On Monday 4^th February, 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, and Football Development Officer, Angus Mackay. 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.

Topics covered during the event included:

• Social media and communications with children and young people
• Changing Rooms and showering
• Club validation visits
• Respect
• GFA Youth Council

The event, which was attended by club welfare officers from Northerners, Vale Recreation, Guernsey Rovers, Guernsey Rangers, Sylvans and Guernsey FC, 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. One welfare officer commented that:

‘Training and learning opportunities such as this event are really important in ensuring that we as a club continue to follow best practice when it comes to safeguarding. We are all committed to ensuring that our club environments are safe for our young players and the support of the GFA in hosting these events and being available to offer support and advice is really important.’

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