What are they?
These are three hour workshops which encourage a safer and more enjoyable environment for everyone in football. The Football Association recognises that every person with a role with children or vulnerable adults in football has a responsibility to protect the participants in their care and these workshops raise awareness to safeguarding issues.
What is covered?
• Football’s commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
• Examples of best practice, poor practice and abuse
• Recognising the signs, indicators and forms of abuse and their impact on children
• Identifying behaviour that would give you cause for concern
• Explaining the action to take if you are worried about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult
Who should attend?
All coaches, medics and referees in football where under 18 year olds or vulnerable adults participate. Individuals involved in FA Charter Standard Clubs or those completing coaching, medical and refereeing qualifications.
The Football Association recommends that applicants are 18 years or over. The workshop requires some emotional maturity to deal with the content as well as some experience in a leadership role. However, referees may attend this workshop if they are over the age of 16 years.
How do I get on one?
Courses are available and can be found under Courses on the left.
CLUB WELFARE OFFICER
Why are CWOs necessary?
The role is essential, so that we can support clubs to deal with some of the poor practice issues that arise in football clubs. By having appropriate policies, codes of conduct and sanctions etc, clubs can be proactive in raising standards of behaviour in youth football, as well as passing on important information about more serious concerns to the Sussex FA County Welfare Officer and The FA.
What do Club Welfare Officers do?
Club Welfare Officers (CWOs) promote best practice throughout the club. They play a key role in dealing with poor practice concerns in line with the clubs own disciplinary process. More serious concerns are referred by the CWO to the Sussex FA County Welfare Officer, Catherine Larner on 01903 753547 or email catherine.larner@sussexfa.com. Club Welfare Officers are also key in the roll-out of CRB checks .These checks ensure that we prevent people known to be a risk to children from getting involved in Under 18s football.
Is there any help or support for CWOs?
Yes. The FA has developed training for CWOs. County Welfare Officers can offer support and there are more details on The FA.com. Details of the web site and other sources of advice are at the end of this section. Course details can be found under Courses on the left.
YOUTH LEAGUE WELFARE OFFICER
What is the role?
Youth League Welfare Officers (YLWOs) promote best practice throughout the league and play a key role in developing codes of conduct, which promote the playing of football in a fun and safe environment. YLWOs are key in promoting clubs to get involved with The FA’s Safeguarding Children workshops and CRB checking process.
More information on the role of Club and Youth League Welfare Officers can be found via www.TheFA.com – Football Safe – Designated Persons Downloads. For more information on CRB contact crb@TheFA.com or Tel: 0800 085 0506.
If you are worried about the welfare of a child, please call The FA/NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000.
EQUALITY
Football For All
Football For All is the slogan that describes our work in promoting equality and in tackling discrimination and harassment. It includes developing opportunities for groups that are traditionally under represented in football e.g. women and girls, ethnic minorities and disabled people. And it covers all levels of football from playing, through coaching and officiating as well as administrative positions. The FA has a free phone number to report any concerns about Abuse or Discrimination of any kind Tel: 0800 085 0508 or email FootballForAll@TheFA.com
What is equality monitoring?
The County FAs and The FA need to know as much about participants in grassroots football as possible. In order to assist this we circulated a monitoring form with the club re-registration forms this year. The data received from this, for either last years squad or the coming season’s squad, will give us a snapshot of the make-up of grassroots football and we appreciate secretaries taking time to complete the form and return it. We recognise that this data may not be 100% accurate.
What equality data is collected about me as an individual for example in coaching and refereeing?
The information collected relates to age, gender, race, religion and disability. Monitoring is recommended by organisations such as the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, Equal Opportunities Commission, Sport England and UK Sport, as a measure of the progress an organisation is making to eliminate discrimination and ensure it is open and inclusive.
What happens to it?
The information is analysed on a depersonalised basis and used to allow The FA to reflect on the demographic profile of football. This statistical evidence can then be used to target development work where there is clear under-representation.
Can I be traced by my data?
The FA will only disclose the results of the analysis in an anonymous form. We also respect a person’s right not to disclose information relating to disability, ethnic origin, gender or age, therefore, completion of the monitoring questionnaire is, therefore, not compulsory
How do I learn more?
The FA has developed two workshops as part of the Football For All programme. The first is the Football For All Equality workshop, which looks broadly at all the Equality issues, such as gender, race, disability, sexuality and social inclusion. The second – Football For All Race Equality, focuses more specifically on the issues of race and faith in football.
Contact your County FA for more information, or go to www.TheFA.com/FootballForAll