Safeguarding policy and information

Withdean Youth 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.

Child Welfare Officer (CWO)

Our CWO is Marie Harris

• Telephone: ​​07876 655 655
• Email: mazcox1970@hotmail.com

The CWO is responsible for coordinating and delivering the Child Protection agenda for the Club. They can be contacted at any time if you have any welfare or safeguarding concerns. To find out more, please see here.

How to report concerns

If you are worried about a child, or have any kind of safeguarding concern, it is important that you report it:

• Contact the CWO. If the issue is one of poor practice they will either deal with the matter themselves or seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer. If the concern is more serious - possible child abuse - they will, where possible, contact the CFA Welfare Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Services
• If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let the CWO and your CFA Welfare Officer know what action you have taken
• If at any time you are not able to contact your Club Welfare Officer or the matter is clearly serious then you can either: a) contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly, b) contact the Police or Children’s Social Care, c) call the NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

Whistle-blowing

Withdean Youth 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 Safeguarding Team on 0844 980 8200 4787
• writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW10 9EQ
• or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC

Documents and policies

• Our Safeguarding Children policy
• Our Codes of Conduct
• Our Club Policies

External contacts
Do feel free to contact the following organisations:

• The English FA’s Safeguarding Team:
0800 169 1863 safeguarding@TheFA.com
• The Sussex County FA Safeguarding Team:
safeguarding@sussexfa.com
• NSPCC 24-hour Helpline:
0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk or www.nspcc.org.uk
• Childline:
0800 1111