SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Last Updated: April 23, 2026

WE MAKE FOOTBALLERS — SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

We Make Footballers acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to providing 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 align with UK child protection laws and best practices, including those set out by The Football Association (The FA) and the UK Government’s Working Together to Safeguard Children guidelines.

Responsible & Safer Recruitment

Each We Make Footballers academy is an independently owned and operated franchise. We mandate that all franchise owners follow strict, responsible recruitment guidelines for all staff and volunteers. Franchisees are required to:

• Clearly specify each role and the tasks it involves.
• Request valid identification documents from all applicants.
• Meet and interview applicants before appointing them.
• Follow up with a minimum of two references before making any appointment.
• Require and verify a valid Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check for all eligible roles, in line with FA regulations.

All We Make Footballers staff working with children — including academy managers, senior coaches, junior coaches, volunteers, and parent hosts — are required to hold a current, valid Enhanced DBS check as part of our responsible recruitment practice (applicable to all staff aged 16 and over).

Reporting Concerns

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about a child, report your concerns to your local franchise’s Club Welfare Officer (CWO) immediately.

• Poor Practice: If the issue involves poor practice, the local CWO will either handle the matter directly or seek guidance from the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO).
• Suspected Abuse: If the concern involves possible child abuse, contact local Police or Children’s Social Care immediately.
• Immediate Danger: If a child needs immediate medical attention, call 999 and notify your local CWO.
• Corporate Escalation: If you are unable to reach your local CWO, if the matter is not being handled appropriately locally, or if the issue involves the franchise owner themselves, email our central team directly at [email protected].

If the matter is clearly serious and you cannot reach local management, you can also:

• Contact your local authority’s Children’s Social Care department.
• Call the NSPCC 24-hour Helpline: 0808 800 5000.
• Contact the Police by calling 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency).

Whistleblowing

We Make Footballers supports a clear whistleblowing policy. Concerns about an adult in a position of trust can be reported by:

• Emailing We Make Footballers Head Office at [email protected].
• Contacting The FA’s Safeguarding team at [email protected].
• Calling the NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000.