Royal Eagles FC Safeguarding Policy

Commitment to Safeguarding

Royal Eagles Football Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of every child and young person involved in our activities. We are committed to ensuring a safe, positive environment for all. In line with The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures, we define a child as anyone under the age of 18 and subscribe fully to the following key principles:

The welfare of the child is, and always must be, the highest priority.
Every child and young person has the right to protection from abuse, regardless of age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability, or pregnancy and maternity.
All suspicions or allegations of abuse will be treated seriously and handled swiftly and appropriately.
Working in partnership with other organisations, children, young people, and their parents or carers is essential.
Every child participating in football deserves to play in an enjoyable, safe environment, free from poor practice and abuse.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult involved with Royal Eagles FC.

Role of the Club in Safeguarding

Royal Eagles FC has a duty to help protect all children and young people from physical, sexual, and emotional harm, neglect, and bullying. We fully acknowledge that The FA’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (as outlined in The FA Handbook 2023/24) apply to everyone involved in football, whether in a paid or voluntary role—including coaches, managers, volunteers, referees, helpers on club tours, medical staff, and other club officials.

Safer Recruitment

Royal Eagles FC follows The FA’s Safer Recruitment guidelines and will:

Clearly define the role and associated tasks.
Request identification documents.
Meet and have discussions with applicants as a minimum, and where possible, conduct interviews.
Seek and follow up two references prior to any appointment.
Where the role is eligible, require an FA-accepted DBS enhanced check with barred list information, in line with current FA Safeguarding Children Policy and Regulations.

All members of Royal Eagles FC working in roles that involve children and young people, such as coaches, managers, and physiotherapists, must hold an in-date FA-accepted DBS enhanced check with barred list information as part of our safer recruitment procedures.

Where there are concerns about the suitability of an individual involved with Royal Eagles FC or wishing to join the club, guidance will be sought from the County Football Association (CFA). We accept that The FA evaluates the relevance and significance of information from the DBS process and that all decisions regarding suitability are made in line with legislation and in the best interests of children and young people.

The FA’s aim is to prevent individuals with significant relevant offences from working with children or influencing football practices or policies, reducing risks of direct harm or grooming within the sport.

Whistle Blowing

Royal Eagles FC fully supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an individual in a position of trust in football is encouraged to report these concerns (to “whistle blow”) by:

Contacting The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863
Writing to The FA Case Manager, The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ
Emailing: Safeguarding@TheFA.com
Contacting the Police, Children’s Social Care, or the NSPCC directly.

Club Welfare Officer

Royal Eagles FC has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) for our Youth Teams, in line with The FA’s role requirements. Our CWO has completed the FA Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop and engages in ongoing training through The FA and/or CFA.

The CWO acts as the main point of contact for anyone in the club with concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. They liaise directly with the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer and are fully familiar with referral procedures. The CWO also actively promotes awareness of respect, good practice, and safeguarding among all club members.

Bullying

Royal Eagles FC recognises bullying as a form of abuse and does not tolerate it in any form. Should bullying occur, players and parents/carers can access our anti-bullying policy and are assured that incidents will be addressed properly. Cases of serious bullying may be escalated to the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer.

Codes of Conduct

Royal Eagles FC has implemented Codes of Conduct for players, parents/spectators, officials, and coaches, as required by the CPSU Safeguarding Standards. The club has clear procedures for addressing repeated or serious breaches of these codes, and we acknowledge that more serious cases may result in sanctions imposed by the CFA.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

At Royal Eagles FC, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Inaction is never acceptable. If anyone has concerns about a child’s welfare, they should report them immediately to the Club Welfare Officer, who will take the following actions:

i. Manage concerns about poor practice and seek advice from the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer where necessary.
ii. Refer serious concerns to the CFA DSO or, in an emergency, to the Police or Children’s Social Care.
iii. If a child requires urgent medical attention, ensure they receive appropriate medical care and inform medical staff that it may involve a child protection concern.
iv. Maintain clear records of any actions taken and keep the CFA DSO updated.
v. If the Club Welfare Officer is unavailable or the concern is severe, anyone can:

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

The Royal Eagles FC Committee fully accepts our collective duty to uphold and implement our safeguarding policy and procedures. We are committed to ensuring that all our members are aware of these policies and have access to them.

Further Resources

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

Section 1 ‐ football's safeguarding framework ‐ The FA Website

The FA’s Safer Recruitment guidance can be accessed via:

Section 3 ‐ safer recruitment and DBS Checks ‐ The FA Website

Signed:
Royal Eagles FC Committee