Leamington Football Club

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY

Implementation Date: ………………………………….

4 th December 2024

Agreed By:

……………

Jim Scott (Chairman)

Next Review Date:

30 th November 2026

Leamington Football Club (LFC) and The Brakes Community Foundation (BCF) acknowledges its

responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its

care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young

person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The

Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures and endorse and accept the

Policy Statement contained in that document.

Policy Statement:

We believe that every child has the right to protection from the abuse and exploitation. Safeguarding

and protection of all children is everyone’s responsibility. Leamington Football Club (LFC) and The

Brakes Community Foundation (BCF) believes that it is always unacceptable for any child to

experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard and protect the welfare of

all children. By adhering to our safeguarding policies, procedures and processes we will do everything

possible to safeguard children at our club, affiliated teams and within our Community Club

Organisation (CCO).

Leamington Football Club (LFC) and The Brakes Community Foundation (BCF)

recognises and is committed to the following principles:

• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.

• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age,

gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith, or belief.

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and

appropriately.

• We will work in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their

parents/carers is essential.

Purpose and aim of policy:

will always seek to provide protection for the children who receive our services. We will provide all

staff with guidance and access to Safeguarding policies and procedures which they should adopt

should they suspect that a child is at risk of harm.

Who policy applies to:

This policy applies to all who are involved with Leamington Football Club (LFC) and The Brakes

Community Foundation (BCF). This includes all the Club board, staff, volunteers, sessional workers,

and contractors.

Types of Abuse:

Physical - A child is physically hurt or injured by an adult, or an adult gives alcohol or drugs to a child

or young person. Common types of physical abuse include hitting, slapping, punching, kicking,

scalding, and burning, inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint.

Sexual Abuse: When a child or young person is sexually abused, they are forced or tricked into sexual

activities. They might not understand that what is happening is abuse or that it is wrong. And they

might be afraid to tell someone. Sexual abuse can happen anywhere – and it can happen in person or

online. It is never a child's fault they were sexually abused – it is important to make sure children

know this.

Emotional abuse: Is any type of abuse that involves the continual emotional mistreatment of a child. It

is sometimes called psychological abuse. Emotional abuse can involve deliberately trying to scare,

humiliate, isolate, or ignore a child. Emotional abuse is often a part of other kinds of abuse, which

means it can be difficult to spot the signs or tell the difference, though it can also happen on its own.

Neglect - Where a child’s basic physical needs are consistently not met, or they are regularly left

alone or unsupervised. Neglect is a persistent failure to meet basic needs (physical or emotional) and

it leads to serious harm to the health or development of a child. Neglect can be failing to provide

adequate shelter, clothing, or food, not protecting a child from harm or danger as well a failing to

access medical care or treatment for a child when it is needed.

Grooming: Is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or

young person so they can manipulate, exploit, and abuse them. Children and young people who are

groomed can be sexually abused, exploited or trafficked. Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their

age, gender, or race. Grooming can take place over a short or prolonged period – from weeks to

years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person's family or friends to make them

seem trustworthy or authoritative.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE): Is a type of sexual abuse. When a child or young person is exploited,

they are given things, like gifts, drugs, money, status, and affection, in exchange for performing sexual

activities. Children and young people are often tricked into believing they are in a loving and

consensual relationship. This is called grooming. They may trust their abuser and not understand that

they are being abused.

Trafficking: Children and young people can be trafficked into or within the UK to be sexually exploited.

They are moved around the country and abused by being forced to take part in sexual activities, often

with more than one person. Young people in gangs can also be sexually exploited.

Sometimes abusers use violence and intimidation to frighten or force a child or young person, making

them feel as if they've no choice. They may lend them large sums of money they know cannot be

repaid or use financial abuse to control them.

Anybody can be a perpetrator of CSE, no matter their age, gender, or race. The relationship could be

framed as friendship, someone to look up to or romantic. Children and young people who are

exploited may also be used to 'find' or coerce others to join groups.

Bullying: Is behaviour that hurts someone else. It includes name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading

rumours, threatening, or undermining someone. It can happen anywhere – at school, at home or

online. It is usually repeated over a prolonged period and can hurt a child both physically and

emotionally.

Cyberbullying: Is bullying that takes place online. Unlike bullying offline, online bullying can follow the

child wherever they go, via social networks, gaming, and mobile phone.

Online abuse: Is any type of abuse that happens on the internet. It can happen across any device that

is connected to the web, like computers, tablets, and mobile phones. And it can happen anywhere

online, including:

● social media

● text messages and messaging apps

● emails

● online chats

● online gaming

● live-streaming sites.

Children can be at risk of online abuse from people they know or from strangers. It might be part of

other abuse, which is taking place offline, like bullying or grooming. Or the abuse might only happen

online.

Criminal exploitation: Is child abuse where children and young people are manipulated and coerced

into committing crimes.

Example:

County Lines: Is the police term for urban gangs exploiting young people into moving drugs from a

hub, normally a large city, into other markets - suburban areas and market and coastal towns - using

dedicated mobile phone lines or “deal lines.” Children as young as 12 years old have been exploited

into carrying drugs for gangs. This can involve children being trafficked away from their home area,

staying in accommodation, and selling and manufacturing drugs.

Domestic abuse: Is any type of controlling, bullying, threatening or violent behaviour between people

who are or have been in a relationship. It can also happen between adults related to one another. It

can seriously harm children and young people, and experiencing domestic abuse is child abuse. It is

important to remember that domestic abuse:

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Is when a female's genitals are deliberately altered or removed for

non-medical reasons. It is also known as 'female circumcision' or 'cutting’ but has many other names.

Other Policies:

Please read this policy in conjunction with our other club policies and procedures relating to

Safeguarding in football:

● Safeguarding Policy

● Adults at Risk Policy

● Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Policy

● Whistleblowing Policy

● First Appearance and Travel Policy (Open Age)

● Prevent Duty Policy

● Social Media Policy

● Anti Bullying Policy

● Safer Recruitment Policy

● Adult Player Code of Conduct

● Coaches, Team Managers and Club Officials Code of Conduct

● Spectators & Parents/Carers Code of Conduct

● Young Player Code of Conduct

Useful further reading and associated external policies:

● Safeguarding - Rules & Regulations | The Football Association (thefa.com)

Responding to Concerns or Allegations:

It is not the responsibility of anyone employed by in a paid or unpaid Leamington Football Club (LFC)

and The Brakes Community Foundation (BCF) capacity to decide whether the alleged harm or abuse

has taken place. However, it is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to act, by reporting any

concerns or allegations of abuse of a child to the Club Welfare Officer (CWO)/Designated

Safeguarding Officer (DSO) or by contacting the appropriate authorities.

When to report suspicions or incidents:

Staff are not expected to be experts in recognising abuse; however, staff should be vigilant and

respond swiftly and appropriately. If any of the following circumstances occur, you should report this

immediately to the CWO/DSO.

Make a written record of the incident or grounds for concern:

You will be guided by the CWO/DSO as to how, when and by whom the parents of the child are to be

informed:

● If you suspect a child may be the victim of abuse by any person, including neglect, physical,

sexual, or emotional abuse.

● If a child appears to have been the victim or perpetrator of bullying, including on-line

cyberbullying.

● If you observe any injuries/marks on a child which they cannot account for, their explanation

for the injury seems unlikely or you have suspicions as to how the injury may have been

caused.

● If there is a sudden change in behaviour, i.e., the child/young person’s behaviour alters

significantly, they become withdrawn or tearful. If a child voices their intentions to self-harm or

if you suspect, he/she may be exhibiting signs/symptoms of self-harm or an eating disorder.

● If you suspect a child has been exposed to any inappropriate or indecent images or discloses

any inappropriate on-line behaviour.

● If you accidentally hurt a child or young person, or you observe another adult hurting a child

● If he/she seems distressed in any manner and you have concerns for their emotional state or

welfare.

● If a child or young person appears to be sexually aroused by your actions or may have

developed an infatuation with you or another member of staff.

● If a child or young person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, which

may compromise your position or working relationship with that child.

Do not worry that you may be mistaken. Being worried about doing the wrong thing is not a reason not

to act. It is better to have discussed it with somebody with the experience and responsibility to make

an assessment.

How to report a concern:

● If the child is in danger or injured, then call the emergency services.

● If you receive an allegation, or have suspicion, or disclosure of poor practice or abuse. Report

this to your CWO/ DSO.

● CWO/DSO will gather the relevant information and inform the National League DSO (Steps 1

& 2), or County FA DSO so that a decision can be made as to who should investigate the

matter or escalate to the FA Safeguarding Case Management Team should the matter meet

the `threshold`.

● CWO/DSO to submit an incident form within 24 hours and send to CFA DSO.

Possible outcomes:

If concern is considered poor

practice/misconduct:

If concern is considered, to be potential abuse:

Refer to CWO/DSO for resolution.

Criminal / Child protection investigation/

prosecution

Club Resolution

Club Disciplinary action

No further action

CONTACT INFORMATION

Club Welfare Officer: Dawn Johnston-Smith

Tel: 07941309307

Email: [email protected]

Investigation by the FA Safeguarding Case

Management Team

Resolution as poor practice / misconduct

Club Safeguarding procedures

If at any time you are not able to contact your Club WO/DSO, or the matter is clearly serious then you

can either contact:

National League DSO: Martyn Cannon

Mobile: 07796 296008

Email: [email protected]

• The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1862 or [email protected]

• The Police on 999 (if in immediate danger)

OR

• call the NSPCC Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email [email protected]