SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding & Welfare
Penyffordd Football Club | One Club, One Pride
Keeping football safe, positive and enjoyable for everyone.
At Penyffordd Football Club, the safety, wellbeing and welfare of every child and young person involved in our club is our highest priority.
Across Penyffordd FC Juniors and Penyffordd FC Lionesses, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where young players can enjoy football, develop their skills, build friendships and grow in confidence.
We believe that every child has the right to participate in football free from abuse, bullying, discrimination, neglect or harm.
Safeguarding is not simply a policy or a responsibility held by a few individuals. It is everyone's responsibility.
Our approach is guided by the safeguarding policies and procedures of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
Penyffordd Football Club is committed to:
Putting the welfare and best interests of children and young people first, above sporting results or other considerations.
Providing a safe, respectful and inclusive football environment for all players.
Ensuring coaches, managers and volunteers undertake the appropriate safeguarding training and background checks required for their roles.
Promoting positive behaviour, respect and fair play among players, coaches, parents and spectators.
Taking all safeguarding concerns seriously and responding promptly and appropriately.
Protecting children from bullying, discrimination, exploitation, abuse and neglect, including online harm.
Working alongside the FAW and relevant statutory authorities where safeguarding concerns arise.
Our safeguarding responsibilities extend across all club activities, including training sessions, matches, tournaments, events and club communications.
Our Club Safeguarding Officers
Penyffordd Football Club has two designated Club Safeguarding Officers who provide a point of contact for anyone wishing to raise a safeguarding or welfare concern.
Becky McHugh
Club Safeguarding Officer
Phil Norton
Club Safeguarding Officer
Safeguarding Contact Email:
Our Safeguarding Officers are responsible for receiving safeguarding concerns, providing appropriate guidance and ensuring matters are referred to the FAW or relevant authorities where necessary.
You do not need to be certain that abuse or harm has occurred before raising a concern. If something doesn't seem right, we encourage you to speak up.
All concerns will be treated seriously, sensitively and with appropriate confidentiality.
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you are worried about the safety or welfare of a child or young person involved with Penyffordd Football Club, please report your concern as soon as possible.
1. If a child is in immediate danger
Call 999 and request emergency assistance. Do not delay contacting the emergency services to notify the Club.
2. For safeguarding or welfare concerns
Contact our Club Safeguarding Officers:
Please also copy the FAW Safeguarding Team into your email:
If your concern involves one of our Club Safeguarding Officers, please contact the FAW Safeguarding Team directly.
3. What happens next?
Our Safeguarding Officers will assess the concern and seek guidance or make referrals to the FAW Safeguarding Team, Children's Services or the police where appropriate.
Please do not attempt to investigate allegations yourself. Report what you have seen, heard or been told, and allow the appropriate safeguarding professionals to take the necessary action.
Guidance for Parents, Carers and Players
We want every child to feel safe, supported and confident when representing Penyffordd Football Club.
Parents and carers play an important role in creating this environment. We encourage everyone involved with the Club to promote respect, positive encouragement and appropriate behaviour both on and off the pitch.
If you are a young player and something is making you feel uncomfortable, worried or unsafe, please speak to a trusted adult, parent, coach or one of our Club Safeguarding Officers.
You will always be taken seriously.
Safeguarding concerns can include bullying, inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, unwanted contact, online messages, physical or emotional harm, or anything else that makes a child feel unsafe.
No concern is too small to raise.
Our Safeguarding Policies
Penyffordd Football Club maintains a dedicated Safeguarding Children at Risk Policy which applies across the Club, including our Juniors and Lionesses teams.
The policy outlines our approach to safeguarding, the responsibilities of coaches and volunteers, safer recruitment, recognising abuse, reporting concerns and the procedures followed when safeguarding matters arise.
Penyffordd Football Club Safeguarding Children at Risk Policy 2026–2027
Download Our Club Safeguarding Policy (PDF)
Football Association of Wales Safeguarding Policy
As an FAW-affiliated football club, Penyffordd FC follows the safeguarding framework established by the Football Association of Wales.
Our Club policy should be read alongside the FAW's safeguarding guidance, which provides further information on protecting children and young people within Welsh football.
View the FAW Club Safeguarding Policy (PDF)
Additional Safeguarding Contacts and Support
If you need independent advice or support, the following organisations can help.
FAW Safeguarding Team
Email: safeguarding@faw.cymru
NSPCC Helpline
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Website: https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Flintshire Children's Services
Telephone: 01352 701000
Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours)
Telephone: 0345 053 3116
North Wales Police
Emergency: 999
Non-emergency: 101
Wales Safeguarding Procedures
https://www.safeguarding.wales
One Club, One Pride
At Penyffordd Football Club, we are proud of the environment we work together to create for our young players.
From their first experiences of football through our junior teams to their continued development with our Lionesses and across the wider club, every child deserves to feel safe, respected, included and valued.
Their welfare will always come first.
🔴⚫️ Penyffordd Football Club
