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OUR SAFEGUARDING PLAYBOOK

Sport can be a powerful tool when working with children and young people. Used in the right way, it promotes physical, mental, and social health, teaches important values and competencies, creates strong communities and safe spaces to play, develop and have fun. 

But sport and sport programs do not exist in a vacuum and are part of society and all its aspects, including potentially harmful attitudes and actions towards kids and youth. We recognize that speaking up against it can be particularly difficult in sport settings, due to the close relationship between coaches and players as well as amongst teammates and the strong sense of belonging to a group. 

FFWU is committed to safeguarding everyone involved from emotional and physical harm (incl. false allegations) and championing their well-being. Our Safeguarding Playbook is designed to ensure that all individuals associated with FFWU, especially vulnerable groups such as children and at-risk adults, are protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

We want to make sure that every child, no matter their background, feels safe and supported in our programs. We want them to enjoy every play on the field in a secure and welcoming environment and stay protected from any off-field challenges that may arise. We understand that certain program participants, like those with differing abilities or from diverse backgrounds, might need extra coverage.

This Policy applies to all staff, volunteers, contractors, coaches, partners, program participants and anyone engaged in activities conducted by FFWU. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal or exclusion from FFWU.  

Through our Safeguarding Playbook we also want to inform partners, participants, and parents about what we are doing to keep children safe, how we try to positively influence community norms and build a culture of always putting the interest of children first.  Hopefully, our Safeguarding Playbook can also serve as an example and contribute to raising the bar for child protection across the communities and sectors we work in and with.

Regular reviews and updates will keep the Playbook relevant and effective.

OUR DEFINITIONS

  • Safeguarding: Safeguarding refers to the proactive measures taken to protect individuals, especially vulnerable groups (such as children, elderly people, members of the LGBTQI community, indigenous peoples and individuals with disabilities), from harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Safeguarding involves creating a safe environment, promoting awareness, implementing policies and procedures, and taking action to prevent and respond to Safeguarding concerns.
  • Abuse: Abuse refers to any action or behavior that causes harm, distress, or injury to another person. It can take various forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse. Abuse can be intentional or unintentional and may occur as a single incident or repeatedly over time.
  • Neglect: Neglect involves the failure to provide necessary care, support, or protection to an individual who is dependent on others for their well-being. It can include the failure to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, medical care, education, or emotional support. Neglect can have serious consequences for the physical, emotional, and mental health of the individual.
  • Exploitation: Exploitation occurs when someone takes advantage of another personl or group of individuals for personal gain, often through manipulation, coercion, or abuse of power. It can involve the misuse of resources, labor, or trust for financial, sexual, or other forms of exploitation. Exploitation can occur in various settings, including relationships, employment, or caregiving situations.

OUR KEY PRINCIPLES

As part of our Safeguarding Playbook, we’ll: 

  • Promote and prioritize the safety and wellbeing of children and young people whether they are part of our organisation or not.
  • Value, listen to and respect children. 
  • Ensure robust Safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation. 
  • Adopt Safeguarding best practices through our policies, procedures, and code of conduct for staff and volunteers. 
  • Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of Safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognize, identify, and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other Safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people. 
  • Provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about our policies, procedures and behavior codes and follow them confidently and competently. 
  • Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of all incidents or concerns, both lower-level and concerns of abuse, and support provided to the individuals who raise or disclose the concern. 
  • Ensure that confidential, detailed, and accurate records of all Safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored. 
  • Record and store information securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance 
  • Prevent the employment or deployment of unsuitable individuals by recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made. 
  • Appoint a nominated Safeguarding lead for children and young people, a deputy, and a lead trustee/board member for Safeguarding. 
  • Develop and implement an effective online safety policy and related procedures. 
  • Share information about Safeguarding and good practices with children and their parents via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions. 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Board: The board ensures that the organization complies with legal and ethical Safeguarding standards.
  • Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): The DSO oversees the implementation of Safeguarding policies and handles concerns and incidents.
  • All Staff and Volunteers: Everyone is expected to follow the Safeguarding Playbook and procedures, report concerns, and participate in training.

PREVENTION

  • Recruitment: We aim at implementing safe recruitment practices, including background checks and thorough vetting for our staff and coaches.
  • Training: We aim at providing Safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers upon induction and regular refresher courses.
  • Awareness: We will promote awareness of Safeguarding policies through communications and in meetings.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

  • Immediate Action: If a person is in immediate danger, contact emergency services without delay.
  • Internal Reporting
    • Direct Supervisor or Coach: You can choose to report the incident to your direct supervisor or coach first. They are instructed to handle complaints confidentially and will initiate the appropriate response.
    • Contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – (anonymously if you like)
      • Name: Florian Merker
      • Email: florian@ffwu.org
      • Phone: +4915566140182
      • Use the online Form on FFWU Website (anonymously if you like): https://ffwu.org/concern/
    • To the board directly (anonymously if you like): concern@ffwu.org
  • External Reporting: The DSO will determine if the concern should be reported to external authorities such as the local Safeguarding board or police.

RESPONSE PROCEDURES

  • Investigation: The DSO will lead an internal investigation, maintaining confidentiality and fairness.
  • Support: Provide appropriate support to the victim, including access to counseling and advocacy services.
  • Action: Based on findings, take appropriate actions against the perpetrator, which may include disciplinary measures or termination of employment.

LEGAL FRAMEWORKS

We want to make sure our Safeguarding Playbook aligns with statutory mandates, government regulations, and the gold standard of practices. Our Safeguarding Playbook is informed by relevant German laws and regulations, including:

  • Child and Youth Welfare Act (Kinder- und Jugendhilfegesetz – KJHG):
  • Protection Against Violence Act (Gewaltschutzgesetz – GewSchG):
  • Act on Reporting Obligations of Employees in Institutions and Enterprises for Minors (Bundeskinderschutzgesetz – BKiSchG):
  • Adult Protection Act (Bundesgesetz über den Schutz Erwachsener – BschG):
  • Data Protection Act (Datenschutzgesetz – BDSG):
  • Social Code – Book VIII (Sozialgesetzbuch – SGB VIII)

CONCERN REPORTING FORM