Avon Youth League - www.avonyl.co.uk

This page is dedicated to providing news, information and support to club welfare officers working with clubs in the Avon Youth League. Click here to download or read the FA leaflet - Don't Risk it about the introduction of Club Welfare Officers.

Youth League and Club Welfare Officers - FA Ruling:

Anita Jennison - Avon Youth League Welfare Officer - Contact by e-mail: Anita Jennison

For information about training including the FA Club and Youth League Welfare Officer training and other courses contact the Gloucestershire or Somerset FA via the web site links at the top of every page - click on the relevant County FA logo.

THINKUKNOW - A web site that canm inform young people, parents and others about how to avoid all forms of abuse that are linked to use of the internet, chat rooms etc. - LINK

NEWS: Following advice and guidance from the Football Association there have been changes made to the appeals process for disciplinary cases involving young people.

The reasons for this are simply that it is not considered appropriate for young people to attend appeal hearings as the experience may be distressing for them.

The following changes apply with immediate affect for cases reported to the Gloucestershire Football association:

Players aged under 14 years - A young person reported / sent from field of play wishing to appeal may not attend a formal disciplinary hearing. If the option requesting attendance at a hearing is selected on the relevant forms the matter will be referred to the Gloucestershire County Football Association Limited appointed County Child Protection Officer (CPO). As a result the County CPO may elect to arrange to meet with the child and a parent / carer to hear the child's account of events. That account would then be submitted to the appeal hearing convened to consider the appeal.

Players aged between 14 years and 16 years - A young person can attend a disciplinary hearing provided that:

There are also changes for players aged 17 years and 18 years that are not relevant within the Avon Youth League. Further information can be obtained by contacting the GFA CPO by email on childprotection@gloucestershirefa.com.




Club Welfare Officer News This page is dedicated to providing news, information and support to club welfare officers working with clubs in the Avon Youth League. Click here to download or read the FA leaflet - Don't Risk it about the introduction of Club Welfare Officers. Youth League and Club Welfare Officers - FA Ruling: The position of Club Welfare Officer to be made mandatory from the season 2008 - 2009 for all clubs with youth teams. The position of Youth League Welfare Officer to be made mandatory from the season 2008 – 2009 for all leagues with youth teams. Welfare Officers to have an ‘accepted’ or as a minimum an ‘in progress’ enhanced CRB check via The FA CRB Unit from the season 2008 - 2009. Welfare Officers to have completed The FA Safeguarding Children workshop (formerly known as Child Protection and Best Practice workshop) by the start of season 2009 -2010. Welfare Officers to have completed The FA's Welfare Officer Workshop by the start of season 2010 - 2011. Useful contacts: Anita Jennison - Avon Youth League Welfare Officer - Contact by e-mail: Anita Jennison Paul Tompkins - GFA County Child Protection Officer - e-mail: childprotection@gloucestershirefa.com Amy Kington - SFA County Welfare Officer - e-mail: amy.kington@somersetfa.com For information about training including the FA Club and Youth League Welfare Officer training and other courses contact the Gloucestershire or Somerset FA via the web site links at the top of every page - click on the relevant County FA logo. Useful Links: Safeguarding and Equalities pages within the FA web site - LINK BullyingUK - Information to help a reduction in bullying - LINK THINKUKNOW - A web site that canm inform young people, parents and others about how to avoid all forms of abuse that are linked to use of the internet, chat rooms etc. - LINK Useful Downloads: The Avon Youth League guidance based on Child-Safe - LINK NEWS: Following advice and guidance from the Football Association there have been changes made to the appeals process for disciplinary cases involving young people. The reasons for this are simply that it is not considered appropriate for young people to attend appeal hearings as the experience may be distressing for them. The following changes apply with immediate affect for cases reported to the Gloucestershire Football association: Players aged under 14 years - A young person reported / sent from field of play wishing to appeal may not attend a formal disciplinary hearing. If the option requesting attendance at a hearing is selected on the relevant forms the matter will be referred to the Gloucestershire County Football Association Limited appointed County Child Protection Officer (CPO). As a result the County CPO may elect to arrange to meet with the child and a parent / carer to hear the child's account of events. That account would then be submitted to the appeal hearing convened to consider the appeal. Players aged between 14 years and 16 years - A young person can attend a disciplinary hearing provided that: a) He / She understands that it is his / her duty to speak the truth b) His / her evidence is sufficiently important to justify it being heard c) the appropriate procedures within the FA guidelines are adopted There are also changes for players aged 17 years and 18 years that are not relevant within the Avon Youth League. Further information can be obtained by contacting the GFA CPO by email on childprotection@gloucestershirefa.com.

Club Welfare Officer News