999
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Then tell the festival welfare officer or any member of festival staff.
01Our commitment
The welfare of every child at the festival is our first priority. We follow The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and expect every club, team, volunteer and visitor to do the same. Everyone at the festival shares responsibility for keeping children safe.
02Festival welfare officer
The festival welfare officer is the first point of contact for any safeguarding concern before, during or after the festival.
- Name
- Coming soon
- Phone
- Coming soon
- Coming soon
- On the day
- Coming soon
03How to raise a concern
If you are worried about a child, or about how an adult is behaving towards a child:
- Tell the festival welfare officer, or any member of festival staff, who will contact them straight away.
- If you cannot reach the welfare officer, contact The FA’s safeguarding team at safeguarding@thefa.com.
- For advice, you can also call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.
Do not try to investigate a concern yourself. Write down what you saw or heard, when it happened and who was involved, and pass it on as soon as possible. Concerns are handled in confidence and shared only with those who need to know.
Children and young people can call Childline free and in confidence on 0800 1111.
04Coaches and team managers
- Every team must have at least one adult with an in-date FA DBS check and FA safeguarding training present throughout the festival.
- Players are the responsibility of their team manager and their parents or carers at all times. Children must not be left at the venue unsupervised.
- Adults should avoid being alone with a child who is not their own.
- Communication with players must follow The FA’s guidance, including on messaging and social media.
05Lost children
If a child is lost, or you find a lost child, go straight to the information desk. Staff will contact the welfare officer and make an announcement. Agree a meeting point with your child when you arrive.
06Photography and filming
- Official festival photographers will wear identification.
- Parents and carers may photograph their own children. Please be mindful of other children in the background.
- Photography and filming are not permitted in toilets or changing areas.
- If a child must not be photographed, the team manager should tell us before the festival.
- Report anyone taking photographs or video inappropriately to festival staff or the welfare officer.
Our Privacy policy explains how official images are used.
07Toilets and changing
Adults must not change at the same time as children, and phones and cameras must not be used in toilets or changing areas.
08Respect and behaviour
Abuse, bullying, discrimination and aggressive behaviour towards children, match officials or anyone else are not tolerated. Behaviour that puts a child at risk will be reported to the relevant County FA. Our Terms and conditions set out the full code of conduct.
09Useful contacts
- Emergency
- 999
- Festival welfare officer
- Coming soon
- The FA safeguarding team
- safeguarding@thefa.com
- NSPCC helpline
- 0808 800 5000
- Childline (for children)
- 0800 1111
- Berks & Bucks FA safeguarding officer
- Coming soon