On Tuesday 3^rd December, the Guernsey Football Association hosted an in-service training event for local club welfare officers.

The training event was hosted by Guernsey FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, Sara Mallet, and was supported by the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer, Joelle Pengelley. The event was an opportunity for the GFA to provide support and guidance to club welfare officers and for clubs to share examples of best practice as part of the on-going commitment to ensuring that Guernsey football remains safe for children and young people involved in the affiliated game. The agenda for the evening included the following:

• Addressing Poor Practice v Referrals
• Bullying – the definition
• Safeguarding Validation Visits - Good/Poor practice and consistent trends
• Improving the Football Environment:
• Youth Spectators
  • Parents
  • Off-island Trips
• Club Coaches:
  • Respect Online training
  • Coaches with Safeguarding Children
• New regulations for open age football
• 2 Year Age Banding
• Under 18 Referees

The event, which was attended by club welfare officers from Northerners, Vale Recreation, Guernsey Rovers, Guernsey Rangers, Sylvans and St Martins, was well received with those in attendance acknowledging that the event had been informative and was an important opportunity to enhance learning and understanding about safeguarding, whilst also highlighting the positive on-going support provided by the GFA to local clubs.

Guernsey FA DSO, Sara Mallet reflected on the evening and commented that:

‘Training and learning opportunities such as this event are a really important element of the support work that the GFA provides to local clubs in ensuring that within Guernsey, football retains high standards of safeguarding and that the clubs maintain an up to date understanding of best practice in this important area. The GFA is committed to ensuring that the sport, and particularly club environments, are safe for our young players and the attendance of the clubs that are operating youth teams is testament to their commitment to continued learning and development of safeguarding.

For more information about safeguarding in local football, please use the following link; http://www.guernseyfa.com/about/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-and-welfare