SAFEGUARDING UPDATE – FEBRUARY 2022

WELFARE OFFICER SUPPORT SESSION

We are delighted to be hosting our next Welfare Officer Support Session on Thursday 3rd March 2022, 7pm via Microsoft Teams. We will be covering a variety of topics including England Football Accreditation, Equality Clubs/Leagues Charter with Kick it Out and also Colour blind Awareness. 

You can register to attend via this quick form 

FA SAFEGUARDING STRATEGY 2021-24

This week, The FA released Building An Ever-Safer Culture - its new Safeguarding strategy for 2021/22 and 2023/24.

Head to the link below to find out more and to download a copy of the strategy in full:
https://t.co/GVr3ENudUi

COLOURBLINDNESS AWARENESS

Following our last Welfare Officer Support Session where we touched on the importance of colour blindness awareness, we have continued to add to our bank of resources around factors to consider within your club and league about colour blindness. You can find these on our website:

https://www.cheshirefa.com/inclusion/colour-blind-awareness 

You can also find some really useful videos via YouTube 

REFEREE RESPECT & YELLOW ARMBANDS FOR U18 REFEREES

It can sometimes be forgotten that we have a high proportion of children refereeing across the County. It has been of big concern to hear of the number of cases where an Under 18 referee has been abused by an adult involved in football; whether it be a coach or spectator. This is completely unacceptable. We ask all Leagues and Clubs to remind their coaches and spectators of their duty to safeguard ALL under 18’s in football – including referees – from this kind of abuse. It will not be tolerated.

You can read more about our Yellow Armband campaign here 

SAFEGUARDING VISITS

The Cheshire FA team are continuing to conduct random spot-check Safeguarding Visits across the County. This is to ensure that clubs are following FA Safeguarding protocols and communication within clubs is clear to ensure the safety of children within a club. It is imperative that clubs ensure all members of the club know who the Club Welfare Officer is, how to report a Safeguarding concern and the FA’s Whistleblowing Policy (https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-2-reporting-concerns).

SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

We are aware that in 2022, communication via social media/instant messaging services is more frequent. There are essential pieces of advice however that we would recommend you follow. Please see this article via the FA:

https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-6-safeguarding-in-the-digital-world

1-TO-1 SUPPORT SESSIONS FOR WELFARE OFFICERS

Our Safeguarding Manager, Nadine Crane, is available to meet with Welfare Officers on a 1-to-1 basis either via telephone, video call or in person. If you require Safeguarding support or specific advice, please fill in this form and we will book you in.

FA COMPLETE DOWNLOADS DIRECTORY

The FA have a vast amount of Safeguarding related templates and documents available for you to take a look at, or use to integrate within your organisation. Head over to https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-11-the-complete-downloads-directory and make the most of the excellent resources available. They are hugely helpful in terms of advice and extending your knowledge around Safeguarding.

BEST PRACTICE

Finally, we are aware that there are so many clubs and organisations across Cheshire doing some fantastic work. If YOU have an example of best practice that you do within your organisation that you would like to share, we would love to hear about it and then we can look to come and find out more in person, to see it for ourselves. You may have a youth forum to listen to the voices of the children within your club, or you may plan completely inclusive sessions – whatever it may be, let us know! Safeguarding@CheshireFA.com 

If you need any help, please contact our Safeguarding Team (below)

SAFEGUARDING@CHESHIREFA.COM 

Designated Safeguarding Officer: Nadine Crane
Senior Safeguarding Lead: Steve Smithies
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer: Greg McLean
Deputy Senior Safeguarding Lead: Danielle Shields 

Let’s continue to ensure that Safeguarding remains at the forefront of our minds in our day-to-day operations within football across Cheshire. Thank you.