Last updated: Thursday, 20th September 2018

East Kilbride FC is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all players in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to safeguard players from harm, abuse and exploitation.

East Kilbride FC staff and all volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.

This policy outlines the East Kilbride FC commitment to safeguarding players and is based on the following player’s rights:

• The right to a safe environment
• The right not to be illegally discriminated against
• The right to a protection against harm or the risk of harm
• The right to a protection against physical abuse
• The right to a protection against verbal abuse
• The right to a protection against emotional abuse
• The right to a protection against sexual abuse
• The right to a protection against bullying
• The right to a protection against neglect
• The right to express opinions and to have those opinions considered in all matters that concern their well being
• The right that all actions concerning the child should be in his/her best interests
• The right to have all suspicions and allegations taken seriously and actioned on as appropriately

East Kilbride FC shall:

• Promote the health and wellbeing of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in grassroots football safely
• Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of players
• Promote and implement appropriate guidelines to safeguard the wellbeing of players and protect them from abuse
• Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff and officials to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect players from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves
• Ensure that all East Kilbride FC staff and registered officials know that they have a responsibility to keep children safe and register under PVG [Protection of Vulnerable Groups] Scheme
• Require staff and officials to adopt and abide by SFA Child Wellbeing Directives, on which this EKFC Policy is based. This will include adherence to SYFA and SWFA requirements in relation to volunteer recruitment and training
• Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of players in line with this Policy and these guidelines as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures
• Observe guidelines issued by local Child Protection Committees for the protection of children
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these guidelines

East Kilbride FC Process Outline

• Level 1 = Responsible adult to resolve issue at point of incident.
• Level 2 = Informal report to Team Wellbeing Contact
• Level 3 = Formal [ written ] report to Team Wellbeing Contact
• Level 4 = Informal report to Club Wellbeing Manager
• Level 5 = Formal [ written ] report to Club Wellbeing Manager