Creating a safe environmentfor every player.

Next Phase Football recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person involved in our services, events, programmes and football experiences.

We are committed to:

• Putting the child's welfare first
• Providing safe and positive football environments
• Treating every child with respect and dignity
• Promoting inclusion, equality and fairness
• Listening to children, parents and guardians
• Taking concerns seriously
• Acting in the best interests of the child
• Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Promoting high standards of behaviour
• Responding appropriately when concerns are raised
• Sharing information with safeguarding authorities where required
• Reviewing our practices as services develop

Football development must never come before a child's safety or wellbeing.

This safeguarding information applies to:

• Players
• Parents and guardians
• Coaches
• Consultants
• Contractors
• Volunteers
• Staff
• Visitors
• Media personnel
• Spectators
• Partner organisations
• Clubs and football organisations involved in Next Phase Football activity
• Anyone participating in or supporting a Next Phase Football programme

Safeguarding means protecting children from harm while creating an environment in which they can participate, develop and enjoy football safely.

This includes:

• Physical safety
• Emotional wellbeing
• Protection from physical, emotional and sexual abuse
• Protection from neglect
• Protection from bullying and harassment
• Protection from discrimination
• Safe and respectful coaching
• Appropriate adult behaviour
• Professional boundaries
• Safe digital communication
• Responsible photography and video
• Secure travel and accommodation arrangements
• Suitable emergency planning
• Clear reporting routes
• Appropriate welfare support

Safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult involved in football activity.

Anyone with a safeguarding or welfare concern connected to Next Phase Football should report it as soon as possible.

Telephone and WhatsApp: 07757 640536

Email: info@nextphasefootball.com

Use the subject line: Safeguarding Concern.

Report a safeguarding concern

The Next Phase Football contact number and website forms are not monitored as emergency services.

If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of immediate harm, call 999.

We do not require someone reporting a concern to provide player marketing or football-performance information.

A concern should be reported when someone is worried about a child, an adult's behaviour, a football environment or an incident connected to Next Phase Football.

Concerns may include:

• A child saying something worrying
• A significant change in a child's behaviour
• Bullying or harassment
• Threats or intimidation
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect
• Discrimination
• Inappropriate adult behaviour
• Unsafe coaching practice
• Poor professional boundaries
• Inappropriate private communication
• Online or social media concerns
• Photography or video concerns
• Unsafe travel or accommodation arrangements
• Medical or welfare concerns
• A concern involving a coach, volunteer, parent, spectator or other player
• Information suggesting that a child may be at risk outside football

A person does not need proof before reporting a genuine concern.

When reporting a concern:

• Act promptly
• Share the facts as clearly as possible
• Record the child's own words where relevant
• Avoid leading questions
• Do not investigate the allegation yourself
• Do not confront the person who may be involved
• Do not promise complete secrecy
• Preserve relevant messages, photographs or other evidence
• Share the concern only with people who need to know
• Contact emergency or safeguarding authorities where the level of risk requires it

Anyone receiving a disclosure should listen calmly, take the child seriously and explain that the information may need to be shared to help keep them safe.

Safeguarding concerns will be taken seriously and handled as sensitively as possible.

Depending on the circumstances, Next Phase Football may:

• Record the concern
• Seek safeguarding advice
• Contact a parent or guardian where appropriate
• Refer the concern to the police
• Contact local children's social care
• Contact the relevant County FA
• Contact The Football Association safeguarding team
• Contact an event, club or programme safeguarding representative
• Share relevant information with another appropriate authority
• Take immediate steps to reduce a potential risk
• Restrict or suspend a person's involvement while a concern is considered

The response will depend on the nature and urgency of the concern.

Next Phase Football cannot guarantee confidentiality where information must be shared to protect a child or comply with safeguarding responsibilities.

If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of immediate harm, call 999.

For non-emergency advice about a child's safety, concerns can also be raised with:

• The local authority children's social care team
• The police
• The NSPCC
• The relevant County FA
• The Football Association safeguarding team
• The safeguarding contact for the relevant club, event or venue

External helpline availability may change. Check the relevant organisation's official website for current opening times and contact options.

Everyone involved in Next Phase Football activity is expected to behave in a way that protects children and reflects the values of the organisation.

Players should:

• Respect teammates, opponents, coaches and officials
• Avoid bullying, discrimination and abusive behaviour
• Follow reasonable safety instructions
• Speak to a trusted adult if they feel unsafe or worried
• Use social media responsibly
• Represent themselves and their football environment positively

Coaches, consultants, staff and volunteers should:

• Put player welfare first
• Use appropriate language and behaviour
• Maintain professional boundaries
• Avoid unnecessary one-to-one situations that may create risk
• Use transparent and appropriate communication
• Follow safeguarding and reporting procedures
• Challenge bullying, discrimination and poor practice
• Avoid humiliating, threatening or degrading coaching methods
• Treat players fairly
• Support confidence, learning and development
• Never use their position to exploit or manipulate a child

Parents, guardians and spectators should:

• Support children positively
• Respect coaches, players, officials and other families
• Avoid abusive, threatening or discriminatory behaviour
• Avoid placing unreasonable pressure on a player
• Raise concerns through appropriate channels
• Respect safeguarding, photography and communication rules
• Help create a calm and supportive environment

Next Phase Football does not tolerate bullying.

Bullying may include:

• Physical bullying
• Verbal abuse
• Emotional bullying
• Racist abuse
• Sexist abuse
• Homophobic or transphobic abuse
• Disability-related bullying
• Religious discrimination
• Online bullying
• Social exclusion
• Repeated humiliation
• Threats and intimidation
• Misuse of photographs, video or private information

Reported bullying concerns will be considered seriously and responded to appropriately.

Next Phase Football is committed to creating an environment in which players feel respected, valued and supported.

A child should not experience discrimination or unfair treatment because of their:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Nationality
• Religion or belief
• Sex
• Gender
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Family circumstances
• Economic background
• Football ability
• Personal circumstances

Football should be a place where children can participate safely and develop with confidence.

Communication with players and families should be professional, relevant and transparent.

Where appropriate, communication involving a child should include or be visible to their parent or guardian.

Adults involved in Next Phase Football should:

• Use approved communication routes
• Keep football communication professional
• Avoid inappropriate private or disappearing messages
• Avoid unnecessary late-night communication
• Avoid requesting personal photographs unrelated to football activity
• Avoid sexual, humiliating, threatening or discriminatory content
• Maintain appropriate boundaries on social media
• Report concerning digital communication

The official Next Phase Football social media account currently used is:

Instagram: @nextphasefootballtrials_

Concerns about communication through social media should be reported to:

Email: info@nextphasefootball.com

Next Phase Football may use photography and video to record and promote genuine football activity.

Media should be used responsibly and must not place a child at unnecessary risk.

Our principles include:

• Seeking appropriate permission where required
• Respecting media restrictions communicated by parents or guardians
• Avoiding unnecessary personal details in captions
• Avoiding inappropriate or humiliating images
• Avoiding photography in changing, treatment or private areas
• Using media for legitimate football, communication and promotional purposes
• Responding to reasonable concerns about future use
• Maintaining professional social media standards
• Reporting concerning photography, filming or online behaviour

Permission to use promotional media should be separate from general programme participation where appropriate.

Next Phase Football may organise or support UK and international football experiences.

Safeguarding remains central during:

• Travel
• Airport transfers
• Accommodation
• Training
• Fixtures
• Football visits
• Leisure time
• Group activities
• International programmes

Arrangements should consider:

• Appropriate adult supervision
• Parent or guardian information
• Emergency contacts
• Medical and allergy information
• Rooming arrangements
• Transport safety
• Clear meeting points
• Behaviour expectations
• Lost child procedures
• Access to emergency support
• Local safeguarding arrangements
• Appropriate communication during the trip

Children should receive age-appropriate information about expectations, safety arrangements and how to report a concern while travelling.

No international opportunity should take priority over the welfare of a child.

Where required, Next Phase Football may request relevant medical, allergy, injury, accessibility and emergency contact information.

This information should be used only where reasonably necessary for:

• Player welfare
• Safe participation
• Emergency response
• Programme planning
• Travel arrangements
• Appropriate adjustments

Medical information should be shared only with people who reasonably need it for the player's safety or care.

Emergency services may be contacted where necessary.

People working with children should be suitable for their responsibilities.

Roles involving children may require appropriate:

• Identity checks
• References
• Safeguarding expectations
• Role-specific training
• Codes of conduct
• Disclosure and Barring Service checks where legally appropriate
• Ongoing supervision
• Review of conduct and suitability

We do not state that every person involved has completed a particular check unless that has been verified.

Adults working with young players must maintain clear professional boundaries.

Adults should not:

• Develop inappropriate personal relationships with players
• Use favouritism to control or manipulate a child
• Give inappropriate gifts
• Invite a child into a private room or vehicle without appropriate reason and safeguards
• Share accommodation with a child inappropriately
• Use physical contact that is unnecessary or unsuitable
• Communicate secretly with a child
• Ask a child to keep an adult's behaviour secret
• Make sexual, discriminatory, degrading or threatening comments

Any concern about professional boundaries should be reported.

Players should feel able to ask questions, express concerns and say when something does not feel right.

We encourage players to speak to:

• A parent or guardian
• A trusted coach
• A trusted adult
• The safeguarding contact for an event, club or venue
• Next Phase Football through the safeguarding reporting route
• An appropriate external safeguarding organisation

Children should be listened to respectfully and taken seriously.

Safeguarding is stronger when families and football organisations communicate openly.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to:

• Share relevant medical and welfare information
• Ask questions about programmes and supervision
• Read travel and activity information carefully
• Explain relevant safeguarding expectations to their child
• Raise concerns early
• Inform Next Phase Football about media restrictions
• Support appropriate behaviour standards
• Keep emergency contact details accurate

Safeguarding information should be treated carefully and shared only with those who need it.

However, confidentiality must not prevent appropriate action where:

• A child may be at risk
• A crime may have occurred
• An authority needs information
• Another child or person may be at risk
• A legal or safeguarding duty requires disclosure

The safety and best interests of the child will be an important consideration when deciding what information should be shared.

This Safeguarding and Welfare page will be reviewed as Next Phase Football services, programmes and procedures develop.

Updates may be made following:

• Changes to services
• New programme arrangements
• Legal or regulatory developments
• Safeguarding guidance
• Lessons from incidents or concerns
• Changes to communication or technology
• The introduction of new football experiences

The latest version will remain available on this page.