Welfare Officer

My name is Emma Bevan and I am the Welfare Officer for Corsham AFC. I started beginning of the season 23/24, now a year into the role. I am registered Social Worker and work in a busy front line Safeguarding team which gives me a vast amount of experience and knowledge around safeguarding issues and ensuring the welfare of the chid/ young person remains it priority. I also have a son who plays for the U9’s which gives me the experience of being a parent on the sideline.

I am happy to help with any enquiry you have, any positive feedback or anything you think we can do better. I am also happy to help sign post you and your family to any services which may be beneficial to you. Please get in touch.

A Welfare Officer is a legal requirement for any sports club. This is because all sports clubs have a responsibility to ensure they provide a safe and fun environment for children and young people. Through various government legislation, the government makes it very clear that sport has to put safeguards in place. This includes Football.

The Welfare Officers role includes but is not limited to:

• Make sure everyone knows how to report concerns about a child’s welfare
• Developing best practice processes
• Support the Committee when a complaint is made against the club or any of its members
• Helping league and club personnel understand their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people.
• Ensuring all relevant people complete The FA’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ training programme and are DBS compliant.

Please click here for more information what the role of Welfare Officer is.

For the upcoming season 24/25, I will be focussing on updating Welfare policies such as the Safeguarding and anti-bullying policy. I will also be focussing on the child and young people’s voice and their experience with AFC Corsham to help us understand from a child and young person’s perspective what they enjoy about the coaching sessions and also what could make it an even better experience for them.

If you want to contact me please email on emma_jane82@hotmail.com
Please also talk to your child’s coach who will pass on your details to me or keep an eye out for me as I often visit various games at Leafly Lane Playing fields.

In case of an emergency please call 999 if you believe a child to be at immediate risk of harm.

Other links

Welfare and safeguarding information for website

www.nspcc.org.uk
The UK children's charity | NSPCC
Information for parents and children to safeguard children. Includes keeping safe online
www.childline.org.uk
Childline - Online and phone support for children and young people on a range of topics