Safeguarding Policy

Academic Football exists to help children aged 4–11 enjoy football in a safe, supportive environment. Safeguarding is not an add-on — it is central to everything we do.

Every coach, volunteer, and member of staff working with children is expected to uphold the highest standards of care, respect, and professionalism.

All adults working with children at Academic Football must:

• Hold an up-to-date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
• Complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role
• Follow our code of conduct at all times — on and off the pitch
• Never be alone with a child in a one-to-one setting without visibility from others

We design every session with safety in mind:

• Age-appropriate activities with clear boundaries and supervision ratios
• First-aid trained staff on site at every session
• Risk assessments carried out for venues, equipment, and activities
• A designated Parent Zone where carers can watch sessions
• Clear sign-in and sign-out procedures for all children

If you have any concern about a child's welfare — during a session or outside of it — please raise it immediately. No concern is too small.

You can speak to any member of our coaching team in person, or contact us via WhatsApp or through our Contact page. All reports are taken seriously and handled confidentially.

Where necessary, we will follow our internal safeguarding procedure and liaise with the appropriate local authority or statutory agencies.

We may take photos or short videos during sessions for promotional use on our website and social channels. We will always ask for parental consent before using any image of a named child.

Parents and spectators are asked not to share photos of other people's children on social media without permission.

This policy is reviewed at least once a year and updated whenever there are changes to legislation, FA guidance, or our operating procedures.

Last updated: July 2026.