Summer 2024 Tournament

THE HAMPSHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION GENERIC SAFEGUARDING BRIEFING FOR CHILDREN ATTENDING ORGANISED SANCTIONED FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS WITHIN HAMPSHIRE CFA

Hello players/teams we are delighted you have chosen to be part of our football tournament which is sanctioned by Hampshire FA. Every one of you are most welcome, we want you to enjoy your football experience today, the aim being that you can participate in a safe and fun environment and be protected from abuse and harm. This is the responsibility of every Adult involved in football here today, thus every adult is required to endorse and adhere to our Clubs Safeguarding Children Policy which is in line with the Hampshire FA and FA Policies.

This tournament organized by Oakley Football Club recognizes its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and young people who play or participate in football by protecting them from abuse and harm. As someone who has not yet reached your 18th birthday you are classified as a child/young person. To make you aware Abuse & Harm can be as follows;

Abuse; A violation of your human or civil rights by any other person or persons and, shall include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and bullying.

Harm; Ill treatment and forms of ill treatment (including sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment

which are not physical) Our Safeguarding Children Policy is supported by The Hampshire Football Association’s Respect program to address verbal abuse and bullying of children and young people by parents and coaches on the sidelines. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. If you are unhappy about an incident today please report your concern to either your parents, Coach/Manager or indeed to our control tent and a member of the tournament committee who are as follows;

I would also like to make you aware that Clubs must have in place a qualified Welfare Officer in line with The Hampshire Football Association affiliation requirements. A Club Welfare Officer must sit on the management committee of your Club and are the designated person at your Club responsible with and alongside other management committee members to ensure you are safe and happy at your Club.

The role of the Club Welfare Officers is to be clear about the Clubs responsibilities when running activities for children and young people and ensure those actively involved with children and young people understand what their duty of care means on a day to day basis. If you do not know who your Club Welfare Officer is please ask your parents or your Coach/Manager so if in the future you need to talk to your Club Welfare Officer then you know how to contact them.

One of Oakley Football Club Welfare Officers, Steven Lock or Jason Yau, will be present throughout the tournament, and can be contacted at CWO@OakleyFootball.Club or by telephone on 01256 672225, including during the tournament.

If you need any further advice or information, please talk to a relevant adult who in turn can contact the Hampshire FA Designated Safeguarding Officer who is Melanie Gill Melanie.Gill@HampshireFA.com or call 07885 807321.  Alternatively you can raise concerns about abuse/harm within an organization by contacting the FA 0800 169 1863 Ext 6300 or 6400 or via email safeguarding@TheFA.com. You can also go direct to the Police or Children’s Social Care and report your concerns there, or to the Child Protection in Sport Unit via cpsu@nspcc.org.uk or the NSPCC Helpline via 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk

We do hope you enjoy your football experience and as such will want to come back again.