Let's make football safe, not sorry

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Non-action is not an option

Ensuring the safety of young people and vulnerable adults involved in the game of football is a fundamental aspect of our role as governing body, but it is something that we cannot do alone.

Most children and young people have a positive experience playing the game - but sadly, some don't. This is why we all need to be vigilant to ensure our leagues and clubs are places where unacceptable behaviours are challenged and children supported.

The ongoing work to make the game as safe and enjoyable as possible is led by The FA, the game’s governing body in England. This work is delivered locally through County FAs such as ourselves, in conjunction with leagues and clubs.

There are three pillars on which The FA’s safeguarding strategy is built:

• People - safer recruitment and thorough Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
• Raising awareness - extensive and appropriate safeguarding education and best practice guidance
• Dealing with concerns - making it easy to report concerns and investigating swiftly and thoroughly

In addition to having our own Designated Safeguarding Officer here at Hertfordshire FA, there is a volunteer workforce across the grassroots game who oversee activity in their organisations and promote best practice in safeguarding.

Every club with a youth section and all youth leagues are required to have a Welfare Officer. Should you have any concerns relating to safeguarding children, one of these should be your first point of contact.

If you would like to learn more about football's safeguarding framework, you can visit The FA Website or use the signposts below to find further information and resources.

Safeguarding AT HERtfordshire fa

Reporting A Concern

Don't wait for someone else to do something about it

A child or young person may inform you directly that they are concerned about someone’s behaviour towards them or you may become aware, through your own observations or through a third party, of possible abuse occurring.

There are five ways to report a concern:

• To your Club Welfare Officer – please find out from your club who they are;
• To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer via Safeguarding@HertfordshireFA.com or by calling 01462 650215;
• By emailing The FA Safeguarding Team at Safeguarding@TheFA.com or by calling and asking for the team on 0800 169 1863;
• If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you should call the NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000;
• If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police using 999 or Hertfordshire Children’s Social Care on 0300 123 4043

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, ALWAYS call 999.

If you are concerned that someone may be behaving inappropriately, or is seeking to groom a child in an online environment, then please use the CEOP reporting button that will take you directly to the team at the National Crime Agency. You should also inform our Designated Safeguarding Officer via Safeguarding@HertfordshireFA.com.