Selsdon Little League acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person directly connected with the league and is committed to providing a safe environment for all.

We recognise that a child is anyone under the age of 18 and therefore we have a responsibility to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. As such we subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures.

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Selsdon Little League endorses and adopts the following key safeguarding principles:

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

2. All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their; age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital status or civil partnership, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability, pregnancy and maternity;

3.   All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; and

4.   Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential.

We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse.

Selsdon Little League recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our league.

1. Selsdon Little League has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The FA’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook TheFA.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/fa-handbook) apply to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, including coaches/managers, volunteers, match officials, helpers on club tours, or medical staff or other club officials/helpers.

2. ​Selsdon Little League supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within football can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting


The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863, by writing to The FA Case Manager at

     The Football Association,
     Wembley Stadium,
     PO Box 1966,
     London
     SW1P 9EQ,

by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA.com or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC.


Selsdon Little League encourages everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to utilise it if necessary.

3. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable. If bullying does occur, all players or parents/carers should be able to access their clubs anti-bullying policy and know that incidents will be dealt with appropriately.

4. Selsdon Little League recognises that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and our registered clubs are required to ensure their safeguarding children policy and procedures are shared with their members and actively promoted.

Selsdon Little League requires any concerns about a child to be managed by Informing the Club Welfare Officer (CWO).

If the issue is one of poor practice the club’s CWO will either:

​- deal with the matter themselves or
- seek advice from the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer (CFA DSO)

​​If the concern is more serious – for example a concern about possible child abuse, the CWO must contact the CFA DSO. If they are not available immediately, then either the Police or Children’s Social Care must be contacted.

If the child needs immediate medical treatment then they must be taken to a hospital, if necessary, an ambulance should be called and advised that this is a child protection concern.


​If at any time a club member is not able to contact their CWO, or the matter is clearly serious then they can either:

​- Contact the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer directly
- Contact The FA’s Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com
- Contact the Police or Children’s Social Care
- Call the NSPCC 24-hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk


If the CWO was not available then the club members are required to let them know what action they have taken, they in turn must inform the CFA DSO.

​​The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures (including the anti-bullying policy) are available via:

TheFA.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-1-footballs-safeguarding-framework