting the post holder to be involved with ongoing Welfare Officer training provided by The FA and/or CFA.
Our CWO is the first point of contact for all parents/ carers and club officials regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The role of the CWO and their contact information is widely communicated throughout the club. The CWO will liaise directly with the CFA DSO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns.
The CWO will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of respect, acceptable behaviours, how to deal with low-level concerns and how to report abuse.
For more information on the Role of the Welfare Officer, click here
REPORTING CONCERNS
In this Club, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we know that inaction is not an option. If anyone is worried about a child, they must report their concerns to our CWO (Youth Teams). Our CWO will manage low-level concerns and where necessary seek advice from the CFA DSO.
• Our CWO will make referrals about more serious concerns to the CFA DSO, or in an emergency contact the Police or Children’s Social Care. We will ensure that if the child needs immediate medical treatment that we take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them it is a child protection concern.
• Our CWO will keep records of the actions taken and keep the CFA DSO informed. If at any time our CWO is not available, or the matter is clearly serious, all our members must be aware that they can:
• Contact the CFA DSO directly;
• Contact The FA’s Safeguarding Team via Safeguarding@TheFA.com;
• Contact the Police or Children’s Social Care; and/or
• Call the NSPCC Helpline (Monday to Friday 8am-10pm or 9am-6pm at the weekends) for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
Online abuse
The CEOP Safety Centre, which is run by the National Crime Agency (NCA), helps children and young people who are being sexually abused or are worried that someone they’ve met is trying to abuse them online. If you are a child or young person and someone you have met online is putting you under pressure to have sex or making you feel uncomfortable you should report to CEOP. If the concern happens within a football context, then please also let your CWO and County FA know or The FA direct via safeguarding@TheFA.com.
CONTACTS
Jemma Heckford – Bournemouth Sports FC Club Welfare Officer
Tel: 07900 683033
Email: welfare@bournemouthsportsfc.co.uk
Chris Roberjet – Bournemouth Youth Football Hon. League Welfare Officer
Tel: 07860 697630
Email: krisroberjot@gmail.com
Viv Dade – Dorset Youth Football League Welfare Officer
Tel: 07702 127025
Email: steveviv@sky.com
Bournemouth Sports Football Club are affiliated to Hampshire FA and therefore the following additional contacts are available for safeguarding matters :
Shantell Woodward – Hampshire FA Designated Safeguarding Officer
Phone: 01256 853012
Email: Shantell.Woodward@HampshireFA.com
Michelle Saunders – Hampshire FA Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Email: Michelle.Saunders@HampshireFA.com
Melanie Gill – Hampshire FA Senior Safeguarding Lead
Phone: 07885807321
Email: Melanie.Gill@HampshireFA.com
or contact The FA’s Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com
CHILDLINE : 0800 1111
FURTHER INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE
https://www.hampshirefa.com/about/safeguarding-and-welfare
https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-2-reporting-concerns
https://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers/
For full details of all our club policies, click here