If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.

There are five ways to report a concern:

1. To your club or league Designated Safeguarding Officer – please find out from your club who these people are;
2. To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer. Click here for a list of County FA contacts;
3. By emailing The FA Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@TheFA.com;
4. If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline for expert advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk;
5. If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.

Online abuse

The CEOP Safety Centre, which is run by the National Crime Agency (NCA), helps children and young people who are being sexually abused or are worried that someone they’ve met is trying to abuse them online. If you are a child or young person and someone you have met online is putting you under pressure to have sex or making you feel uncomfortable you should report to CEOP. If the concern happens within a football context, then please also let your County FA know (see list of contacts) or The FA direct via safeguarding@TheFA.com.

To find out more about staying safe in a digital environment, please read The FA's guidance below:

Section 6: Safeguarding in the digital world

In addition, watch below what the 2016 England captains had to say about ensuing everyone knows how to report a concern about a child.

Whistle-blowing

Whistle-blowing in a safeguarding context means revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation, or within an independent structure associated with it.

It can be used as an early-warning system or when it’s recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague’s conduct towards a child or young person can also use whistleblowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA’s safeguarding team, or via email to: Safeguarding@TheFA.com

Alternatively, concerns can be reported:

• Direct to the local Police or Children’s Social Care services; or
• The Child Protection in Sport Unit at cpsu@nspcc.org.uk; or
• The NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk

If you would like to learn more, why not complete The FA’s ‘Safeguarding For All’ free online course below:

Free safeguarding course

For more information refer to Guidance Notes 2.1: ‘How to report safeguarding concerns’ at the foot of this page.

Safeguarding is everyone’ everyone’s responsibility. Non-action is not an option.