Child Protection Policy
The Football Association has stated that all bodies affiliated to the Football Association as charter standard organisations, affiliated through the county associations, which provide the opportunity to work with children and young people up to the age of eighteen, include in their rules a policy statement concerning child protection.
The aims of the Forest United child protection policy are to develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment.
To deliver quality assured child protection training and build a network of tutors to facilitate this delivery, in conjunction with, and supported by, the NSPCC.
To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
To promote ethics and high standards throughout football.
Key principles underpinning this 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 identity. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
Working in partnership with children and young people and their parents/carers is essential. Social services departments have a statutory responsibility to ensure the welfare of children and young people. The Football Association is committed to working together with social services departments and local area child protection committees (ACPC) in accordance with their procedures.
Through this policy, Forest United has shown its determination to ensure that children and young people can participate in all forms of football activity and does so with their safety being of paramount importance.