Safeguarding

      Aston Villa Football Club is committed to creating a culture where safeguarding responsibilities and procedures for raising concerns are widely understood and embedded in our values.

We are fully committed to seeking to provide a safe environment for everyone involved in the club.

 The Club seeks to create a safe, secure environment which enables everyone to participate in a broad spectrum of activities relating to football.

All individuals within the organisation have a role and responsibility to help ensure the safety and welfare of those we work with.

The Club will do everything that can be reasonably expected to help safeguard and protect individuals from harm and will act when it is suspected that a child or adult at risk is being harmed or is at risk of harm.

Safeguarding Policies

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding, policies are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the needs of our Club and any changes to legislation or Premier League/FA regulations.

Our safeguarding policies and procedures can be accessed below:

What to do if you have a concern?

If you have a safeguarding concern, please email the Safeguarding Team via safeguarding@avfc.co.uk.

A safeguarding concern might include:

  • An allegation of bullying or abuse
  • Concerns about an individual’s behaviour
  • Harmful sexual behaviour
  • Concerns about drug or alcohol use

Our complaints procedure

A safeguarding complaint may involve:

  • Complaints regarding poor practice within Club activities or relating to children (under 18s) or adults at risk
  • Complaints relating to the Safeguarding Team
  • A concern in relation to a member of unsafe practice by Club staff, volunteers, or partners

All complaints should be emailed to the Head of Safeguarding via safeguarding@avfc.co.uk. If your complaint involves the Head of Safeguarding, contact the Senior Safeguarding Lead via Reception on 0121 327 2299 or by emailing the Premier League at safeguarding@premierleague.com.

If you are concerned about the immediate safety or welfare of an individual, please contact emergency services via 999.

Key Contacts

Ashlee Milliard – Head of Safeguarding -  safeguarding@avfc.co.uk – 07827300798

Matt Norris – Safeguarding Manager (Club)– safeguarding@avfc.co.uk

Foundation

Debbi Rawson

Men’s Team

Phil Roscoe

Sofia Allen

Boy’s Academy

Rajinder Kaur – Academy Safeguarding Manager

Women and Girls Teams

Victoria Lown

Josie Cottam 

Tina Wise (Safeguarding Manager (Women's and Girls Academy)

FA Safeguarding: safeguarding@thefa.com

The Premier League: safeguarding@premierleague.com

NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000

NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit - https://thecpsu.org.uk/about-us/

Birmingham Referrals

cass@birmingham.gov.uk

Warwickshire Referrals

Worcestershire Referrals 

Staffordshire Referrals

firstr@staffordshire.gov.uk

 

FAQs

Children under the age of 4 are not permitted entry to the stadium, unless there are seated in certain hospitality areas which have the appropriate facilities. For a full list of available areas, please contact hospitality@avfc.co.uk.

If you wish to bring a young child to a match, please consult our Ticketing Terms and Conditions to ensure you are seated in the correct area of the stadium. Please be aware that some young children may find a match day environment intimidating

Any children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 and over. Any child attending, regardless of age will require a valid match ticket.

If you have any concerns about a child or adult at risk or if you are concerned about the behaviour or a member of staff, please contact the Safeguarding Team via 60060 or safeguarding@avfc.co.uk

Contact a Steward or a Match Day Safeguarding Officer and report your child missing. The Club has specific procedures to locate children or adults at risk who become lost.

Yes, searches will be conducted by appropriately trained staff. In the event that a child must be searched, a member of the Safeguarding Team will be present and searches will only be conducted with parental permission or by a Police Officer.

Support for Victims of Abuse

Support for adult victims and survivors of childhood abuse within a football context

Any form of abuse in football is unacceptable and must not be tolerated.

You can contact the Head of Safeguarding safeguarding@avfc.co.uk or access support on the links below:                                                    

The FA: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding/section-9-support-for-survivors

The Survivor Support Advocate is co-funded by The PFA Charity and the FA. They provide legal information, emotional and practical support https://www.thepfa.com/charity/survivor-support-advocate or 08003688389

Helpline outside of football: NAPAC: https://napac.org.uk/calling-our-support-line/

Contact Us

Please use this form to get in contact with the safeguarding team.

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