Nigel Marlow:
Child Welfare & Safeguarding Officer
Safeguarding children is an integral aspect of the Respect programme. It’s about raising awareness that bullying, verbal, emotional and physical abuse will not be tolerated in football. League and Club Welfare Officers play a key role in this safeguarding work.
The Football Association requires all leagues and clubs with youth teams to have a named Welfare Officer with an ‘accepted’ CRB via The FA CRB Unit and have attended The FA Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officer workshops. League and Club Welfare Officers should contact their County Welfare Officer to find out about opportunities for Welfare Officer training and meetings.
Respect is all about creating a fun and safe environment, there are specific ways in which League and Club Welfare Officers assist the programme’s implementation.
The League Welfare Officer should: • Promote the Respect programme as part of measures to safeguard children in the league. • Attend the Respect club information session run by the league. • Ensure Club Welfare Officers are familiar with the Respect programme. • Monitor behaviour in the league and feedback to The County FA. • Ensure the Respect Codes of Conduct are distributed and used. • Encourage Club Welfare Officers to undertake the online FA Respect Parents’ Guide.
The Club Welfare Officer should: • Promote the Respect programme as part of the measures to create positive football experiences within the club. • Attend the Respect information session held by the league and any such sessions held by the club. • Help people to understand the Codes of Conduct and to keep within the Respect Designated Spectators’ Area. • Talk to the League and/or the County FA Welfare Officer if any incidents of bullying, harassment, discrimination or abuse arise in the club. • Encourage team officials and spectators to undertake the online FA Respect Parents’ Guide. For further information on the role of Welfare Officers please go to www.TheFA.com/FootballSafe