SAFEGUARDING
Our Commitment
Collectively and individually, we take our responsibilities to safeguard the welfare of children very seriously and we continuously strive to make the game ever more inclusive, safe, and enjoyable for every child, whatever their role – whether as a player, match official, mascot or volunteer.
The Football Authorities have a shared ongoing commitment to make our national sport as safe, enjoyable and inclusive as possible for everyone.
To do so, we continue to work collaboratively in line with legislation, Government guidance and industry
best practice to:
- Implement preventative safeguarding measures, supported by regulations and/or rules, policies, procedures, standards, safer recruitment checks, guidance and training;
- Make the reporting of concerns as easy as possible;
- Ensure safeguarding and child protection concerns are investigated swiftly and effectively in conjunction with statutory agencies – and with demonstrable outcomes;
- Review and continuously develop our practice.
This commitment underpins both our Welfare Policy and our own individual organisation’s policies.
Head of Safeguarding
Stuart Hinton – Head of Safeguarding.
Stuart heads up Safeguarding and Welfare at Leighton Park Rangers F.C.
If you’d like to get in touch or to report a concern please email Stuart on: welfare@leightonparkrangers.com
Reporting a Concern
If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.
There are five ways to report a concern:
To your club Designated Safeguarding Officer – welfare@leightonparkrangers.com
To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer. Click here for a list of County FA contacts;
By emailing The FA Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@TheFA.com;
If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline for expert advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk;
If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.
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 County FA know (see list of contacts) or The FA direct via safeguarding@TheFA.com.
