Valerie Martin Designated Child protection Officer NIWFA with Jim Gratton IFA Safeguarding Children and Young Person’s department
Photo: Gary Hancock
Elaine Junk, Chairperson and Valerie Martin, Designated Child Protection Officer with NIWFA thanked Jim Grattan from IFA Safeguarding Children and Young Person’s department for all his ongoing support in facilitating the production of same.
In launching the policy Valerie stressed that this was government led and is a legal requirement for all Clubs to ensure that all their Coaches are Access NI checked and the correct procedures adhered to in each Club. Valerie added that “this does not only ensure the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in football but also protects all Coaches and their Clubs.
Valerie cited several examples of either alleged or potential child protection issues in order to reiterate the importance for each Club to take ownership of the Child Protection Policy.
The protection of children and young people in football has been and remains a priority of the highest order for the NIWFA.
The NIWFA endeavour to provide protection for children and young people through the implementation of the Child Protection procedures. Each Club will have a responsibility to ensure that these standards are met in order to protect all those under the age of eighteen who participate in the game of football.
Those Clubs represented at the league meeting were all issued with a copy of the Safeguarding Children and Young People in Football Policy and signed for same to ensure ownership for this in respect of their individual Clubs.
