PARENTS ZONE
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM US?
As a parent, choosing the right club to register your child with can be a challenging decision. How can you be sure that all of the appropriate safeguards are in place? Is the club's culture positive, encouraging and inclusive? Are the volunteers First Aid trained?
Old Rivs is a Two Star England Football Accredited club, and we are committed to ensuring that the football we provide has effective safeguards in place. We want to promote the highest-possible standards of behaviour from our club officials, coaches, players, and spectators.
It's human nature to want to win, but safety, inclusion, and enjoyment are significantly more important.
KEY QUESTIONS
There are a number of questions that parents should ask of any sports club they are considering registering their child with. As a club, we believe that transparency is key to developing a trust relationship with parents and players, so we've provided both the recommended questions, and our own answers below.
1. Is my child's coach Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked, FA trained and qualified?
All volunteers (with no exceptions) are DBS checked, and Safeguarding certified to FA standard. Coaches are additionally required to have achieved at least FA Level 1 qualification, and First Aid certification. We monitor training and certifications via the FA's Whole Game System (WGS) in which volunteer's Football Association profiles are linked to our club profile allowing club officials to ensure that all volunteers are appropriately qualified at all times.
2. How can I get a copy of the club's safeguarding policy and procedures?
Parents can download a copy of our policy here.
3. Who is the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) for my child's team and how do I contact them?
Colin Myers is the club's CWO. In the event of a safeguarding concern Colin should be contacted on 01204 460084.
4. What is the role of the CWO?
The role of the CWO is to be clear about the club's responsibilities when running activities for children and young people. And to help club personnel understand what their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people actually means and entails on a day-to-day basis.
5. What should I do if I have a complaint?
In the first instance, please contact Colin Myers on 01204 460084.
6. Do you have club codes of conduct and where can I view them?
As a Three Star England Football Accredited Club our Codes of Conduct mirror those of the Football Association. You can view the FA Codes of Conduct here.
7. If appropriate - How will you support my child's medical/additional needs?
It is essential that we understand any additional needs your child may have. When registering your child as a player with the club we will ask for details of any medical or additional needs. We also encourage you to please speak to your child's coach directly about anything they should be aware of.
WHAT WE STAND FOR
We believe this is more than sport. It's about developing life experience and social skills.
We want to welcome more people into the game, because sports should be for all.
We want to inspire the next generation of coaches, referees, players, and leaders.
We want to continually improve and develop as a club, as coaches, and as players.
We encourage respect for our coaches, for our team mates, and for our officials.
We engage with our local communities, and build strong links with local associations.