If your league or club runs under-18 teams, a Welfare Officer MUST be in place to affiliate for the 2008-09 season.

That also means completing an FA Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) application on the Officer, which must have been accepted or in progress at the point of affiliation. Making an appointment is not a huge job.

Once in place, your County FA provides full training and offers ongoing guidance, advice and sharing of best practice. So don’t risk your league or club losing their affiliation – if you haven’t started already, start taking steps today to get a Welfare Officer in place. 

Download the leaflet to get the answers to commonly-asked questions. It outlines what the role involves, the type of people who might be interested – perhaps you – and where to get further advice. We’ll support you all the way – but we need you to make the first move.

But what does a Welfare Officer do?

He or she has two fundamental roles:

  1. Taking the lead in being informed and aware of the league or club’s responsibilities when running football activities for children and young people. This involves:
    • Ensuring these responsibilities are well-understood by others
    • Developing best-practice processes
  2. Helping league and club personnel understand what their ‘duty of care’ towards children and young people actually means and entails on a day-to-day basis. For example:
    • Ensuring all relevant people complete The FA’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ training programme
    • Helping to make sure trips away are organised properly
    • Assisting those with regular contact with children and young people to complete the FA CRB paperwork

You want to find out more?

  • Download the leaflet for more information on the role of Walfare Officer
  • Click here to visit our Football Safe section and read the downloads in the ‘Designated Persons’ section or go to the Welfare Officer FAQs 
  • Contact your local County FA to speak to their Welfare Officer.
  • Speak to other leagues or clubs who already have a Welfare Officer
  • For specific questions, email footballsafe@TheFA.com