Here you will find our club policies on Child Protection, Anti-Discrimination, Equal Opportunities and GDPR.
Child Protection Policy
The introduction of this Child Protection Policy should be seen as a clear signal by East Grinstead Town FC that it is determined to ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect from harm, those children and young people who participate in football at all levels in the club. The policy establishes The East Grinstead Town Football Club’s position, role and responsibilities and what is expected from Club members at all levels. It very clearly highlights the importance placed by The Club on the protection of children and young people.
A successful Child Protection Policy would go a long way to achieving the aim of East Grinstead Town Football Club, The Sussex County FA and The F.A. in ending all cruelty to children.
Richard Tramontin
Chairman
East Grinstead Town FC
Acknowledgments
East Grinstead Town FC would like to thank the Football Association for their guidance in the development of this document, which is based on their Child Protection Policy.
East Grinstead Town Football Club is an accredited FA Standard Chartered Development Club and a registered Community Amateur Sports Club (reg no CASC 02270)
1. East Grinstead Town 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 endorseand 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.
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 Grinstead Town Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
3. East Grinstead Town 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 East Grinstead Town 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 East Grinstead Town 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 Grinstead Town 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 Grinstead Town Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.
6. East Grinstead Town 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 Grinstead Town 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.
Anti-Discrimination Policy
East Grinstead Town FC is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to and should be enjoyed by everyone, equally. Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by reason of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.
Equality of opportunity at East Grinstead Town FC means that in all our activities we will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of sex, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or disability.
This includes:
. The advertisement for volunteers.
. The selection of candidates for volunteers.
. Courses.
. External coaching and education activities and awards.
. Football development activities.
. Selection for teams.
. Appointments to honorary positions.
East Grinstead Town FC will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.
East Grinstead Town FC is committed to the development of the programme of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination within its own organisation and in the wider context, within football as a whole.
Equal Opportunities Policy
East Grinstead Town FC is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members of whatever level or authority, to abide and adhere to this general principle and the requirements of the Codes of Practice issued by the Equal Opportunities Commission and Commission for Racial Equality.
All members are expected to abide by the requirements of the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Specifically discrimination is prohibited in:
. Treating any individual on grounds of gender, colour, marital status, race, nationality or ethnic or national origin, religion, sexual orientated or disability less favourably than others.
. Expecting an individual solely on the grounds stated above to comply with requirement(s) for any reason whatsoever related to their membership, which are different to the requirements for others.
. Imposing on an individual, requirements which are in effect more onerous on that individual than they are on others. For example this would include applying a condition (which is not warranted by the requirements of the position) which makes it more difficult for members of a particular race or sex to comply than others not of that race or sex.
. Victimisation of an individual.
. Harassment of an individual (which for the purposes of this policy and the actions and sanction applicable thereto is regarded as discrimination).
. Any other act or omission of an act, which has as its effect the disadvantaging of a member against another, or others, purely on the above grounds. Thus, in all the Club’s recruitment, selection, promotion and training processes, as well as disciplinary matters etc. – in other words all instances where those in control of members are required to make judgements between them – it is essential that merit, experience, skills and temperament are considered as objectively as possible.
East Grinstead Town FC commits itself to the immediate investigation of any claims of discrimination on the above grounds and where such is found to be the case, a requirement that the practice cease forthwith, restitution of damage or loss (if necessary) and to the investigation of any member accused of discrimination.
Any member found guilty of discrimination will be instructed to desist forthwith. Since discrimination in its many forms is against the Football Club’s policy, any members offending will be dealt with under the disciplinary procedure.
The Football Club commits itself to the disabled person whenever possible and will treat such members, in aspects of their recruitment and membership, in exactly the same manner as other members, the difficulties of their disablement permitting assistance will be given, wherever possible to ensure that disabled members are helped in gaining access. Appropriate training will be made to such members who request it.
