Berry Youth Football Club 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 al 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 contained in that document.  

The key principles of the 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 and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

•  Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential.

We acknowledge that every child and 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 practices and abuse.

Berry Youth Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

Berry Youth Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual, or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association's child protection regulation applies to everyone in football whether paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, or medical staff.

We endorse and adopt the FA's child protection and best practices guidelines for recruiting volunteers and will:

•  Develop a role profile

•  Request identification documents

•  As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing

•  Request and follow up with two references before appointing

•  Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.

All current Berry Youth Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit.

If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Berry Youth Football Club guidance will be sought from the Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.

It is accepted The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence polices or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual of physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of 'grooming' within football.