Policies and Procedures
Equality Policy
Complaints Procedure
Child Protection Policy
As the governing body of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the game at every level. Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.
The FA’s commitment is to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability.
The FA is also committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.
Equality Policy
1. The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is equally accessible to them all.
2. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.
3. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.
4. This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible for the implementation of this policy.
5. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club, in all its activities will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. It means that East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.
6. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual, which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable is regarded as discrimination. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.
7. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist, and to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness - raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and promote equality in football.
8. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation - Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.
9. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims, when it is brought to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice stop and sanctions imposed as appropriate.
2. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.
3. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.
4. This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible for the implementation of this policy.
5. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club, in all its activities will not discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. It means that East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will ensure that it treats people fairly and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.
6. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual, which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable is regarded as discrimination. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.
7. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist, and to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness - raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and promote equality in football.
8. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation - Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.
9. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims, when it is brought to its attention, of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice stop and sanctions imposed as appropriate.
Complaints Procedure
In the event that any member feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct have been broken they should follow the procedures below.
1. They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee.
The report should include:
2. The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.
3. The Club’s Management Committee will have the power to:
If the complaint is with regard to the Club’s Management Committee the member has the right to report the discrimination direct to the relevant County Football Association.
2. The key principles of The FA Child Protection Policy are that:
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. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
3. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club 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 Football Association’s child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Child Protection and Best Practice Guidelines for Recruiting Volunteers and will:
• Develop a role profile
• Request identification documents
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing
• Request and follow up with two references before appointing
• Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.
All current Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Football Club, guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.
• The County Football Association’s Child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook
• The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection
• 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
• www.TheFA.com/Goal
• The FA child protection team on 0207 745 4649.
1. They should report the matter to the Club Secretary or another member of the Committee.
The report should include:
i. Details of what, when, and where the occurrence took place
ii. Any witness statement and names
iii. Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way
iv. Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made
v. A preference for a solution to the incident
ii. Any witness statement and names
iii. Names of any others who have been treated in a similar way
iv. Details of any former complaints made about the incident, date, when and to whom made
v. A preference for a solution to the incident
2. The Club’s Management Committee will sit for any hearings that are requested.
3. The Club’s Management Committee will have the power to:
i. Warn as to future conduct
ii. Suspend from membership
iii. Remove from membership any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies or Codes of Conduct.
ii. Suspend from membership
iii. Remove from membership any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies or Codes of Conduct.
If the complaint is with regard to the Club’s Management Committee the member has the right to report the discrimination direct to the relevant County Football Association.
Child Protection Policy
1.
East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club 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 child protection and best
practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy
statement contained in that document.
2. The key principles of The FA Child Protection Policy are that:
• 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, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents or carers is essential.
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents or 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. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
3. East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club 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 Football Association’s child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Child Protection and Best Practice Guidelines for Recruiting Volunteers and will:
• Develop a role profile
• Request identification documents
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing
• Request and follow up with two references before appointing
• Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.
All current Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Football Club, guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.
5.
East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club supports The FA’s ‘whistle
blowing’ policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a
colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Child Protection
Manager on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The
Football Association, 25 Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or by going direct
to the police, social services or the NSPCC. East Thurrock United
Ladies Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise
it if necessary.
6.
East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare
Officer (CWO) in line with The FA’s role profile and required
completion of the child protection and best practice workshop. The post
holder will be involved with designated person’s training provided by
The FA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and
parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or
young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be
familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also
play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and
abuse amongst club members.
7.
We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a
category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club.
If bullying does occur, all players, parents or guardians should be
able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly.
Incidents need to be reported to the CWO, a member of the committee or,
in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.
8.
Codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and
coaches have been implemented by East Thurrock United Ladies Football
Club. In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear
sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges
the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by
leagues or the CFA in more serious circumstances. All prospective
members will be informed of these codes.
9.
East Thurrock United Ladies Football Club’s Club Welfare Officer (CWO)
is Nigel Payne who completed the The FA Child Protection and Best
Practice workshop on 3rd October, 2005 [Certificate No.
1876503/10/2005389223 – available for inspection on request]. This
certification is valid for three years.
The Club’s Child Protection Officer (CPO) is Sue Smith who has a BA in Social Work; she has a Diploma in Counselling and the Supervision of Counsellors. Sue has studied in Systemic Family Therapy at the Institute of Family Therapy, she has trained in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and more recently she has completed a Diploma in Management and NVQ Level 4 in Management. Sue joins the club with 20 years experience of working with Children, Young People and their Families. She currently manages an NCH Project that works with families who are at risk of losing their homes due to their Anti-social behaviour.
10. Further advice on child protection matters can be obtained from:The Club’s Child Protection Officer (CPO) is Sue Smith who has a BA in Social Work; she has a Diploma in Counselling and the Supervision of Counsellors. Sue has studied in Systemic Family Therapy at the Institute of Family Therapy, she has trained in Solution Focused Brief Therapy and more recently she has completed a Diploma in Management and NVQ Level 4 in Management. Sue joins the club with 20 years experience of working with Children, Young People and their Families. She currently manages an NCH Project that works with families who are at risk of losing their homes due to their Anti-social behaviour.
• The County Football Association’s Child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook
• The Football Association/NSPCC Child Protection
• 24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
• www.TheFA.com/Goal
• The FA child protection team on 0207 745 4649.