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Child Protection Policy

Our Anti-Bullying

Policy

Concussion Guidelines

Eastside AFC 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.

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 of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly

  • 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.

Eastside AFC acknowledges that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club

Eastside AFC supports The FA’s whistle blowing policy. Any adult or young persons 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

Eastside AFC has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) who has completed the required child protection and best practise workshop. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents/guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the County FA CWO (CFA CWO) 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. As a club we fully acknowledge and endorse that bullying of any kind is not acceptable. If bullying does occur, all players, parents and officials can be assured that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Anyone with any concerns should not hesitate to contact a CPO, member of the committee, or in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CWO. Our Club Code Of Conducts must be adhered to at all times, and failure to do so could result in further action

Club Welfare Officer:
Claire Locke
Tel: 07854362976

Anchor 2

We are committed to providing a caring and safe environment for all our members so they can participate in football in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at this club. If bullying does occur, all club members or parents should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a telling club. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to inform the Club Welfare Officer or any Committee member.

What is Bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying can be:-

- Emotional - being unfriendly, excluding (emotional and physical) sending hurtful text messages, tormenting, (e.g. hiding football boots, shin pads, threatening gestures).

- Physical - pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.

- Racist - racial taunts, graffiti and gestures.

- Sexual - unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.

- Homo phobic because of, or focusing on the issue of sexuality.
- Verbal - name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours and teasing.

Why is Bullying so important to respond to?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Individuals who are bullying needs to be taught different ways to behave.

This club has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to bullying.

Objectives of Eastside AFC Youth Football

All club players, managers, officials and parents have an understanding what bullying is.
All, players, managers, officials should know what the club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
As a club we take bullying seriously. Players and parents should be assured that they would be supported when bullying is reported.

BULLYING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED!!!.

 

Signs and Indications

A child may indicate by signs of behaviour that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and that they should investigate if a child:

Says he or she is being bullied.
Is unwilling to go to club sessions.
Becomes withdrawn, anxious or lacking in confidence.
Feels unusually ill before training sessions.
Comes home with clothes torn or training equipment damaged.
Has possessions go "missing".
Asks for money or stealing money to pay the bully.
Has unexplained cuts or bruises.
Is frightened to say what is wrong.
Gives improbable excuses for any of the above. In more extreme cases:

  • Starts stammering.

  • Cries themselves to sleep at night.

  • Becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable.

  • Is bullying other children or siblings.

  • Stops eating.

  • Attempts suicide or threatens to runaway.

These symptoms may relate to other issues as well but bullying should not be ruled out and investigated.

Procedures

1. Report bullying incidents to the club welfare officer, secretary or a member of the clubs executive committee.
2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be referred to the County FA child protection officer for advice and possibly to the FA case management system.
3. Parents should be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting, to discuss the incident.
4. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consultated, but this will only be appropriate in the most serious cases.
5. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped immediately.
6. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.
7. If mediation fails and the bullying continues, the club will initiate disciplinary action under club rules.

RECOMMENDED CLUB ACTION.

1. Reconciliation by getting both parties together. It may be a genuine apology that solves the problem.
2. If this fails a small panel of 3 made up of club welfare officer, secretary or chairman and a member of the executive committee should meet with the parent and child alleging bullying to get the details of the allegation. Minutes should be taken for clarity and agreed by all parties.
3. The same 3 persons should meet with the alleged bully and parent/s and put the incident raised to them to answer and give there view of the allegation. Minutes should be taken and agreed.
4. If bullying has in their view taken place then the individual should be warned and put on a notice of further action i.e. temporary or permanent suspension if the bullying continues. Consideration should be taken in to account if a reconciliation meeting would help.
5. The club committee should monitor the situation for a given period to ensure that bulling is not continuing.
6. All coaches involved will be made aware of the incident and out come of the process.

IN CASES OF ADULTS BULLYING U18'S.

1. The CFA CPO should be informed and will advise on action to be taken.
2. It is anticipated that in most cases where the allegation is made regarding a team manager, coach or official, the FA child protection and best practice awareness training may be recommended.
3. More serious cases may be referred to the police, social services and judicial complaints procedure.

 

 

 

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Our Equality Policy 

The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Eastside Football Club is equally accessible to them all.

 

Eastside 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.

 

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.

 

This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible for the implementation of this policy.

 

Eastside 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 Eastside 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.

 

Eastside 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. Eastside Football Club will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.

 

Eastside 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.

 

Eastside 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.

 

Eastside 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.

 

 

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