Every child's safety, wellbeing and enjoyment comes first. If you're worried about a child, at training, at a match or anywhere else, please tell us.
George Thompson
Contact George about any concern for a child's wellbeing or safety.
georget@neilstonfcyouth.comCall 999
If a child is in immediate danger, contact Police Scotland or the emergency services straight away, then let the Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer know.
Version: June 2026 · Review date: June 2027 · Approved by: Club Committee
Neilston Football Club Youth Academy is committed to providing football in a safe, fun, inclusive and rights-respecting environment for every child and young person. This policy reflects the current child wellbeing and protection framework used across Scottish football, including the Scottish Youth Football Association policy structure, Scottish FA wellbeing and protection resources, minimum operating standards for clubs, and the 2024–2030 Scottish football strategy Roars not Whispers: Children’s Rights at the Heart of Scottish Football.
Our aim is that children flourish because their safety, wellbeing, rights and enjoyment are at the heart of every level of our club. Everyone involved in the club has a responsibility to recognise, respect, promote and protect children’s rights and to act where a child’s wellbeing or safety may be affected.
This policy applies to all children and young people under the age of 18 who participate in, volunteer with, officiate, support or otherwise take part in club activity. It applies to all coaches, committee members, volunteers, parents and carers, spectators, officials, contractors and any other adults acting on behalf of the club.
For the purpose of this policy, “child”, “children”, “young person” and “young people” mean anyone under 18. An “adult” means anyone aged 18 or over, and may also include someone under 18 who is in a position of trust or responsibility. “Safeguarding” means taking proactive action to keep children safe from harm. “Child wellbeing and protection” means promoting wellbeing, preventing harm, responding to concerns, and ensuring children’s rights are central to decision-making.
The club will promote, respect and protect the rights, wellbeing and safety of every child and young person. We will provide football in a way that is inclusive, approachable, empowering and accountable. We will listen to children and young people, take their views seriously, involve them in decisions that affect them where appropriate, and ensure that concerns are acted on without delay.
We recognise that abuse, harm and poor practice can happen in person or online, within or outside football, and may involve adults or other children. The wellbeing and best interests of the child will be the paramount consideration in all decisions made under this policy.
All adults involved with the club must act in a way that is inclusive, approachable, empowering and accountable. Adults must treat children with dignity and respect, encourage participation, promote positive behaviour, challenge discriminatory or harmful conduct, and maintain clear professional boundaries.
The Club Committee is responsible for ensuring this policy is adopted, resourced, reviewed and implemented. The Club Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer is the first point of contact for wellbeing and protection concerns and will provide advice, support good practice, maintain records, liaise with the relevant football authorities and statutory agencies where required, and support the club to embed a rights-respecting culture.
Coaches and volunteers are responsible for planning safe activities, following the standards in this policy, completing relevant training, sharing information appropriately, and reporting concerns promptly. Parents and carers are expected to support the policy, provide up-to-date consent and medical information, promote positive conduct, and raise concerns early. Children and young people will be supported to understand their rights, know who they can speak to, and help shape a safe and enjoyable club environment.
The club will use safe appointment and selection processes for all roles involving children. This will include role descriptions, application or volunteer information, identity checks, references, self-declaration where appropriate, PVG checks for regulated work, induction, role-specific training, ongoing supervision and review.
No one may start regulated work with children until the required checks and approval processes have been completed. Any concern arising during recruitment, appointment or ongoing involvement will be considered by the Club Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer and the Club Committee, with advice sought from the relevant association or statutory agency where required.
Any concern about a child’s wellbeing or safety must be taken seriously and responded to promptly. Concerns may relate to abuse, neglect, bullying, online harm, poor practice, conduct by an adult, conduct by another child, medical or welfare issues, or information suggesting that a child may be at risk outside football.
Bullying behaviour is never acceptable. It can happen face to face or online and may be based on prejudice, perceived difference, wider relationships or group dynamics. The club will create an environment where children feel able to speak out, all reports are taken seriously, and both the child experiencing bullying and the child displaying bullying behaviour are supported appropriately.
Behaviour will be managed calmly, fairly and consistently. Physical punishment, humiliation, intimidation, discriminatory conduct, shouting, threats or withdrawal of basic needs are prohibited. Physical contact must be respectful, necessary, proportionate, explained where possible, and guided by the child’s needs and wishes. Physical intervention must only be used where necessary to prevent immediate injury or serious harm, using the minimum force for the shortest time, and must be recorded and reported.
Club communication with children must be necessary, transparent, football-related and, wherever possible, copied to parents/carers or another appropriate adult. Adults must not use private social media accounts for personal communication with children. Images, filming and livestreaming must only be used for legitimate club purposes with appropriate consent, safeguards and storage arrangements. No photography or filming is permitted in changing rooms, bathrooms or other private areas.
Parents/carers and, where appropriate, young people must provide accurate and up-to-date consent, emergency contact and medical information. First aid will be provided by suitably trained people using appropriate equipment. Injuries, significant incidents and medical concerns will be recorded and reported to parents/carers and, where relevant, to the Club Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer.
All activities must be planned with appropriate risk assessment, adult-to-child ratios, emergency arrangements and supervision. At least two suitable adults should be involved in activities wherever possible. Changing facilities must be managed to protect privacy, dignity and safety. Adults must not change or shower at the same time as children. Trips, transport and overnight stays require additional planning, consent, risk assessment and clear arrangements for supervision, sleeping, emergencies and communication.
Adults must maintain appropriate boundaries with children and young people and must avoid behaviour that could be interpreted as favouritism, grooming, coercion, exploitation or an abuse of trust. Any concern about a relationship, inappropriate communication or boundary issue must be reported to the Club Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer.
Records of concerns, recruitment decisions, consent, incidents and risk assessments will be stored securely, retained only for as long as necessary, and shared only where there is a legitimate safeguarding, wellbeing, legal or organisational reason to do so. Confidentiality must never prevent action being taken to protect a child.
This policy will be reviewed at least annually, when guidance changes, or following any significant wellbeing or protection concern. The club will use learning from concerns, feedback from children and young people, parents/carers, volunteers and staff, and updates from Scottish football authorities to improve practice.