Safeguarding
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club is committed to creating a culture where safeguarding responsibilities and procedures for raising concerns are widely understood and embedded in our values.
Everyone working at the club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm.
Our standards of practice promotes the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment in order to provide a safe environment for everyone involved in the club.
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON EASY READ SAFEGUARDING POLICY
ADULTS AT RISK SAFEGUARDING POLICY
ADULTS AT RISK EASY READ SAFEGUARDING POLICY
EASY READ SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK CAN BE VIEWED HERE
CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD
Reporting
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person or vulnerable adult at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, you can contact us via telephone or email. A member of our Safeguarding Team will review the information you have provided within 24 hours and decide what action needs to be taken. You can also fill in our reporting form which can be found below.
We have a duty to share information that you give us with other agencies if we think that a child or vulnerable adult could be at risk of harm.
If you or another person is in immediate danger, call 999 Police or 999 Ambulance Service for assistance.
Making a referral
What we need from you...
Please say as much as you can about the situation – it will help us take the right action. Tell us the facts that you know, as well as any concerns you have about the individual.
Can I remain anonymous?
You can contact us anonymously if you do not want to tell us who you are. However, it's really helpful to have your name and contact details, as we may need to contact you for more information in order to protect the child or vulnerable adult that you are concerned about.
How to contact Us
Tracey Fidler Designated Safeguarding Officer
Tracey.fidler@swfc.co.uk or operationenquiries@swfc.co.uk
Telephone 03700 201867 (in core hours) / 07801 231726
Lindsey Hinton Club Secretary and Senior Safeguarding Manager
Telephone 03700 201867 (in core hours) or or operationenquiries@swfc.co.uk
Concerns can also be reported to the following organisations:
Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership
Adult Safeguarding Partnership
The Child Protection in Sport Unit at: cpsu@nspcc.org.uk
The NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Sheffield Safeguarding Hub. 0114 273 4855 (24 hours) If you are worried that a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm then phone the number to speak to a social worker.
Other useful resources
The PFA Safety Net offers confidential support to Academy players, Trialists and their parents/guardians/carers.
Adult victims and survivors of childhood abuse within a football context can access information about the support available to them here.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) can also be contacted by calling 0808 801 0331 or by visiting their website.
The EFL have a number of mental health self-help guides available.
CEOP is here to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. You can make a report directly to CEOP if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online. CEOP take all reports seriously, supporting you to keep safe.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) support children and young people aged 0-18 (and their families) with a wide range of mental health difficulties in Sheffield.
SAFER RECRUITMENT
The club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults (vulnerable groups) have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Enhanced Criminal Record Checks and reference checks.
Further, staff and volunteers working at the Club regularly undergo training for the FA Safeguarding Children qualification and other relevant training.
Whistle Blowing
Whistle blowing. This is a policy which means revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation, or within an independent structure associated with it.
It can be used as an early-warning system or when it is recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life.
Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague’s conduct towards a child or young person can also use whistle-blowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA’s safeguarding team, or via email to: safeguarding@TheFA.com.
Our Whistle-blowing Policy is available here.
Some of the Key Dates in 2023
6-12 February 2023: National Children's Mental Health Week
childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/
7 February 2023: Safer Internet Day
https://www.saferinternetday.org/
15-21 May 2023: National Mental Health Awareness Week
mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week
10 September 2023: World Suicide Prevention Day
samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/world-suicide-prevention-day/
November 2023, Date TBC: Safeguarding Adults Week