Our Commitment

Safeguarding Children

Flag Frenzy Football Camp is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who attends our camps.

Children should be able to participate in camp in an environment where they feel safe, respected, supported and able to raise concerns. Safeguarding is taken seriously throughout the planning and delivery of our activities.

01

Purpose & Scope

This policy explains the safeguarding arrangements used by Flag Frenzy Football Camp and how concerns relating to the safety or welfare of a child will be managed.

It applies to people working on behalf of the camp, including coaches, staff, volunteers and helpers, according to their role and responsibilities.

Parents and guardians are also encouraged to share information that may help us support and safeguard their child and to raise any concerns promptly.

02

Safeguarding Framework

Our safeguarding approach is informed by relevant legislation and current safeguarding guidance applicable in England, including:

• Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004.
• Working Together to Safeguard Children.
• Department for Education safeguarding guidance for providers of out-of-school settings.
• Relevant Disclosure and Barring Service guidance.
• Relevant child protection and safeguarding guidance for sport and physical activity.

Guidance and legal requirements may change. Flag Frenzy Football Camp will review its safeguarding arrangements and this policy where relevant changes affect the camp.

03

Key Safeguarding Principles

• The welfare of children is a priority.
• Children have the right to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm.
• Children should be treated with dignity and respect.
• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
• Concerns and allegations should be taken seriously and dealt with promptly.
• Information should be shared appropriately where this is necessary to safeguard a child.
• Children should know that they can speak to an adult at camp if something is worrying them.

04

Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Flag Frenzy Football Camp is:

The DSL has responsibility for overseeing safeguarding arrangements at camp, receiving safeguarding concerns, maintaining appropriate records and taking or seeking appropriate advice about next steps.

Where a concern relates directly to the DSL, the concern should not be reported only to the person who is the subject of it. Appropriate external safeguarding advice should be sought without delay.

05

Staff, Coaches, Volunteers & Helpers

Flag Frenzy Football Camp considers the suitability and safeguarding responsibilities of people who work or volunteer at camp according to the duties they will perform.

Recruitment and deployment arrangements may include, where appropriate to the role:

• Identity and suitability checks.
• References or other appropriate recruitment checks.
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the appropriate level where the role is eligible.
• Consideration of whether duties constitute regulated activity with children.
• Safeguarding information, induction and clear role expectations.
• Appropriate supervision and allocation of duties.

06

Professional Conduct & Boundaries

Adults and helpers working at camp are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and behave in a way that supports children's safety and wellbeing.

• Treat children fairly, respectfully and with kindness.
• Never inflict physical or psychological harm on a child.
• Use appropriate language and behaviour.
• Avoid unnecessary one-to-one situations in isolated or unobservable spaces.
• Maintain appropriate physical and emotional boundaries.
• Do not exchange personal contact details with children or privately message children through personal social media accounts.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly rather than attempting to investigate them independently.

See also our Code of Conduct / Behaviour Policy .

07

Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns can arise in different ways. They may relate to something a child says, an injury, a change in behaviour, interactions between children, the behaviour of an adult, information provided by another person or something observed during camp.

Concerns may include, but are not limited to:

08

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

If a safeguarding concern is identified or a child makes a disclosure, the priority is the child's immediate safety and welfare.

1. Listen and remain calm. Allow the child to speak without pressuring them or asking unnecessary or leading questions.
2. Do not promise secrecy. Explain, in an age-appropriate way, that information may need to be shared with people who can help keep them safe.
3. Consider immediate safety. If a child is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, emergency services should be contacted.
4. Report the concern promptly. Concerns should be reported to the DSL as soon as possible.
5. Make an accurate record. Record relevant facts, including what was seen, heard or disclosed, using the child's own words where appropriate.
6. Take appropriate next steps. The DSL will consider the information and seek advice or make a referral to relevant safeguarding services where appropriate.

Parents or guardians will normally be involved where appropriate, unless doing so could place a child at greater risk or interfere with appropriate safeguarding action.

09

Concerns or Allegations About an Adult

Any concern or allegation that a coach, member of staff, volunteer, helper or other adult may have harmed a child, behaved inappropriately towards a child or may present a safeguarding risk will be taken seriously.

Appropriate steps may include:

• Taking immediate action where necessary to protect children.
• Recording the concern accurately and confidentially.
• Seeking advice from the appropriate local authority safeguarding service, including the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where applicable.
• Contacting the police or other statutory agencies where appropriate.
• Reviewing the person's duties while safeguarding concerns are considered.

10

Recording & Information Sharing

Safeguarding records will be handled carefully and access will be limited to those who need the information for legitimate safeguarding or legal purposes.

• Safeguarding concerns should be recorded factually, clearly and as soon as reasonably possible.
• Records should include relevant dates, times, people involved and actions taken.
• Safeguarding information may be shared with relevant agencies where this is necessary and appropriate to protect a child.
• Safeguarding information will not be shared more widely than necessary.

Personal information is also handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy .

11

Photography, Communication & Online Safety

Flag Frenzy Football Camp aims to use photography, video, digital communication and online platforms in a responsible way that protects children's privacy and welfare.

• Parent or guardian permissions relating to photography and video will be respected.
• Images of children will not intentionally be paired with unnecessary identifying information.
• Camp-related communication with families should use appropriate communication channels.
• Adults working at camp must not use personal social media accounts or private messaging to develop inappropriate personal communication with children.
• Any online safeguarding concern relating to a child attending camp should be reported to the DSL.

12

Supervision, Arrival & Site Safety

Camp arrangements are planned with children's safety, the activity, the venue and the needs of the group in mind.

• Staffing and supervision arrangements will be considered according to the number and ages of children, the activities taking place and the environment.
• Children should remain within the agreed camp areas and follow instructions from the camp team.
• Arrival and collection procedures will be used to help ensure children are released appropriately.
• Only authorised people should collect a child, subject to the collection arrangements supplied by the parent or guardian.
• Identification or another safeguarding check may be requested where necessary.
• Toilet breaks and situations involving individual children will be managed with privacy, dignity and safeguarding in mind.
• If a child cannot be located, immediate steps will be taken to search for them, secure the relevant area and contact the parent, police or other appropriate services depending on the circumstances.

13

Safeguarding Training & Awareness

People working or volunteering at camp will receive safeguarding information, instruction or training appropriate to their role and responsibilities.

This may include information about:

• recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns;
• professional boundaries and expected conduct;
• what to do if a child makes a disclosure;
• who the Designated Safeguarding Lead is;
• camp-specific safeguarding and emergency arrangements; and
• responsibilities relevant to the person's particular role.

The DSL will maintain safeguarding knowledge and training appropriate to the role and refresh this as appropriate, including when relevant guidance or camp arrangements change.

Safeguarding Contact

Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a child attending Flag Frenzy Football Camp, please contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Where a concern requires external safeguarding support, advice or referral, the DSL will contact the relevant local authority children's services, safeguarding service, police or other appropriate agency according to the circumstances.

14

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where necessary, including following a significant safeguarding incident, a material change to camp arrangements or relevant changes to safeguarding legislation or guidance.

Supporting Information

Related Camp Policies

This policy should be read alongside other relevant Flag Frenzy Football Camp information and policies.