Safeguarding Policy

Manuel Soccer Link Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person in its care. This policy sets out our commitment and the arrangements intended to support it. It is a draft template; the Academy must formally adopt, resource, and where necessary have independently reviewed the arrangements below before this page is treated as an active, in-force policy.

1. Our Commitment

Every child has the right to be protected from harm, regardless of age, gender, ability, background, or circumstance. The Academy is committed to creating a safe environment for all players, and to acting promptly and appropriately on any safeguarding concern.

2. Parent or Guardian Consent

Participation by a player under 18 requires the consent of a parent or legal guardian, obtained through the player registration process. This includes consent to participate in training and matches, and separate consent (see Section 4) for any photography, video, or public profile.

3. Medical and Emergency Information

Medical and emergency contact information is collected at registration and is used solely for player welfare and emergency response by authorised Academy staff. See our Privacy Policy for how this information is handled.

4. Photography, Video, and Player Profiles

Separate, explicit consent is sought from a parent or guardian before any photograph, video, or profile information (name, age, position, statistics) of a minor is published on this website, on social media, or in promotional materials. Player Profiles shown publicly on this website are, by default, limited or withheld for minors; full profiles (video, statistics, direct contact routing) are released to a scout or club only after academy staff review a specific request and confirm consent is in place. Consent can be withdrawn by a parent or guardian at any time by contacting the Academy.

5. Code of Conduct

[CODE OF CONDUCT — the Academy's expected standards of behaviour for players, parents, coaches, and staff, including acceptable conduct at training, matches, and while travelling, to be drafted and inserted here.]

6. Staff and Coach Vetting

[STAFF BACKGROUND-CHECK POLICY — the Academy's process for vetting coaches and staff who work with minors, including the checks used and how often they are renewed, to be confirmed and described here once formally in place. This section must not state that checks are active until genuinely implemented and evidenced.]

7. Designated Safeguarding Contact

Anyone with a safeguarding concern involving the Academy should contact [DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING CONTACT NAME] as a matter of priority, at [email protected] or +233 24 008 8802. Concerns will be treated seriously, in confidence, and acted upon promptly.

8. Complaints Procedure

[COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE — the steps a parent, guardian, or player can take to raise a complaint, expected response times, and escalation routes, to be drafted with qualified guidance for the Academy's jurisdiction.]

9. Review

This policy should be reviewed at least annually, and sooner if a safeguarding concern indicates a gap in current arrangements.

Effective date: [DATE].