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Reporting Safeguarding & Welfare Concerns
The safety, wellbeing, and protection of our players is our absolute priority. We strictly follow The FA’s safeguarding guidelines, and we firmly believe that "no action is not an option."
If you have a concern regarding the welfare of a child, young person, or vulnerable adult within our club, please use the structured reporting process below. Do not attempt to investigate the matter yourself.
1
Emergency Procedure (Immediate Risk)
If a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger or at risk of significant harm:
Call the Police (999) or contact local Children’s Social Care immediately.
Inform our Club Welfare Officer (CWO) after you have alerted the emergency services.
2
Club Welfare Officer (CWO)
Who to contact: see our Welfare page here.
What happens next: Our CWO is fully trained to handle these matters confidentially. They will formally log the details, offer immediate advice, and ensure the correct steps are taken. If a coach or manager is alerted to a concern, they must pass it to the CWO immediately.
3
County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
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When to use: If our CWO is unavailable, if the concern involves the CWO, or if you feel a reported issue has not been handled correctly.
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Who to contact: find the current Sussex FA Designated Safeguarding Officer via https://www.sussexfa.com/about/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-and-welfare
4
The FA National Safeguarding Team
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When to use: For complex, serious, or unresolved cases that require national-level intervention.
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Who to contact: Email safeguarding@TheFA.com or contact The FA Case Management team directly.
5
External Whistleblowing & Support
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When to use: If you wish to report a concern entirely outside of the football network, or if you feel the football authorities have failed to act.
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Who to contact:
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NSPCC 24-Hour Helpline: 0808 800 5000
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The FA Whistleblowing Line: 0800 169 1863
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