Safeguarding

Safeguarding and Welfare

SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY

Every child or young person under the age of 18 who participates in football should be able to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse and this is the responsibility of everyone involved in football.

English football takes safeguarding extremely seriously. In February 2022, The FA released a new Safeguarding Strategy entitled; Building an Ever Safe Culture. To view the new strategy, please click here.

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

A clear safeguarding strategy has been put in place by English football to protect people involved in the national game. It is complete with policies, procedures and regulations. Every club in the country must adhere to the policies which apply to them. If not, they face sanctions, including suspension from playing.

Policies include the mandatory appointment of a Club Welfare Officer(s) for every league or club with youth teams. There is also a requirement for specified club committee officers to complete the free online ‘Safeguarding for Committee Members’ course. While mandatory for specified officers, the course is open to anyone to raise their awareness of potential situations and how to deal with them.

Welfare Officers must have an FA-accepted Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS), which has to be renewed every three years. Managers, coaches and anybody else regularly involved in youth teams must also have an in date FA DBS Check.

Use the boxes below for more information on safeguarding in football and if you would like any further information, please contact us using the 'Get in Touch' details on this page.

 

Get In Touch

Ken D'Rosario
Designated Safeguarding Officer

Ken D'Rosario

01603 704050 (Opt 1,1,5)
07777 607567

Safeguarding@NorfolkFA.com or 
Ken.D'Rosario@NorfolkFA.com

Matt Carpenter
CEO & 
Senior Safeguarding Lead

01603 704050

Matt.Carpenter@NorfolkFA.com

Ian Grange
Deputy 
Designated Safeguarding Officer

01603 704050 (Opt 1,2)

Ian.Grange@NorfolkFA.com

Matt Lemmon
Deputy 
Senior Safeguarding Lead

01603 704050 (Opt 1,1,1)

Matthew.Lemmon@NorfolkFA.com

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Safeguarding for young footballers

Cubhouse

Visit our page designed specifically for young footballers including lots of information on how to stay safe in football and how to get help if you need it.

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Youth Communications Strategy

Youth Communications Strategy: Comms4Kids 

The aim of our Youth Communication Strategy, ‘Comms4Kids’ has been to enhance our safeguarding communications to all involved in Norfolk football.

Two disability footballers competing for the ball

SAFEGUARDING ADULTS IN DISABILITY FOOTBALL

The FA’s safeguarding framework has now been extended to support adult open-age disability football, providing policy, procedures, regulations and guidance.

Collectively we have an ongoing duty to ensure the game is a safe, positive and enjoyable experience for the millions of children, young people and adults who regularly play, watch, coach, referee and volunteer.

This includes people aged 16 and 17 playing in the open-aged game.

Staying safe online

England player and a young female footballer looking at a mobile phone

The digital world is a great place when used appropriately. Sadly, despite its hugely positive benefits, we regularly see news reports of the negative effects it can have when used or accessed inappropriately. With under 18s, clubs and leagues in mind, The FA have produced three downloadable guidance notes:

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