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LITHERLAND ATHLETIC JFC
PRIVACY POLICY

This Privacy Policy explains how Litherland Athletic JFC collects, uses, protects and shares personal information relating to players, parents, guardians, staff, volunteers, supporters, customers, website visitors and other people who interact with the Club.

1. WHO WE ARE

Litherland Athletic JFC ("LAJFC", "the Club", "we", "us" or "our") is a grassroots football club based in the United Kingdom.

For the personal information described in this Policy, Litherland Athletic JFC will generally act as the data controller because the Club decides why and how that personal information is used.

Contact email:

info@lajfc.co.uk

Postal address:

[INSERT CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS]

Safeguarding contact:

[INSERT SAFEGUARDING EMAIL]

2. OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

We recognise that football clubs are trusted with personal information relating to children, parents, families, volunteers, staff, supporters and customers.

Children's information requires particular care.

We aim to handle personal information:

lawfully;
fairly;
transparently;
only for legitimate purposes;
in a way that is proportionate to those purposes;
with appropriate security; and
for no longer than reasonably necessary.

We will not sell personal information to advertisers.

3. WHO THIS POLICY APPLIES TO

This Policy may apply to:

players;
prospective players;
parents and guardians;
coaches and managers;
Club officials;
volunteers;
TeamCP users;
sponsors and sponsor contacts;
supporters;
customers using our shop;
people submitting enquiries;
people submitting safeguarding or incident information;
website visitors; and
other people who interact with the Club.

4. A NOTE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

If you are a young player, your personal information belongs to you.

We may need some information about you so that the Club can safely organise football activities, keep appropriate records and celebrate football achievements.

We should not collect more information than we reasonably need.

Some football information may appear publicly on the website, for example your name, player photograph, team, position and football statistics where appropriate.

Private information such as your home address, contact details, medical information, safeguarding information and full date of birth should not be displayed publicly.

If you are unsure about how your information is being used, you can speak to a parent, guardian, Club official or the Club.

5. INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT

Depending on how you interact with the Club, we may process the following information.

Identity information

first name;
surname;
display name;
date of birth;
age;
nationality; and
photograph.

Contact information

email address;
telephone number;
postal address;
parent or guardian contact details; and
emergency contact information where appropriate.

Football information

team;
position;
squad number;
previous club information;
experience level;
registration-related information;
fixtures and match participation;
appearances;
starts;
goals;
assists;
Player Of The Match awards;
clean sheets;
yellow cards;
red cards; and
other legitimate sporting records.

Joining enquiry information

This may include:

player name;
age or date of birth;
preferred playing position;
experience level;
previous clubs;
parent/guardian details; and
information provided in the enquiry.

Volunteer information

This may include:

name and contact details;
preferred role;
football or volunteering experience;
qualifications;
availability; and
other information relevant to volunteering.

Shop and transaction information

When our online shop is available, this may include:

customer name;
email address;
telephone number where required;
billing information;
delivery address;
products ordered;
sizes and personalisation choices;
order value;
transaction reference;
delivery status; and
refund or customer-service records.

Payment information

Where Stripe is used for our shop, payment details may be entered directly into Stripe-provided payment technology embedded within our website.

The Club does not intend to store complete payment card numbers or card security codes in its own database.

Stripe will process payment-related information in accordance with its own responsibilities and privacy information.

Website and technical information

This may include:

IP address;
browser type;
device type;
requested pages;
security logs;
session information;
cookie preferences; and
similar technical information necessary to operate or secure the website.

Safeguarding and incident information

Where somebody reports a safeguarding, welfare or other serious concern, information may include sensitive details relating to:

a child or adult at risk;
health or welfare;
alleged behaviour;
injuries;
witnesses;
people involved;
actions taken;
supporting evidence; and
other information necessary to understand and respond to the concern.

This information is subject to stricter confidentiality and access controls.

6. HOW WE RECEIVE INFORMATION

We may receive personal information:

directly from you;
from a parent or guardian;
from a player;
from a Club manager, coach or official;
through website forms;
through the Club's TeamCP system;
through match and football records;
from leagues, governing bodies or competition organisers where appropriate;
from another football club where appropriate;
from payment providers; or
from another legitimate source connected with Club activities.

7. WHY WE USE PERSONAL INFORMATION

We may use personal information to:

administer Club teams;
manage players and football activities;
manage fixtures and results;
maintain player statistics;
communicate with parents, guardians, players and staff;
respond to enquiries;
consider requests to join a team;
manage volunteers;
manage Club staff and coaches;
operate the website;
publish appropriate football information;
publish appropriate photographs and Club news;
operate our online shop;
process orders and refunds;
prevent fraud and misuse;
protect website security;
manage sponsors;
comply with football, legal and regulatory requirements;
handle safeguarding and welfare matters;
protect children and adults at risk; and
establish, exercise or defend legal rights where necessary.

8. OUR LAWFUL BASES

We only process personal information where we have an appropriate lawful basis.

Depending on the activity, this may include:

Contract

Where processing is necessary to provide something a person has requested or to take steps before entering into an agreement.

Examples may include processing a shop order or responding to a request to purchase goods.

Legitimate Interests

We may rely on legitimate interests where processing is necessary for legitimate Club purposes and those interests are not overridden by the rights and interests of the person concerned.

Examples may include ordinary Club administration, security, maintaining appropriate football records and communicating about genuine Club activities.

Where children are involved, their interests and rights require particular weight.

Legal Obligation

We may process information where the Club must comply with a legal obligation.

Consent

We may rely on consent where a genuine choice can be provided.

Where consent is used, it can be withdrawn.

Withdrawal does not make earlier lawful processing unlawful.

Vital Interests

In rare circumstances, information may be processed where necessary to protect somebody's life or vital interests.

9. SPECIAL CATEGORY AND SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION

Some information requires additional legal protection.

This may include health information and certain other sensitive personal information.

Safeguarding reports may also contain special category information or information relating to alleged criminal conduct.

Where we process special category information, the Club must identify both:

an appropriate UK GDPR Article 6 lawful basis; and
an appropriate additional condition under Article 9 and, where required, the Data Protection Act 2018.

Where appropriate, the safeguarding of children and individuals at risk may form part of the applicable legal framework.

We will restrict access to safeguarding information to people who reasonably need it for legitimate safeguarding, legal or regulatory purposes.

Safeguarding information will not be made publicly available through player or team profiles.

10. PLAYER PROFILES AND PUBLIC FOOTBALL INFORMATION

The public website may display appropriate football-related information about Club players.

Depending on the player, age group and arrangements in place, this may include:

name;
photograph;
team;
position;
squad number;
nationality flag; and
football statistics.

A player's full date of birth should not be displayed publicly simply because it is held in the Club database.

The website may use date-of-birth information internally to identify a player's birthday and calculate age.

Where appropriate, a birthday feature may display the player's name, photograph, team and age reached that day without publishing the full date of birth.

We will consider age, safeguarding, privacy and consent arrangements when deciding what information about children is appropriate to publish.

11. PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO

Photographs and video may be used for legitimate Club purposes including:

team profiles;
player profiles;
match coverage;
Club news;
celebrating achievements;
community activity;
Club promotion; and
social media.

Where children are involved, we will seek to apply appropriate safeguarding and consent procedures.

A parent, guardian or player may raise concerns about publication by contacting the Club.

A request for removal will be considered taking account of safeguarding, legal obligations, legitimate interests and any applicable consent arrangements.

12. SHOP AND PAYMENT PROVIDERS

When our ecommerce shop is enabled, order information will be processed for purposes including:

accepting orders;
taking payment;
fraud prevention;
delivery;
returns;
refunds;
customer service; and
financial record-keeping.

Stripe may process payment and fraud-prevention information as part of providing payment services.

We may receive limited payment status and transaction information from Stripe but do not intend to store full payment card credentials ourselves.

13. WHO WE MAY SHARE INFORMATION WITH

Where necessary and lawful, personal information may be shared with:

authorised Club officials;
team managers and coaches;
appropriate safeguarding personnel;
relevant leagues or competition organisers;
The Football Association or County FA where appropriate;
other football organisations where necessary for legitimate football administration;
website hosting and IT providers;
email providers;
payment providers such as Stripe;
delivery or fulfilment providers;
professional advisers;
insurers;
law enforcement;
local authorities;
regulators; or
other organisations where disclosure is legally required or necessary to protect somebody from harm.

We do not share children's personal information simply because another organisation asks for it.

There must be a legitimate reason for disclosure.

14. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS

Some technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will seek to ensure that an appropriate legal mechanism or safeguard applies where required.

Third-party providers may also have their own international data-processing arrangements, which should be described in their own privacy information.

15. HOW LONG WE KEEP INFORMATION

We do not aim to retain personal information indefinitely.

Retention depends on why the information is held.

As general guidance:

General enquiries

Normally retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to answer and manage the enquiry, together with an appropriate period for follow-up or record-keeping.

Team joining enquiries

Unsuccessful or inactive joining enquiries will normally be removed when no longer reasonably required, subject to safeguarding, dispute or legitimate record-keeping needs.

Player records

Football and registration-related records may be retained during the player's involvement and for an appropriate period afterwards for sporting history, administration, safeguarding, insurance, dispute or legal purposes.

Shop records

Order and financial records may be retained for periods required for accounting, tax, fraud-prevention, consumer-rights and legal purposes.

Safeguarding records

Safeguarding information may need to be retained for significantly longer periods where required by law, The FA/County FA guidance, insurers, statutory safeguarding arrangements or the nature of the concern.

Safeguarding records will not be deleted merely because somebody leaves the Club if there remains a legitimate or legal reason to retain them.

Where a fixed retention period is inappropriate, we use criteria such as:

the purpose for which the information was obtained;
the age of the person concerned;
legal requirements;
safeguarding requirements;
insurance requirements;
football governing-body requirements;
possible legal claims; and
whether continued retention remains necessary and proportionate.

16. SECURITY

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect personal information against:

unauthorised access;
unauthorised alteration;
loss;
destruction;
accidental disclosure; and
misuse.

Measures may include:

restricted TeamCP access;
role-based permissions;
password hashing;
secure sessions;
database access controls;
prepared database queries;
audit logging for authorised administrative actions;
secure file handling;
backup arrangements; and
limiting sensitive information to people who need access.

No internet-connected system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

17. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Children deserve particular protection when their personal information is used.

When handling children's information we aim to:

use clear and understandable language;
collect only information reasonably needed;
consider the child's best interests;
avoid unnecessary public disclosure;
apply appropriate parent/guardian involvement;
consider the child's own views where appropriate to age and understanding; and
apply safeguarding protections to photographs, contact information and online communication.

Where consent is relied upon, we will consider whether the child can validly provide that consent or whether parental authorisation is required.

18. YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS

Depending on the circumstances and lawful basis, individuals may have rights including:

the right to be informed about how information is used;
the right to request access to personal information;
the right to request correction of inaccurate information;
the right to request deletion in certain circumstances;
the right to request restriction of processing in certain circumstances;
the right to object to certain processing;
the right to data portability where applicable;
rights relating to solely automated decision-making where applicable; and
the right to withdraw consent where processing depends on consent.

RIGHT TO OBJECT

Where we rely on legitimate interests, you may have a right to object to that processing.

We will consider objections in accordance with applicable data-protection law.

To exercise a privacy right, contact:

info@lajfc.co.uk

We may need to verify identity before disclosing or changing personal information.

19. AUTOMATED DECISION-MAKING

We do not currently intend to make decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on individuals solely through automated processing.

Website calculations such as player age, league-table display, statistics or automated birthday detection are administrative/display functions and are not intended to make significant decisions about a person's rights.

20. COOKIES AND SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES

Our website may use cookies, browser storage and similar technologies.

Please read our separate Cookies Policy for further information.

21. DATA BREACHES

If a personal-data security incident occurs, we will assess:

what happened;
what information was affected;
who may be affected;
the potential risk;
what containment action is required; and
whether notification to affected people or the Information Commissioner's Office is legally required.

22. COMPLAINTS

If you have a concern about how Litherland Athletic JFC has used your personal information, please contact us first so we have an opportunity to investigate.

Email:

info@lajfc.co.uk

You also have the right to raise a concern with the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office.

Information Commissioner's Office - Make a Complaint

23. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Privacy Policy when:

our website changes;
Club systems change;
new services are introduced;
our shop becomes operational or changes;
our data practices change; or
legal or regulatory requirements change.

The Last Edited date displayed with this Policy identifies the latest published revision.

Litherland Athletic JFC · Community Club. Est. 2019

LITHERLAND ATHLETIC JFC
WEBSITE TERMS OF SERVICE

Please read these Terms carefully before using our website, contacting the Club, submitting information, applying to join a team, volunteering, purchasing goods, participating in website competitions, using membership features or using any other service provided through this website.

1. ABOUT THESE TERMS

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Litherland Athletic JFC website, online services and, where available, our online shop, membership services, competitions and interactive football features.

Throughout these Terms, "Litherland Athletic JFC", "LAJFC", "the Club", "we", "us" and "our" refer to Litherland Athletic JFC.

Our website is operated from the United Kingdom.

Club contact email: [info@lajfc.co.uk](mailto:info@lajfc.co.uk)

Club postal address: [INSERT CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS]

By using this website, you agree to comply with these Terms.

Where a website feature, competition, membership scheme, promotion or service has additional rules displayed on the relevant page, those additional rules will also apply to your use of that feature.

If there is a conflict between these general Terms and specific rules clearly displayed for a particular competition, promotion or website feature, the specific rules will apply to that feature to the extent of the conflict.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not use the website or any service requiring acceptance of them.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude, restrict or reduce any legal rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.

2. OUR CLUB AND WEBSITE

Litherland Athletic JFC is a grassroots football club providing football-related activities, information and community services.

The website may include information or functionality relating to:

Club teams and age groups;
players and staff;
fixtures and results;
league tables;
player statistics;
match events and match records;
Player Cards;
Fantasy Football;
Last Man Standing competitions;
membership and member-only areas;
the Gold Members Club;
news and announcements;
Club sponsors and partners;
Club policies and documents;
volunteering opportunities;
team enquiries and applications;
safeguarding information;
Club merchandise and memorabilia; and
other football or community-related content.

We may add, remove or change website features as the Club develops.

Some website features operate automatically using information recorded by authorised Club personnel within Club systems.

3. INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE

We take reasonable steps to keep information accurate and up to date.

Football information can change quickly. Fixtures, kick-off times, venues, team selections, league positions, competition arrangements, player statistics, match events and other football information may change after publication.

Where information is supplied by a league, competition organiser, County FA, The Football Association, opposition club or other third party, we cannot guarantee that the information supplied to us will always be complete or immediately up to date.

Certain parts of the website may calculate or display information automatically using fixture, result, player or match-event data recorded elsewhere within the LAJFC website or Club administration systems.

If the underlying information is changed or corrected, any website feature which relies upon that information may also be recalculated or updated.

If we become aware of an error, we may correct it.

The website should not be treated as the sole source of emergency, medical, legal or safeguarding advice.

4. TEAM ENQUIRIES AND APPLICATIONS

The website may allow parents, guardians or players to enquire about joining one of our teams.

Submitting an enquiry does not guarantee:

a trial;
a place in a squad;
registration with the Club;
selection for a match; or
continued membership of a team.

Squad availability, appropriate age group, ability level, welfare considerations, registration rules, coaching capacity and other football-related factors may affect whether a place can be offered.

Where an enquiry relates to a child, we may require communication with a parent or person with parental responsibility.

We may refuse or discontinue an application where necessary for safeguarding, welfare, capacity, eligibility, disciplinary or legitimate Club reasons.

5. CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

The Club works with children and young people of different ages.

Our priority is to provide a safe, appropriate and positive football environment.

Children should not be asked to provide unnecessary personal information through this website.

Where appropriate, parents or guardians should complete forms or provide information on behalf of younger children.

Our separate Privacy Policy explains how personal information relating to children is handled.

Our separate Safeguarding Policy explains our approach to protecting children and adults at risk.

6. PLAYER, TEAM AND STAFF INFORMATION

The website may publish football-related information such as:

player name;
player photograph;
team;
position;
squad number;
nationality flag;
appearances;
starts;
goals;
assists;
Player Of The Match awards;
clean sheets where relevant;
yellow and red cards;
staff names, photographs and roles; and
other legitimate football information.

Statistics are provided for information and Club record-keeping.

They may be corrected where errors are discovered.

A player's inclusion on the website does not create any entitlement to selection, squad status or future participation.

7. MATCH EVENTS, STATISTICS AND AUTOMATED WEBSITE FEATURES

LAJFC records football information about Club fixtures so that match results, player statistics and other football-related information can be displayed through the website.

After or during a fixture, authorised Club personnel may record match information and events including, where applicable:

the teams taking part;
the final score;
player appearances and starts;
goals;
assists;
yellow and red cards;
Player Of The Match awards;
clean sheets;
other player statistics; and
other relevant match events or information.

This information is used both to provide visitors with records of LAJFC fixtures and results and to support other functions within the website.

Certain website features may therefore use the same match information automatically.

For example, recorded match events may be used to:

update player statistics;
update Player Cards;
calculate Fantasy Football scores;
update leaderboards;
calculate achievements, awards or website statistics; and
support other present or future football-related website features.

The Club aims to enter match information accurately, but human error, incomplete information, delayed reporting or later corrections may occur.

Where a match event, result or player statistic is subsequently corrected, any feature which depends upon that information may also be automatically recalculated.

This means that Fantasy Football scores, Player Cards, leaderboards, statistics or similar information may increase, decrease or otherwise change after initially being displayed.

The Club's corrected match record will normally be treated as the authoritative website record for the purposes of features calculated from LAJFC match data.

Where appropriate, the Club may manually correct an automated calculation where a technical or data-entry error has caused an incorrect result.

8. FANTASY FOOTBALL

The website may provide an LAJFC Fantasy Football feature allowing eligible users to create or manage a fantasy team using players made available through the website.

Fantasy Football is intended as an entertainment and supporter-engagement feature connected with LAJFC football.

Users are responsible for making and saving their selections before any applicable deadline shown through the website.

Player availability, positions, values, selection limits, formation requirements, budgets, transfer rules, deadlines and other Fantasy Football rules may be displayed within the Fantasy Football area and may be updated where reasonably necessary.

Fantasy Football points are calculated using qualifying match events recorded against LAJFC fixtures.

Depending on the scoring rules used by the website, relevant events may include matters such as:

appearances;
starts;
goals;
assists;
clean sheets;
Player Of The Match awards;
yellow cards;
red cards; and
other scoring events displayed within the Fantasy Football rules.

Fantasy Football scores are therefore linked to the same match-event information maintained by LAJFC for fixture results, player statistics and other website features.

Once the relevant match information has been recorded, the website may automatically calculate or update:

individual player Fantasy Football points;
Fantasy team scores;
weekly or round scores;
overall scores; and
Fantasy Football leaderboards or standings.

Scores displayed immediately after a match should not necessarily be treated as final while the relevant fixture information is still being entered, checked or corrected.

If LAJFC subsequently corrects an underlying match event or player record, affected Fantasy Football scores and standings may also be recalculated automatically.

Users are not entitled to retain points which were awarded because of an incorrect match event, duplicate event, data-entry error or technical error.

Similarly, where points were incorrectly omitted, the website may add them when the underlying record is corrected.

Any tie-breaking rules, prizes, seasonal rules or additional Fantasy Football conditions displayed within the Fantasy Football area will form part of the rules for that competition.

We may take reasonable steps to correct technical faults or scoring errors where necessary to maintain the integrity of the Fantasy Football feature.

9. LAST MAN STANDING

The website may provide a Last Man Standing football competition.

Unless different rules are clearly displayed for a particular competition, the competition will operate using the normal Last Man Standing principle.

Participants select an eligible football team for each relevant round or selection period.

A participant's selected team must win the relevant qualifying fixture for that participant to remain in the competition.

Where a selected team does not win the qualifying fixture, including where the fixture ends in a draw or the selected team loses, the participant will normally be eliminated from that competition.

Where the competition prevents the same team from being selected more than once, the website may automatically prevent or restrict an unavailable selection.

Fixtures, available teams, round dates and selection deadlines will be displayed through the Last Man Standing area where applicable.

Selections must be submitted before the deadline or cut-off time displayed by the website.

The user is responsible for ensuring that their selection has been successfully submitted before that deadline.

If a participant fails to make a selection before the applicable deadline or cut-off time, the website will allocate that participant the home team from the first available qualifying fixture in the next available fixture list used by the competition.

An automatically allocated team will be treated as the participant's selection for that round and the normal Last Man Standing result rules will apply to it.

This means that a participant will not automatically be removed solely because they forgot to make a selection before the deadline where the automatic-selection rule can be applied.

Once the deadline has passed, selections will normally be locked and cannot be changed merely because:

a participant forgot to make their preferred selection;
team news subsequently changes;
odds or expectations change;
another participant selected a different team; or
the participant later decides that another selection would have been preferable.

Where a fixture is postponed, abandoned, cancelled or materially changed, the treatment of that selection may be determined by the competition settings or any additional rules displayed through the Last Man Standing area.

Where necessary to resolve an unusual fixture situation, technical failure or clear system error, the Club may make a reasonable competition decision intended to apply the rules fairly and consistently.

Any competition-specific rules shown within the Last Man Standing area will form part of these Terms.

10. GOLD MEMBERS CLUB

The website may provide a membership feature known as the Gold Members Club.

The Gold Members Club may provide eligible members with access to member-specific website features, information, recognition, offers, benefits or other Club-related services made available from time to time.

The exact benefits available to a Gold Member will be those displayed or communicated by LAJFC for the relevant membership period.

Membership benefits may develop over time and are not guaranteed to remain identical indefinitely.

Where reasonably necessary, we may:

introduce new membership benefits;
improve or replace existing benefits;
remove a benefit which is no longer reasonably available;
change how a member-only website feature operates; or
temporarily suspend a feature for maintenance, security or operational reasons.

Where a material change affects a paid membership, we will seek to deal with that change fairly and in accordance with any applicable consumer rights.

Gold Members must provide accurate information when registering or managing their membership.

Where a membership is connected with a website account, the member is responsible for keeping their account credentials secure and must not knowingly allow another person to misuse member-only access.

Membership status, membership numbers, member recognition or other membership-related information displayed through the website does not transfer ownership of any part of the Club or give a member any ownership interest in LAJFC.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, membership benefits:

are intended for the registered member;
cannot be exchanged for cash;
cannot be sold or commercially transferred;
do not guarantee team selection, trials, playing opportunities or Club registration; and
do not give a member authority to act or speak on behalf of LAJFC.

Where a benefit is subject to availability, capacity, dates, eligibility requirements or additional conditions, those requirements will apply.

If the Gold Members Club requires payment, the applicable membership price and payment arrangements will be displayed before the membership is purchased or renewed.

Where membership is purchased online, any cancellation or refund rights required by law will remain unaffected.

We may suspend or terminate access to Gold Members Club features where a member:

misuses the website or their membership;
attempts to obtain benefits fraudulently;
shares restricted access inappropriately;
seriously breaches these Terms; or
engages in conduct which creates a legitimate security, safeguarding or legal concern.

Where appropriate, we may contact the member before taking action.

Any additional membership conditions clearly displayed when joining or renewing the Gold Members Club will also form part of the membership terms.

11. ACCEPTABLE USE

You must not use this website:

for unlawful, fraudulent or abusive purposes;
to harass, threaten, intimidate or abuse another person;
to target, exploit or endanger a child or vulnerable person;
to impersonate another person;
to submit information you know to be false or misleading;
to manipulate, exploit or deliberately interfere with Fantasy Football, Last Man Standing, membership features, leaderboards or other website competitions;
to create or use accounts dishonestly in order to obtain an unfair advantage;
to attempt to gain unauthorised access to the website, TeamCP, database, server or accounts;
to introduce malware, malicious code or other harmful material;
to scrape, harvest or systematically collect personal information without permission;
to interfere with the normal operation or security of the website; or
in any way that could damage the Club, another user, a player, child, volunteer, member, sponsor or third party.

We may restrict access, block requests, remove competition entries, suspend membership features or take other appropriate action where misuse is detected.

12. CONTENT YOU SUBMIT

Where you submit information through a contact form, joining enquiry, volunteering form, incident report or other website feature, you confirm that the information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge.

You must not knowingly submit malicious, defamatory, threatening, discriminatory or unlawful content.

You should only provide personal information about another person where you are entitled to do so.

Submitting information does not give us permission to publish confidential or safeguarding information publicly.

Safeguarding and incident information will be handled separately and with appropriate confidentiality.

13. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Unless stated otherwise, website design, Club branding, text, graphics, layouts, photographs produced for the Club, databases, statistics compiled by the Club and other original Club material are owned by or licensed to Litherland Athletic JFC.

Third-party trademarks, league logos, opposition team badges, sponsor logos and other third-party material remain the property of their respective owners.

You may view and use the website for normal personal and non-commercial purposes.

You must not reproduce, sell, republish, commercially exploit or falsely represent Club content as your own without permission, except where the law permits it.

14. PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEDIA

Photographs and video may be used to promote legitimate Club activities, achievements, fixtures, teams, community work and events.

Where children are involved, the Club will seek to handle photography and media in accordance with safeguarding requirements, consent arrangements and our Privacy Policy.

You must not download or reuse photographs of children from this website for inappropriate, exploitative, misleading or unauthorised purposes.

15. SPONSORS AND THIRD-PARTY LINKS

The website may identify businesses or organisations that sponsor or support the Club.

A sponsor profile may include information supplied by that sponsor and links to the sponsor's own website or social media.

A sponsor's presence on our website does not mean that the Club accepts responsibility for every product, service, statement, transaction or activity of that sponsor.

External websites operate under their own terms and privacy practices.

We are not responsible for the content or security of a third-party website merely because we link to it.

ONLINE SHOP TERMS

16. SHOP PRODUCTS

Where the LAJFC online shop is available, we may sell Club merchandise, memorabilia, clothing, accessories and other goods.

We aim to describe products accurately.

Product photographs are illustrative. Colours and appearance may differ slightly because of photography, lighting, screen settings, manufacturing changes or product batches.

Sizes may vary between manufacturers. Where a size guide is provided, customers should review it before ordering.

17. PRICES

Prices will be displayed on the relevant product or checkout page.

Where applicable, prices will include taxes required to be included in the advertised consumer price.

Delivery charges, where applicable, will be shown before an order is confirmed.

We may correct genuine pricing errors.

If an obvious pricing error affects an order that has already been submitted, we will contact the customer rather than silently charging a different amount.

18. PLACING AN ORDER

Adding an item to a shopping basket does not reserve it.

When placing an order, you should check:

the product;
size;
colour;
personalisation, if any;
quantity;
delivery address;
delivery method; and
total price.

An order is an offer to purchase the selected goods.

We may send an acknowledgement confirming that the order has been received.

A binding sales contract is formed when we accept the order, normally by sending confirmation that the order has been accepted or dispatched.

We may refuse an order where, for example:

an item is unavailable;
payment cannot be authorised;
delivery cannot reasonably be made to the address supplied;
there is an obvious pricing or description error;
we reasonably suspect fraud or misuse; or
the transaction would be unlawful.

Where we take payment for an order that we subsequently cannot accept, the relevant amount will be refunded.

19. PAYMENT AND STRIPE

Our online shop or other paid website services may use Stripe to provide secure payment functionality within the LAJFC website.

Payment information may be processed directly by Stripe using Stripe's payment technology.

The Club does not intend to store complete payment card numbers or card security codes in its own website database.

Stripe may process personal information under its own privacy terms and legal responsibilities.

Orders or paid services will not normally be treated as paid until the payment provider confirms that payment has been successfully authorised or completed.

We may use reasonable fraud-prevention and security measures to protect customers and the Club.

20. STOCK AVAILABILITY

All products are subject to availability.

Stock displayed online may occasionally become unavailable before the website has been updated.

If this happens after an order has been placed, we will contact the customer and, where appropriate, offer:

an alternative;
a later delivery where agreed; or
a refund for the unavailable item.

We will not substitute a materially different product without agreement.

21. DELIVERY

Available delivery or collection options will be shown during checkout where applicable.

Customers are responsible for supplying an accurate delivery address.

We will take reasonable steps to dispatch orders within the timeframe stated at checkout or in the order confirmation.

Unless another delivery period is expressly agreed, we will seek to comply with applicable legal requirements relating to delivery times.

Delays outside our reasonable control may occasionally occur.

Where a legally significant delay occurs, the customer's statutory rights remain unaffected.

22. CANCELLING AN ONLINE ORDER

For goods bought online, consumers may have a legal right to change their mind.

For most standard goods, a consumer can normally tell us that they wish to cancel within 14 days after receiving the goods.

After notifying us of cancellation, the consumer will normally have a further 14 days to return the goods.

This statutory cancellation right is subject to legal exceptions.

To request a cancellation or return, contact:

[info@lajfc.co.uk](mailto:info@lajfc.co.uk)

Returns address:

[INSERT RETURNS ADDRESS]

Nothing in this section limits any statutory cancellation right.

23. PERSONALISED AND CUSTOM-MADE ITEMS

Certain merchandise may be personalised or made specifically to a customer's instructions, for example with:

a personal name;
individual squad number;
custom wording;
custom embroidery; or
another customer-specific feature.

The normal change-of-mind cancellation right may not apply to goods made to the consumer's specifications or clearly personalised.

This does not remove the customer's rights where personalised goods are faulty, damaged, incorrectly supplied or not as described.

Customers should carefully check all requested personalisation before submitting an order.

24. RETURNS AND REFUNDS

Where a customer lawfully cancels an eligible online purchase, refunds will be handled in accordance with applicable consumer law.

Returned change-of-mind goods should be kept in reasonable condition and handled only as necessary to inspect them in the same way they could reasonably be inspected in a shop.

Where permitted by law, a deduction may be made where a customer's handling has reduced the value of the goods beyond what was reasonably necessary to inspect them.

Where the law requires us to refund standard outbound delivery charges, we will do so.

If the customer chose a more expensive delivery method than our standard option, we are not required to refund the additional premium unless the law or circumstances require otherwise.

25. FAULTY, DAMAGED OR MISDESCRIBED GOODS

Nothing in these Terms affects a customer's rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or other applicable consumer law.

If an item is faulty, damaged, not as described or otherwise fails to meet legal requirements, contact us as soon as reasonably possible.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, remedies may include:

refund;
repair;
replacement; or
another appropriate legal remedy.

We will not attempt to exclude rights that the law says cannot be excluded.

26. PROMOTIONS AND DISCOUNT CODES

Promotions may have additional clearly stated conditions.

Unless stated otherwise:

discounts cannot be exchanged for cash;
codes may have an expiry date;
codes may apply only to selected products; and
one code may be limited to one transaction or customer where clearly stated.

We will not use promotional conditions to remove statutory consumer rights.

27. ORDERS PLACED BY CHILDREN

Our Club works with children, but the online shop is primarily intended to be used by adults or with appropriate parent/guardian involvement.

Where a young person is not legally capable of entering the relevant transaction independently, a parent or guardian should place or approve the order.

We may contact the purchaser where we reasonably need to verify an order.

28. EVENTS, TICKETS, MEMBERSHIPS AND OTHER SERVICES

If the website offers paid events, tickets, memberships, subscriptions, coaching services or other paid services, additional terms may be shown before purchase where those services require different cancellation, attendance, membership or delivery rules.

Those additional terms will form part of the relevant transaction.

Nothing in additional service terms is intended to remove statutory consumer rights which cannot lawfully be excluded.

29. WEBSITE AVAILABILITY AND AUTOMATED FEATURES

We aim to keep the website available but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access.

The website may temporarily be unavailable because of:

maintenance;
updates;
hosting problems;
security incidents;
technical faults; or
events outside our reasonable control.

Automated website features including Fantasy Football scoring, Player Cards, statistics, Last Man Standing selections, leaderboards and membership areas may occasionally be delayed while data is being processed or because of a technical problem.

A delay in an automated update does not necessarily mean that the underlying match event, selection, membership status or other record has been lost.

Where reasonably possible, the website may process or recalculate outstanding information once normal service resumes.

We may temporarily restrict services where necessary to protect the website, users or Club systems.

30. TECHNICAL ERRORS, COMPETITION RECORDS AND CORRECTIONS

We take reasonable steps to operate website competitions and automated features accurately.

However, software faults, connection failures, duplicate data, incorrect fixture information, data-entry errors or other technical problems may occasionally affect a website feature.

Where there is a clear discrepancy caused by an error, we may review relevant Club records and make a reasonable correction.

This may include correcting:

match events;
player statistics;
Fantasy Football points;
Fantasy Football standings;
Last Man Standing selections or statuses where a technical fault has occurred;
Player Cards;
leaderboards;
membership information; or
other automated website records.

The existence of an obvious website error does not give a user a right to retain an incorrect score, status, result, benefit or competition position.

Where information is corrected, dependent features may be recalculated automatically.

We will seek to apply corrections consistently and fairly.

31. LIABILITY

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where doing so would be unlawful.

In particular, nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude liability for:

death or personal injury caused by negligence where liability cannot legally be excluded;
fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
faulty goods where statutory rights apply; or
any other liability that the law does not permit us to exclude.

Subject to those protections, the Club is not responsible for losses caused solely by:

a user's unlawful or improper use of the website;
information supplied incorrectly by the user;
third-party websites outside our control;
a user failing to submit a website competition selection before a clearly displayed deadline; or
events outside our reasonable control where the law does not make us responsible.

Nothing in this section prevents the Club from correcting Fantasy Football scores, Last Man Standing records, Player Cards, statistics or other automated features where the underlying information was inaccurate.

32. SAFEGUARDING

Safeguarding concerns are taken seriously.

The Club's Safeguarding Policy applies to safeguarding matters connected with Club activities.

The website Incident Report facility may be used to submit appropriate concerns, but it is not an emergency service.

If a child or another person is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency or statutory services without waiting for a response from the website.

33. PRIVACY AND COOKIES

Use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy.

Use of cookies and similar browser technologies is explained in our Cookies Policy.

Where consent is legally required for optional cookies or similar technologies, those technologies should not be activated until the required choice has been made.

Where a user participates in Fantasy Football, Last Man Standing, the Gold Members Club or another account-based feature, information connected with that user's account may be processed where reasonably necessary to operate that feature.

Our Privacy Policy provides further information about how personal information is handled.

34. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

We may update these Terms to reflect:

changes to the website;
new Club services;
new or changed website competitions;
changes to Fantasy Football or Last Man Standing features;
changes to the Gold Members Club or other membership services;
changes to our shop;
changes in law or regulation; or
changes to Club procedures.

The most recent version published through the website will apply from its stated Last Edited date, subject to any rights already arising under an existing contract.

Where appropriate, rules already applying to a competition which is in progress may continue to apply until that competition has concluded unless a change is reasonably necessary because of a technical, legal, safeguarding or operational issue.

35. GOVERNING LAW

These Terms are governed by the laws applicable in England and Wales.

If you are a consumer living elsewhere in the United Kingdom, nothing in this clause removes any mandatory right you may have to bring proceedings in an appropriate court in your home jurisdiction.

36. CONTACT US

Questions about these Terms, website competitions, membership features or other website services can be sent to:

Litherland Athletic JFC

Email: [info@lajfc.co.uk](mailto:info@lajfc.co.uk)

Address: [INSERT CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS]

Litherland Athletic JFC · Community Club. Est. 2019

LITHERLAND ATHLETIC JFC
COOKIES & SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES POLICY

This Policy explains how Litherland Athletic JFC may use cookies, browser storage and similar technologies when you use our website.

1. WHAT ARE COOKIES?

Cookies are small pieces of information stored on or accessed from a device when a website is used.

They can help a website:

remember a visitor;
maintain a secure session;
remember preferences;
keep items in a shopping basket;
understand how features are used;
protect against fraud; and
provide other website functionality.

2. THIS POLICY COVERS MORE THAN COOKIES

Privacy rules can also apply to other technologies that store information on, or access information from, a visitor's device.

These may include:

cookies;
localStorage;
sessionStorage;
pixels;
scripts;
tags;
device identifiers; and
similar browser or device technologies.

In this Policy, we use the word "cookies" as a convenient general description unless a distinction is necessary.

3. WHO WE ARE

This website is operated by:

Litherland Athletic JFC

Email:

info@lajfc.co.uk

Address:

[INSERT CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS]

4. WHY WE USE COOKIES

We may use cookies and similar technologies to:

operate the website;
keep the website secure;
remember privacy choices;
maintain sessions;
support forms;
remember shopping-basket contents;
process payments;
prevent fraud;
remember interface preferences;
understand website performance; and
provide optional functionality where permitted.

5. STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES

Some technologies are necessary for a website feature requested by the visitor or for the website to operate securely.

Examples may include technologies used for:

secure sessions;
login security;
fraud prevention;
load balancing;
remembering items in an online shopping basket;
maintaining checkout state;
recording a visitor's cookie choice; and
other functionality that cannot reasonably operate without the technology.

Where a legal exemption applies to a strictly necessary technology, consent may not be required.

We will still seek to provide appropriate information about its use.

6. FUNCTIONAL COOKIES

Functional technologies may remember choices made by a visitor.

Examples may include:

display preferences;
interface settings;
previously selected filters;
saved form preferences; or
other optional convenience features.

Whether consent is required depends on the purpose of the particular technology and any applicable legal exemption.

7. ANALYTICS AND STATISTICAL TECHNOLOGIES

We may use limited analytics or statistical technologies to understand matters such as:

which pages are visited;
how often the website is used;
general website performance;
errors; and
how visitors move through the website.

Where consent is legally required, analytics will not be enabled until the visitor has made the appropriate choice.

Where current law provides a specific statistical-purpose exemption, we will only rely on it where the conditions of that exemption are met, including any required transparency and ability to object.

We do not intend to use children's website activity for behavioural advertising.

8. ONLINE SHOP COOKIES

When the LAJFC online shop is introduced, cookies or browser storage may be used to:

remember basket contents;
maintain checkout state;
prevent duplicate transactions;
protect payment security;
detect suspected fraud;
remember delivery or checkout choices; and
support order processing.

Technologies that are genuinely necessary to provide a shopping basket or checkout requested by the customer may qualify for a legal exemption from consent.

Optional analytics or marketing technologies will be considered separately.

9. STRIPE AND PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY

Our future online shop may use Stripe to process payments through an embedded payment interface.

Stripe may use cookies or similar technologies for purposes including:

payment processing;
security;
fraud prevention;
authentication; and
reliability of its services.

Some Stripe technologies may be necessary to complete a payment requested by the customer.

Stripe is responsible for explaining its own use of data and technologies where it acts independently.

Where a Stripe technology requires consent rather than benefiting from an applicable exemption, the relevant consent requirements should be followed.

10. LOCAL STORAGE AND SESSION STORAGE

The website may use browser localStorage or sessionStorage for suitable features.

Examples may include:

temporary interface state;
visitor preferences;
consent choices;
basket information;
temporary form state; or
other website functionality.

These technologies are not traditional cookies, but similar privacy rules may apply because information is stored on or accessed from the visitor's device.

11. SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES

We may use security-related technologies to:

detect suspicious activity;
protect forms;
protect administrative areas;
prevent abuse;
protect payment transactions; and
maintain session integrity.

Security technologies will only be used in a manner we consider necessary and proportionate.

12. THIRD-PARTY CONTENT

The website may link to third-party websites, social networks, sponsors or external services.

Simply following an external link takes the visitor to a different service that may use its own cookies.

If we later embed third-party content directly into our pages, such as:

videos;
maps;
social-media feeds; or
other interactive services;

we will consider whether those embedded technologies require consent before loading.

13. COOKIE CONSENT

Where consent is legally required, it should be:

freely given;
specific;
informed;
indicated by a clear positive choice; and
capable of being withdrawn.

Simply continuing to browse should not be treated as valid consent where the law requires an affirmative choice.

Non-exempt optional technologies should not be activated before the required consent has been obtained.

14. REJECTING OPTIONAL COOKIES

Where optional cookies require consent, visitors should be given a reasonable way to reject them.

Rejecting optional cookies should not prevent access to ordinary website content that does not genuinely depend on those cookies.

Certain requested features may not work if the technology is genuinely necessary for that feature and the visitor disables it through their browser.

15. WITHDRAWING OR CHANGING A CHOICE

Where our website provides cookie settings, visitors may use those settings to change their preferences.

Visitors may also control certain cookies through their browser.

Deleting cookies or browser storage may cause the website to forget previous settings, including previous cookie choices.

We may therefore need to ask again after cookies are deleted or when our cookie use materially changes.

16. CHILDREN

Because the Club works with children of different ages, we aim to take particular care with online tracking.

We do not intend to use the website to create behavioural advertising profiles of children.

Where an optional technology processes children's personal information, we will consider:

whether the technology is necessary;
the child's best interests;
whether consent is required;
whether parental authorisation is required;
data minimisation; and
appropriate privacy settings.

17. HOW LONG COOKIES LAST

Some technologies exist only while the browser session is open.

Others may remain for a defined period.

Retention depends on the purpose of the technology.

We will seek to avoid retaining device information for longer than reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

Where a third party sets a technology, its retention period may be determined by that provider.

18. CURRENT COOKIE DETAILS

The precise technologies used by the website may change as features are developed.

For example, introducing:

Stripe payments;
a full shopping basket;
analytics;
embedded media; or
new security services

may change the technologies used.

Where appropriate, our cookie settings interface or accompanying cookie information should identify current categories, providers and purposes.

We will review this Policy when material cookie use changes.

19. BROWSER CONTROLS

Most browsers provide settings for viewing, blocking or deleting cookies.

Blocking all cookies may affect features that require them to operate.

Browser controls are separate from any consent controls provided by the LAJFC website.

20. PRIVACY

Where a cookie or similar technology results in personal information being processed, our Privacy Policy also applies.

The Privacy Policy explains:

our lawful bases;
how information is shared;
retention;
children's privacy; and
individual rights.

21. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this Policy when:

new website features are introduced;
the online shop changes;
our payment systems change;
analytics or third-party services change; or
relevant law or regulatory guidance changes.

The Last Edited date displayed with this Policy identifies the most recent published version.

22. CONTACT

Questions about our use of cookies or similar technologies can be sent to:

Litherland Athletic JFC

Email: info@lajfc.co.uk

Address: [INSERT CLUB POSTAL ADDRESS]

Litherland Athletic JFC · Community Club. Est. 2019

LITHERLAND ATHLETIC JFC
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT RISK POLICY

Litherland Athletic JFC is committed to providing a football environment in which children, young people and adults at risk can participate safely, positively and with dignity.

1. OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

Litherland Athletic JFC believes that football should be safe, enjoyable and inclusive.

The welfare of children and adults at risk is a priority.

Everyone involved with the Club has a responsibility to contribute to a safe environment and to raise concerns where somebody may be at risk of harm.

We aim to:

put the welfare and best interests of children first;
provide a safe and inclusive football environment;
take concerns seriously;
respond appropriately to disclosures;
promote appropriate adult behaviour;
reduce opportunities for abuse or misconduct;
support those who raise genuine concerns; and
work with appropriate football and statutory safeguarding organisations when necessary.

2. SCOPE

This Policy applies to safeguarding matters connected with Litherland Athletic JFC and may apply to:

players;
parents and guardians;
managers;
coaches;
trainers;
Club officials;
committee members;
volunteers;
staff;
spectators;
contractors;
visitors; and
any other person participating in or connected with Club activities.

For the purpose of this Policy, a child means a person under the age of 18.

The Club also recognises safeguarding responsibilities towards adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

3. FOOTBALL SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORK

The Club seeks to operate in line with applicable safeguarding requirements, football regulations and recognised grassroots-football safeguarding practice.

Where applicable, this includes relevant policies, procedures and requirements issued by:

The Football Association;
the relevant County Football Association;
the relevant league or competition; and
statutory safeguarding organisations.

Where a governing-body safeguarding rule imposes a higher or more specific requirement than this website summary, the applicable governing-body requirement should be followed.

4. EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

Safeguarding applies to every child.

No child should receive less protection because of:

age;
sex;
gender;
disability;
race;
ethnic background;
religion or belief;
sexual orientation;
family circumstances;
football ability;
economic circumstances; or
any other protected or personal characteristic.

Children with disabilities or additional communication needs may require additional support to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are accessible to them.

5. CLUB WELFARE / SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

The Club's designated safeguarding contact is:

[INSERT CLUB WELFARE OFFICER NAME]

Email:

[INSERT SAFEGUARDING EMAIL]

Additional contact information:

[INSERT SAFEGUARDING CONTACT DETAILS]

The Club should ensure that players, parents, guardians, coaches and volunteers know how to contact the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLUB LEADERSHIP

The Club's leadership should seek to:

promote this Policy;
support the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer;
ensure appropriate safeguarding processes are available;
support safer recruitment;
respond appropriately to concerns;
ensure relevant staff understand expected conduct;
maintain appropriate safeguarding records; and
refer concerns to the appropriate organisation where required.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGERS, COACHES AND VOLUNTEERS

Adults working with players must:

place player welfare before winning or personal interests;
maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
follow Club and governing-body safeguarding requirements;
avoid favouritism or inappropriate relationships;
challenge bullying, abuse, discrimination and inappropriate behaviour;
report safeguarding concerns promptly;
avoid being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while responsible for children;
use appropriate language;
avoid humiliating or degrading coaching practices; and
act as positive role models.

8. SAFER RECRUITMENT

The Club should apply appropriate safer-recruitment measures to roles involving children or adults at risk.

Depending on the role and applicable rules, this may include:

application or registration information;
identity checks;
references;
role suitability assessment;
qualification checks;
safeguarding training;
appropriate football qualifications; and
Disclosure and Barring Service checks where the role is legally eligible and applicable football rules require or permit them.

No individual should be treated as suitable to work with children solely because they are well known to the Club or are related to an existing member.

9. POSITIONS OF TRUST AND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

Adults working with children must recognise the power and trust attached to their role.

They must not:

use their position to exploit a child;
seek an inappropriate personal, emotional or sexual relationship with a player;
encourage secrecy between an adult and child;
use private communication to create an inappropriate relationship;
give inappropriate gifts or special treatment; or
behave in a way that could reasonably be considered grooming, coercive or exploitative.

Concerns about inappropriate boundaries should be reported.

10. ONE-TO-ONE SITUATIONS

Where possible, adults should avoid unnecessary isolated one-to-one situations with children.

Where one-to-one contact is legitimate and necessary, it should be:

observable where reasonably possible;
appropriate to the activity;
time limited;
conducted in a suitable location; and
consistent with applicable safeguarding guidance.

One-to-one coaching or welfare conversations should not be used as an opportunity for secrecy or inappropriate contact.

11. PHYSICAL CONTACT

Football may involve legitimate physical contact.

Any contact between an adult and child should be:

appropriate to the football activity;
necessary;
reasonable;
not sexualised;
not punitive; and
sensitive to the child's comfort and individual needs.

Coaches should explain physical coaching interventions where appropriate.

A child should never be forced to accept unnecessary physical contact.

12. CHANGING ROOMS AND TOILETS

Changing-room arrangements involving children require particular care.

Adults should follow applicable Club, facility and FA guidance relating to:

adult supervision;
privacy;
mixed-age groups;
mixed-gender teams;
photography and mobile devices;
adults changing at the same time as children; and
children requiring additional assistance.

Photography or video must not take place in changing areas.

13. TRANSPORT

Parents or guardians are normally responsible for making appropriate transport arrangements unless the Club has expressly organised transport.

Where a Club representative transports a child, reasonable safeguarding measures should be applied.

Where possible:

journeys should be known to the parent or guardian;
unnecessary isolated travel should be avoided;
appropriate insurance and vehicle requirements should be satisfied; and
arrangements should follow applicable safeguarding guidance.

14. TRIPS, TOURNAMENTS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS

Where the Club organises travel, tournaments or overnight activities involving children, appropriate arrangements should cover:

parental information and consent;
supervision;
emergency contacts;
medical information;
rooming arrangements;
transport;
risk assessment;
codes of conduct; and
safeguarding responsibilities.

Adults should not share sleeping accommodation with children except in exceptional circumstances that are lawful, necessary, properly risk-assessed and consistent with applicable safeguarding guidance.

15. COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN

Communication should be football-related, appropriate and transparent.

Where reasonably possible, communication with younger players should take place through or with the knowledge of their parent or guardian.

Adults must not use Club-related communication to:

develop secret relationships;
send sexual or inappropriate content;
bully or intimidate;
send excessive private messages unrelated to football; or
encourage children to hide communication from parents, guardians or the Club.

Group communication should be used where appropriate.

16. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE SAFETY

Club-related social media must be used responsibly.

Managers, coaches and staff should maintain appropriate boundaries between personal and Club communication.

Adults should not use social media to:

target or groom a child;
share confidential safeguarding information;
publish humiliating material;
engage in discriminatory behaviour;
send inappropriate private content; or
publicly discuss confidential disciplinary or welfare matters.

The Club may take action in relation to online conduct that creates a safeguarding or welfare risk.

17. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

Photography and video can be a positive part of grassroots football.

However, the Club must consider safeguarding, privacy and consent.

We aim to:

use appropriate images;
avoid images that unnecessarily expose personal information;
respect reasonable safeguarding restrictions;
avoid identifying private information such as a child's home address;
respond appropriately where a child must not be photographed for safeguarding reasons; and
follow applicable FA/County FA guidance.

Images must never be taken in toilets, showers or changing rooms.

18. BULLYING

Bullying is not acceptable.

Bullying may be:

physical;
verbal;
emotional;
sexual;
discriminatory;
online;
based on exclusion; or
connected with football ability, appearance or personal circumstances.

Reports of bullying should be taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Repeated conduct should not be dismissed as "banter" where it causes harm, humiliation, fear or exclusion.

19. ABUSE AND HARM

Safeguarding concerns may relate to many forms of harm, including:

physical abuse;
sexual abuse;
emotional abuse;
neglect;
bullying;
grooming;
online abuse;
exploitation;
domestic abuse affecting a child;
discrimination;
self-harm or serious welfare concerns;
peer-on-peer abuse;
abuse by an adult in a position of trust; or
other circumstances creating a risk of significant harm.

A person does not need proof of abuse before raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

20. IF A CHILD MAKES A DISCLOSURE

If a child tells you that they have been harmed or are afraid:

Stay calm.
Listen carefully.
Take the child seriously.
Do not interrogate or repeatedly question them.
Do not promise complete confidentiality.
Explain that you may need to tell somebody whose job is to help keep them safe.
Record the important facts as soon as possible using the child's own words where possible.
Report the concern promptly through the appropriate safeguarding route.

Do not confront the alleged person responsible where doing so could create additional risk, compromise evidence or interfere with a safeguarding investigation.

Club personnel should not conduct their own investigation unless specifically authorised and competent to do so.

21. REPORTING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

Safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer as soon as reasonably possible.

The website also provides an Incident Report facility under the Club menu.

The Incident Report facility is an additional reporting route and does not replace urgent safeguarding action.

If somebody is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency or statutory services immediately rather than waiting for a response from the Club.

Depending on the concern, information may need to be referred to:

the relevant County FA;
The Football Association;
children's social care;
the police;
the Disclosure and Barring Service where applicable;
another statutory safeguarding organisation; or
another body with a legitimate safeguarding role.

22. CONCERNS ABOUT A MANAGER, COACH, VOLUNTEER OR CLUB OFFICIAL

Any allegation or concern involving an adult working with children must be treated seriously.

The matter should be referred through the appropriate safeguarding process.

The Club should not attempt to resolve a potentially serious safeguarding allegation simply as an internal disagreement.

Where appropriate, an adult may be temporarily removed or restricted from duties while a concern is assessed.

A temporary safeguarding measure is not, by itself, a finding that an allegation is proven.

23. LOW-LEVEL CONCERNS

Behaviour does not have to amount to an allegation of abuse before it can be concerning.

Examples may include:

repeated boundary issues;
inappropriate private messaging;
favouritism;
inappropriate jokes;
unnecessary physical contact;
poor changing-room practice; or
behaviour inconsistent with expected coaching standards.

Low-level concerns should be recorded and considered rather than ignored, because patterns of behaviour may be significant.

24. MEDICAL AND WELFARE INFORMATION

The Club may need relevant medical or welfare information to help a player participate safely.

Only information reasonably necessary for the football activity should be collected.

Medical information should be treated as confidential and shared only with people who reasonably need it.

Where urgent medical treatment is required, the welfare of the player takes priority.

25. CONFIDENTIALITY

Safeguarding information is confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute.

Information may need to be shared where necessary to:

protect a child or adult at risk;
make an appropriate safeguarding referral;
comply with the law;
cooperate with The FA or County FA safeguarding process;
cooperate with statutory authorities; or
establish, exercise or defend legal rights.

Information should only be shared with people who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

Safeguarding information must not be discussed as gossip or circulated unnecessarily.

26. SAFEGUARDING RECORDS

Safeguarding records should be:

accurate;
factual;
dated where appropriate;
stored securely;
available only to authorised people; and
retained in accordance with applicable safeguarding and data-protection requirements.

Original wording used by a child or person making a disclosure should be recorded where possible rather than being replaced by assumptions.

27. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Parents and guardians play an important role in safeguarding.

They are encouraged to:

understand the Club's expectations;
provide accurate emergency and medical information;
raise welfare concerns;
support appropriate behaviour;
respect coaches, officials and other children; and
tell the Club about relevant safeguarding restrictions or risks where appropriate.

28. LISTENING TO CHILDREN

Children should feel able to speak about worries without fear of punishment for raising a genuine concern.

Where appropriate to age and understanding, the Club should:

listen to children's views;
explain decisions affecting their welfare;
use understandable language; and
help children understand who they can speak to if they feel unsafe.

29. WHISTLEBLOWING AND RAISING CONCERNS

A person who genuinely believes safeguarding practice is unsafe should be able to raise that concern.

No person should be victimised for making a genuine safeguarding report in good faith.

Knowingly malicious or deliberately false allegations may be dealt with separately, but uncertainty or inability to prove a genuine concern must not be treated as malicious reporting.

30. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS POLICY

Failure to follow safeguarding requirements may result in action including:

additional training;
formal warning;
restriction of duties;
temporary suspension from Club activity;
removal from a role;
termination of volunteering or other Club involvement;
referral to a football authority; or
referral to a statutory authority.

The action taken will depend on the circumstances and applicable rules.

31. POLICY REVIEW

This Policy should be reviewed regularly and whenever:

safeguarding guidance changes;
Club arrangements materially change;
a serious incident identifies a need for improvement; or
The FA, County FA or another relevant authority introduces new requirements.

32. SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

Club Welfare / Safeguarding Officer

Name: [INSERT CLUB WELFARE OFFICER NAME]

Email: [INSERT SAFEGUARDING EMAIL]

Additional contact: [INSERT SAFEGUARDING CONTACT DETAILS]

For non-emergency online reporting, the Club's Incident Report facility can also be found under the Club section of the website.

Every child has the right to enjoy football in a safe environment.

Litherland Athletic JFC · Community Club. Est. 2019

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