Whitehill & Bordon FC

Safeguarding

Every child and young person who plays, trains or watches football with The Stags has the right to be safe — and to be listened to when something is wrong.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.Do not wait to speak to anyone at the club first.

Club Welfare & Safeguarding Officer

Emily Groves

welfareofficer@whitehillbordonfc.co.uk

Emily is the first point of contact for any safeguarding or welfare concern at the club. She holds a current FA-accepted DBS check and the relevant in-date FA safeguarding qualifications, and is registered against the club on the FA Club Portal.

How to report a concern

You don’t need to be certain. If something doesn’t feel right, report it — you will be listened to, and you don’t have to investigate or decide whether it’s serious enough.

  1. Act immediately if someone is in danger

    Call 999. Don’t wait to speak to the club first.

  2. Write down what you saw or were told

    The facts, as soon as you can: what was said or seen, when, where, and who was present. Use the child’s own words where you can. Don’t question them further, don’t promise to keep a secret, and don’t try to investigate.

  3. Tell our Club Welfare Officer

    Email Emily Groves at welfareofficer@whitehillbordonfc.co.uk the same day.

  4. Or go straight outside the club

    If the concern is about the Club Welfare Officer, or you would simply rather not raise it inside the club, contact Hampshire FA, The FA or the NSPCC directly using the contacts below. You do not need our permission.

Anyone who raises a concern in good faith will be supported by the club and will not be penalised for doing so, even if the concern turns out to be unfounded. Concerns can be raised in confidence.

Contacts

Emergency services
999A child or adult is in immediate danger
Club Welfare Officer
Emily Groves
welfareofficer@whitehillbordonfc.co.ukAny safeguarding or welfare concern at the club — first port of call
Hampshire FA Safeguarding Team
safeguarding@hampshirefa.com
01256 853 012If you would rather go outside the club, or the concern is about the Club Welfare Officer
The FA Safeguarding Team
Safeguarding@TheFA.com
0800 169 1863Any concern in football, at any time
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000 · help@nspcc.org.uk24 hours a day — advice or to report a concern about a child
NSPCC Sport
sport@nspcc.org.ukSafeguarding advice specific to sport
Childline
0800 1111 · childline.org.ukFor children and young people to talk to someone in confidence
Hampshire Children’s Services
0300 555 1384Concerns about a child’s welfare in Hampshire
Report discrimination
0800 058 0508Discriminatory abuse in football
CEOP Safety Centre
ceop.police.uk/safety-centreOnline sexual abuse or grooming

Our commitment

The club adopts The Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy in full, together with The FA’s Safeguarding Children Regulations and the safeguarding policies and procedures of Hampshire FA.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at this club. It is not the job of one person. Inaction is not an option.

  • The welfare of the child comes ahead of results, reputation and convenience.
  • All children, whatever their age, ability or disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation or background, have the right to protection from harm.
  • All suspicions and allegations will be taken seriously and acted on swiftly.
  • Everyone working with children here is recruited safely, DBS-checked, trained and supported.
  • Children will be listened to, and told how to raise a concern in a way they understand.

Safe recruitment, DBS and training

Before anyone takes up a role working with under-18s in a regulated activity — managers, coaches, assistants, first aiders and the Club Welfare Officer — the club ensures they:

  • are correctly registered against the club and their team on the FA Club Portal
  • hold a current FA-accepted Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check
  • hold an in-date FA Safeguarding Children certificate, renewed every three years
  • hold the relevant FA coaching and emergency first aid qualifications for their role
  • have read and signed the club’s codes of conduct

The Club Welfare Officer and Club Secretary review these records regularly. Anyone whose DBS or safeguarding qualification lapses steps back from working with youth teams until it is renewed.

Our policies

These policies apply to everyone connected with the club. They are currently issued as interim policies — in force now, and going to the club committee for formal ratification at its next meeting.

Photography and filming

We love sharing pictures of The Stags in action, but we do it carefully.

  • Parents and carers are asked to consent before their child is photographed or filmed for club use, including our website and social media.
  • We don’t publish a child’s full name alongside their image without permission.
  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time — email the Club Welfare Officer and we’ll stop, no explanation needed.
  • Cameras and phones must never be used in changing rooms, toilets or shower areas, by anyone, at any time.
  • Anyone wishing to photograph or film at a youth fixture should make themselves known to the team manager or Club Welfare Officer first.

Parents, carers and players

If you’re new to the club, here’s what you should know:

  • You have the right to know who our Club Welfare Officer is and how to reach her. It’s Emily — details at the top of this page.
  • You have the right to expect that everyone coaching your child is DBS-checked and safeguarding-trained.
  • You can raise a concern, ask a question or make a complaint without it affecting your child’s place in a team.

Players — if something at football is making you unhappy or worried, tell your coach, tell Emily, tell a parent, or call Childline free on 0800 1111. You will be taken seriously, and it won’t get you dropped.

Adults at risk

Safeguarding at this club isn’t only about children. Our open-age teams and volunteers are covered by The FA’s safeguarding adults at risk policy, and the same reporting routes apply. Speak to the Club Welfare Officer or Hampshire FA.

Whitehill & Bordon FC · The Daly Ground, School Road, Bordon, Hampshire GU35 0NU
This page is reviewed at least annually by the club committee.

Badge of Whitehill & Bordon Football Club featuring a deer silhouette and soccer ball, with the years 2020 and 2021.