Safeguarding in Berks & Bucks
Information on local safeguarding support services
Safe, Fun and Inclusive Football experiences For All.
Here at Berks & Bucks FA, we offer a range of safeguarding services and training to help create these positive environments and support our clubs, leagues and the wider football community.
We ensure safeguarding standards are met as a requirement of club affiliation and we support clubs to maintain these standards across the season. This includes making unannounced safeguarding visits to clubs and regular support and information sessions.
Our County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer is Graham Fisher. Graham leads our safeguarding work in football across the region, working collaboratively with our affiliated clubs and leagues to ensure football remains safe and fun for all.
If you need to contact Graham for any reason relating to Safeguarding and Welfare in football, he can be reached via the details below:
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Responsibility for the safeguarding of children, ensuring safeguarding operating standards are met and to work collaboratively with, and support, the Club Welfare Officers and Youth League Welfare Officers.
01235 544894
Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
Here to support you
With over 250 Welfare Officers operating in our grassroots clubs and leagues, regular support is paramount.
Our Safeguarding Team will send you regular updates and give you opportunities throughout the season to meet and learn more. We understand the importance of this role and the support that Welfare Officers across the region may need during difficult situations.
Below are you will find a monthly round-up of topics discussed in our weekly newsletter to all Welfare Officers.
Alternatively, if you are a Welfare Officer and feel you need support or would like to talk to our Designated Safeguarding Officer, please get in touch.
A quick round-up of topics discussed in July's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Discrimination complaints
• Changes to lifespan of the safeguarding children course
• Reflections on Pride month
• National safeguarding weekend
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in June's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Information around young players with autism and young players with disability
• Young players who have a severe allergy (Anaphylaxis)
• Information about the safeguarding pages on our website
For full details on each of the topics discussed, please refer back to the weekly newsletters sent on Fridays to all Club and Youth League Welfare Officers.
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in May's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Floodlights – A reminder about a powerful drama on the BBC
• Monthly meetings – Take a look back at our monthly, Welfare Officer Support, meetings from the 2021/22 season.
• New Course – Safeguarding awareness for parents and carers course is available now
• Social Media – A look at suitable social media policies for clubs
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in April's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Information about the Female Coaches Community, found here.
• Awareness regarding a man in the West Berkshire/Reading area claiming to be an Arsenal coach
• Information around trans people in football
• Rules around poor behaviour by parents/coaches, and by players on the pitch
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in March's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Safer Touchlines online sessions launched. If you would like to view/watch these free sessions for coaches, parents, players and officials, click here.
• Monthly welfare officer meetings now to be held on the second Monday of every month at 7pm.
• An update around the number of complaints regarding behaviour. Good news, nearly two-thirds of our clubs with youth teams have received no complaints.
• ‘Reminder’ - What to do when a DBS applicant says they haven’t received an email – There are one or two things to check before you report this as a problem.
For full details on each of the topics discussed, please refer back to the weekly newsletters sent on Fridays to all Club and Youth League Welfare Officers.
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in February's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• The launch of our Safer Touchlines initiative – An initiative aimed at making our touchlines a safer and nicer place
• What to do when a DBS applicant says they haven’t received an email – There are one or two things to check before you report this as a problem
• Details around the Safeguarding Children Course – The recertification course is still free, while there is a cost for first time takers of the safeguarding children course
• The FA Safeguarding Strategy – The launch of the FA safeguarding strategy for 2022 -2024
For full details on each of the topics discussed, please refer back to the weekly newsletters sent on Fridays to all Club and Youth League Welfare Officers.
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
A quick round-up of topics discussed in January's Weekly Welfare Officer Newsletters:
• Why a DBS isn’t complete when the certificate arrives - Discussing the DBS process and how to know when a check is complete
• Safer Internet Day – A look at the day dedicated to internet safety for our children but a wider look at what can be done
• Qualification and DBS requirements for coaches and officials – Looking at what is required for different volunteer roles within the club
• The Online Safety Bill – A chance to influence our politicians!
For full details on each of the topics discussed, please refer back to the weekly newsletters sent on Fridays to all Club and Youth League Welfare Officers.
If you need any further information, or you are not getting the newsletters and would like to, please contact our Designated Welfare Officer, Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
Safeguarding support Meetings
To provide additional support to our Club and League Welfare Officers we host monthly online meetings/update sessions that can be joined live or watched back at a time that suits you.
These dedicated meetings are where Welfare Officers can share ideas, receive updates from the Designated Safeguarding Officer and collectively support each other. If you would like to attend the next meeting, please keep an eye on your emails or contact Graham Fisher via Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com for more information.
Below you will find links to watch the previous three meetings. The full catalogue of previous recordings across the season is available to watch on our YouTube channel.
other Safeguarding support Services
Education, Learning and Development
England Football host a number of courses, learning modules and certifications related to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults for Welfare Officers, Referees, Club & League Committee Members and the wider football community.
To see a complete list of Safeguarding & Welfare related learning, please visit EnglandFootball.com.
Reporting Concerns
The welfare & safeguarding of young people and vulnerable adults in football is our primary concern. If you or any of your members are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child or vulnerable adult, please Report It to us, using the simple online form, below.
We will treat your concern with the respect and importance that it deserves, all the while keeping the safeguarding of the child or vulnerable adult at the centre of our investigation.
Report a Safeguarding Concern
If you are concerned about the welfare or safety of a child or vulnerable adult in football please Report It online via your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop device by completing our online Report a Concern form.
Please provide as much information as you can so that we can investigate your concern fully.
our wider safeguarding team
Responsibilities
Responsibility for the safeguarding of children, ensuring safeguarding operating standards are met and to work collaboratively with, and support, the Club Welfare Officers and Youth League Welfare Officers.
Contact:
01235 544894
Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com
For all safeguarding enquiries please contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer, via:
01235 544894
Safeguarding@Berks-BucksFA.com