1. Safer Recruitment Of Volunteers In Grassroots Football

The intentions of most people who work with children in football are good. However, as part of football’s commitment to providing safe and enjoyable environments, sound recruitment and selection procedures are essential. When clubs recruit new members, all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children and young people both in open-age teams (who have players aged under 18) and in youth football.

A list of volunteer roles and responsibilities within NJFC can be found here.

The club aims to advertise all volunteering opportunities with its club members through word of mouth, and via our club website and social media channels. We do not discriminate in terms of age, race, gender or disability.

Volunteer Application
Anyone wishing to apply for a volunteering role must complete The FA’s Volunteer Application Form attached below and email it to our Club Welfare Officer. Official photo identification documents must be seen to confirm the applicant's identity e.g passport or driving license, and at least 2 references should be provided from individuals who are not related to the applicant. 

A volunteer register will be held by the club in line with FA guidelines to safeguard our club members and young players. All personal data and information will be stored under data protection regulations.

Disclosure And Barring Service (DBS) Checks
As part of the FA’s safeguarding children strategy, anyone working frequently and intensively in eligible* roles with children and young people is required to pass a DBS Check. This is in line with legislation and government guidance and is standard practice.  

In brief, this means a DBS Check is required for anyone aged 16 years or over who undertakes any potentially unsupervised roles/activities working directly with children and young people under the age of 18.

These activities include managing, training, coaching and supervising as well as giving advice or guidance on wellbeing, caring for children or driving a vehicle solely for children on behalf of a club or organisation.

All club volunteers who'll be carrying out these roles with children frequently and unsupervised MUST obtain an FA approved DBS Enhanced Criminal Record with Children’s Barred List before they will be allowed to take part in any club activity with children.

Frequently means at any time on more than three days in any period of 30 days, and occasionally people with lower levels of contact may still need a check. If you have more than one role within the Club, you only need one DBS Check to cover all your roles.

The CWO will administer the FA DBS checks online via the Whole Game System (WGS), and the club will fund all costs. DBS checks must be renewed every 3 years.