Safeguarding in football is everyone’s responsibility, but as a Club, we are required to have a Club Welfare Officer who plays a key role in ensuring that coaches are appropriately checked, trained and remain in date for qualification, as well as ensuring that the club has and follows procedures in relation to safeguarding, dealing with concerns as they arise. Due to the size of the club, we have a welfare team, with aa number of Assistant Club Welfare Officers.
Any parent, player or coach can contact the welfare team at any point to discuss any concerns whether minor or significant.
Our Club Welfare Officer Amanda Stevens is also Chair of the Club. She can be contacted via telephone on 07854 163685 or email at cwo@stubbingtonyouthfc.com. Amanda is normally situated around our Club Tuck Shop at Stubbington Recreation Ground on Saturdays.
Our Assistant Welfare Officers can also be contacted. They take a lead on particular age groups as follows:
• Rachel Cansfield – 07969 100201 – U13-U16s
• Donna Morris – 07527 855427 – U10-U12s
• Louise Durley – 07795 030619 – U7-U9s.
All three Assistant Club Welfare Officers can be emailed at acwo@stubbingtonyouthfc.com.
Amanda will pick up the lead for safeguarding and welfare in the adult teams, U17-U18s, Soccertots and Wildcats.
Should you have an urgent concern and either can’t get hold of our Club Welfare Officer or an Assistant, or want to raise the concern outside of the club, there are a number of routes open to you. You should use one of the following channels appropriate to the urgency and nature of your issue:
• Hampshire FA Designated Safeguarding Officer - Shantell Woodward, contactable in normal office hours on 01256 853012
• Hampshire FA Safeguarding Team – via safeguarding@Hampshire FA.com
• The NSPCC – available 24 hours via 0808 800 5000
• Complete a referral form to report a concern to Children’s Services at Hampshire County Council
• Report online safety concerns to CEOP
• In emergency situations, where you believe a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, call the police on 999
The FA have also provided a short free e-learning (takes 30 minutes) for parents to develop more awareness about safeguarding in football and we encourage parents to undertake this course.