Safeguarding Children

Last reviewed: 31 August 2026

Urmston Town Juniors FC ("the club") is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who plays for us. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility — players, parents and carers, coaches, volunteers and committee members all have a part to play in keeping children safe.

1. Our policy

The club adopts and works to The FA's Safeguarding Children Policy and the associated FA safeguarding standards and procedures. We follow the guidance published by The Football Association for grassroots clubs.

Everyone involved with the club is also asked to sign up to The FA's Grassroots Code — the national behaviour standard, with codes for young players and for the adults around youth football — which sets out the standards of behaviour we expect on and around the pitch.

• The FA Safeguarding — thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding
• The FA Grassroots Code — englandfootball.com/respect

2. Our Club Welfare Officer

As an affiliated club with youth teams, we have an appointed Club Welfare Officer. They are the first point of contact for any concern about the welfare or safety of a child at the club.

Club Welfare Officer: Lizzy Dickson
Email: safeguarding@urmstontownjfc.co.uk

We do not currently have a deputy Club Welfare Officer. If the Welfare Officer is unavailable, or your concern is about them, please contact Manchester FA (details below).

3. Safe recruitment and training

To keep children safe, anyone appointed to a role that may involve unsupervised contact with, or responsibility for, children — such as a team manager, coach, assistant coach or first-aider — is required to:

• hold a current, FA-accepted enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children's Barred List;
• complete The FA's Safeguarding Children course and keep it in date;
• agree to the club's and The FA's codes of conduct.

The club records these requirements for its coaches and team officials and follows up any that are missing or due for renewal, working with Manchester FA (our County FA). This page sets out what the club requires; it is not a statement that every volunteer is fully compliant at all times.

4. How to raise a concern

If you are worried about a child, or about the behaviour of an adult towards a child, please speak up. You do not have to be certain — if something doesn't feel right, tell us. You can:

• In an emergency — if a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999.
• Contact our Club Welfare Officer — safeguarding@urmstontownjfc.co.uk. They will listen, take it seriously, and help decide the right next steps.
• If your concern is about the Welfare Officer or another club official, or you would rather not raise it within the club — go straight to Manchester FA (below), or The FA's Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com.
• Manchester FA (our County FA) safeguarding team — Designated Safeguarding Officer Scott Dean, Safeguarding@ManchesterFA.com. Their safeguarding page (manchesterfa.com) also offers a call-back booking service.
• Trafford Children's First Response (our local authority) — 0161 912 5125 (Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm); out of hours 0161 912 2020.
• The NSPCC Helpline — 0808 800 5000 (10am–4pm, Monday to Friday) or help@nspcc.org.uk (11am–4pm, seven days). If the service is closed and a child is at risk, call 999 or Children's First Response.
• If you are a child or young person — Childline, 0800 1111, childline.org.uk.
• Report online sexual abuse or grooming of a child through the CEOP Safety Centre at ceop.police.uk/safety-centre.

We will take every concern seriously and handle it sensitively. We cannot promise confidentiality — information will be shared only with those who need it to keep a child safe, make a referral, or meet our safeguarding obligations.

5. Photographs, filming and online contact

The club follows The FA's guidance on photographing and filming children and on communicating with under-18s online. We ask for parent or carer consent before using a player's image publicly (see our Privacy Policy). If you have a concern about a photograph, a social-media post, or online contact involving a child at the club, please tell the Club Welfare Officer.

6. Related policies

• Anti-Bullying
• Equality
• Complaints Procedure
• Privacy Policy

7. Review

This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and sooner if FA guidance or the law changes. The date at the top shows when it was last reviewed.