SAFEGUARDING UPDATES

YOUTH CLUBS  

As per previous seasons, please remember that all Club Welfare Officers and coaches assigned to youth teams must hold a valid, FA-accepted DBS issued within the last three years. Club Welfare Officers should also have completed the Safeguarding Children Course and the Welfare Officer Course.

A general reminder that all youth clubs’ Chairpersons, Secretaries, Treasurers and Welfare Officers must complete the online FA Safeguarding for Committee Members course in order for the club to affiliate. This mandatory free course will take approximately 40 minutes and will be valid for 5 years on an individual’s record.

More information on this course and access to it can be found via https://help.thefa.com/support/solutions/articles/7000041379-how-do-i-access-the-fa-safeguarding-for-committee-members-course

Please note that the content is specific to the role of a committee member and as such, you will be required to complete this even if you have an in date Safeguarding Children certificate. The affiliation will not be approved until these are in place. For all queries relating to Safeguarding please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer, Neil.Churcher@DurhamFA.com

OPEN AGED 'ADULT' CLUBS 

For Season 2024-2025, any Open Age Clubs with Teams that contain players under the age of 18 are encouraged to appoint a safeguarding lead who should be added onto the Whole Game System for the club (as Club Welfare Officer Adult Teams).

Open age clubs with players under the age of 18 are required to list coaches and managers on the Whole Game System - these coaches and managers must have an FA accepted in date DBS. For more information please click here to download the DBS Guidance Form. 

ONLINE COURSES

For those clubs/individuals who need to complete either the Safeguarding Children Course/Welfare Officer Workshop or Safeguarding for Committee Members Course can do so by booking onto the relevant course via the FA’s Bootroom website.

Safeguarding Disability Football