OUR IMPACT
We believe that every child has the right to play, learn and thrive. As embodied in the UNESCO, sport and physical education is a "fundamental right for all," which are the critical elements of a child’s upbringing and development process that we strive to safeguard. We work to empower disadvantaged communities by educating parents, community coaches and leaders with quality capacity building activities, engage in dialogue with government and non-government sectors and provide the necessary tools in some of the most challenging environments so children and communities can thrive together. In accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we create linkages and partnerships that work together to build a better future for all.
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SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
You can help protect children facing the threat of abuse, exploitation and trafficking.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Football for Humanity has formulated a Safeguarding Policy to ensure that all of the people who work for, and with Football for Humanity, including trustees, staff, volunteers, consultants, partners, sponsors, suppliers and contractors, have a uniform understanding of the basic provisions as set in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and as such, shall carry the same beliefs and practices which are intended to protect children from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
These guidelines and standards shall be adhered to in all of our projects, communications, initiatives, office policies, training policies, hiring policies, office and administrative as well as on-field procedures. Furthermore, these guidelines shall be promoted in all of the countries and territories we work in, and we shall provide provisions or support provisions that eradicate or reduce the risk of harm such as violent extremism, terrorism, female genital cutting, child trafficking and sexual exploitation, natural hazards and man-made disasters, violence in schools and at home, child labour and early marriage, social exclusion and discrimination, lack of care and a supportive environment.
To reduce the risks for children, we monitor staff and external people that work for us or come in contact with children. These mechanisms are designed to prevent harm:
1. Internal responsibilities
A designated Board Member is designated as the Safeguarding Specialist and is assigned to ensure children are protected in relation to all Board decisions. All Board members, relevant staff, interns and volunteers, and where appropriate, partners/suppliers must obtain character and criminal clearance from their home countries or territories of operation before joining Football for Humanity.
Football for Humanity staff and long-term volunteers undergo formal Safeguarding training. Children’s participation in our activities will be monitored to serve their best interests and protection from unintended harm. This likewise covers details and images of children and other community members, and we shall ensure that data and images are appropriate and are held as safely as possible. To prevent future conflicts, we will issue information among partners, guardians and caregivers such that they will also be familiar with our Safeguarding policy.
2. External responsibilities
To ensure we do not put children at risk through contact with external people, who do not work for Football for Humanity, we may, from time to time, consult with the authorities, other organisations and the appropriate government office to vet partners potential employees, and consultants. We retain the right to turn down requests to support Football for Humanity at our discretion. We require supporters visiting communities or those whom we put into direct contact with children to obtain a background check from the DBS or local criminal record check before being accepted to the organisation.
We screen all communications from sponsors to sponsored children for any inappropriate written or visual material. Where the sponsor writes in a child’s local language not spoken at Football for Humanity, local colleagues are asked to carefully check the content.
As much as possible, all correspondence to our beneficiary children must first be cleared with our communications and social media specialist to prevent unregulated and possibly inappropriate contact between sponsors and sponsored children. Where relevant, we return correspondence explaining our concerns and actions.
Any concerns are referred to the Safeguarding Specialist, who liaises with appropriate external bodies.
3. Reporting and responding
We ensure that child protection is a basic requirement in all projects supported by Football for Humanity. All staff have a responsibility to consider and help minimise the child protection risks of activities. Our projects aim to promote social inclusion and protection of the most marginalised children and those most at risk.
For any concerns or reports, please contact safeguarding@footballforhumanity.org.uk.