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Safeguarding

Club Welfare Officer

Annabelle Green
[email protected]

Keeping Children Safe at Southside Star Youth FC

At Southside Star Youth FC, the safety and wellbeing of every child is our priority.

We want all players to enjoy football in a safe, positive and supportive environment. Every child should feel welcome, listened to, respected and able to take part without fear of bullying, poor behaviour or harm.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. This includes coaches, managers, committee members, volunteers, parents, carers, spectators and players.

Our Commitment

Southside Star Youth FC is committed to:

  • Providing a safe and welcoming environment for all children and young people
  • Listening to children and taking concerns seriously
  • Promoting respect, inclusion and positive behaviour
  • Following FA safeguarding guidance and club policies
  • Ensuring relevant volunteers complete appropriate checks and training
  • Responding properly to safeguarding, welfare and bullying concerns
  • Supporting players, parents, coaches and volunteers to raise concerns safely

Football should be fun, safe and inclusive for every child.

Club Welfare Officer

Our Club Welfare Officer is the first point of contact for safeguarding and welfare concerns within the club.

Club Welfare Officer: Annabelle Green
Email: [email protected]

If you are worried about a child, concerned about behaviour you have seen, or unsure whether something should be reported, please contact the Club Welfare Officer.

You do not need to investigate the concern yourself. Please share the information so the right support and guidance can be put in place.

When to Contact the Club Welfare Officer

Please contact the Club Welfare Officer if:

  • You are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child
  • A child tells you something that concerns you
  • You witness or hear about bullying
  • You are concerned about the behaviour of an adult towards a child
  • You are concerned about the behaviour of another child towards a child
  • You are worried about online behaviour, messages, photos or videos
  • You feel a child is being treated unfairly or excluded
  • You are unsure whether something is a safeguarding concern

No concern is too small to raise. If something does not feel right, please speak up.

If a Child Is at Immediate Risk

If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of serious harm, call 999.

You can also contact the police or children’s services directly if urgent action is needed. England Football guidance states that, in an emergency, concerns should be reported to the police or children’s services.

After taking emergency action, please also inform the Club Welfare Officer as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

How to Report a Concern

If you have a safeguarding or welfare concern, please follow these steps:

  1. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
  2. If it is not an emergency, contact the Club Welfare Officer.
  3. Share the facts as clearly as possible, including what happened, when, where and who was involved.
  4. Do not investigate the matter yourself.
  5. Keep the information confidential and only share it with those who need to know.

The FA advises that safeguarding concerns can be reported through the club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer. Concerns can also be reported directly to The FA safeguarding team.

What Happens After a Concern Is Raised?

When a concern is raised, the Club Welfare Officer will listen, record the information and consider the appropriate next steps.

Depending on the nature of the concern, this may include:

  • Speaking with the person who raised the concern
  • Seeking advice from the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer
  • Referring the matter to the appropriate organisation
  • Taking action under club policies
  • Supporting the child, family, coach or volunteer involved

All concerns will be treated seriously, sensitively and as confidentially as possible.

Bullying

Southside Star Youth FC does not accept bullying in any form.

Bullying can include:

  • Name-calling or teasing
  • Physical behaviour
  • Excluding or isolating someone
  • Spreading rumours
  • Threatening behaviour
  • Online messages or social media posts
  • Repeated unkind behaviour towards another person

If you believe your child is being bullied, or if your child has witnessed bullying, please contact the team manager or Club Welfare Officer.

Bullying concerns will be handled in line with our Club Anti Bullying Policy Youth.

Respect and Positive Behaviour

We expect everyone involved with Southside Star Youth FC to behave respectfully.

Players, parents, carers, coaches, volunteers and spectators all have a part to play in creating the right environment.

We ask everyone to:

  • Respect referees, coaches, players and spectators
  • Encourage children positively
  • Avoid shouting criticism from the sidelines
  • Treat others fairly and kindly
  • Use club communication channels appropriately
  • Raise concerns calmly and through the correct process

Poor behaviour, abuse, aggression or intimidation will not be accepted.

Please read the relevant club Respect Codes of Conduct:

Photography, Video and Social Media

We love celebrating our players and teams, but children’s safety and privacy must always come first.

Please do not share photos or videos of other children without appropriate permission.

Social media must not be used to criticise players, coaches, referees, volunteers, parents, opposition teams or leagues.

Please read our Photo, Video and Social Media Policy for full guidance.

Safer Recruitment and Volunteers

Southside Star Youth FC is run by volunteers, and we are grateful to everyone who gives their time to support our players.

Volunteers working with children may be required to complete appropriate checks, training and approval before starting their role. This helps us make sure children are supported safely and appropriately.

The FA highlights the importance of Club Welfare Officers and safeguarding procedures within grassroots football, including appropriate welfare support and reporting routes.

Players: Who Can You Speak To?

If you are a player and something is worrying you, please speak to someone you trust.

This could be:

  • Your parent or carer
  • Your coach or team manager
  • The Club Welfare Officer
  • Another trusted adult at the club
  • A teacher or another adult outside football

You will be listened to and taken seriously.

If you feel unsafe or need urgent help, speak to an adult straight away.

Parents and Carers

Parents and carers are an important part of safeguarding.

You can help by:

  • Making sure your child knows who they can talk to
  • Keeping emergency and medical details up to date
  • Telling the club about any concerns early
  • Supporting positive behaviour from the sidelines
  • Using social media responsibly
  • Reading and following club policies
  • Encouraging your child to speak up if something feels wrong

Useful Club Policies

Please read the following club policies and codes of conduct:

Useful External Links

In an Emergency

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

For urgent safeguarding concerns, contact the police or children’s services.

For club safeguarding concerns, contact the Club Welfare Officer.

Thank You

Thank you for helping us keep Southside Star Youth FC safe, welcoming and positive for every child.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and by working together we can make sure every player feels protected, respected and able to enjoy their football.