Safeguarding & Child Protection
Report. Don't wait for proof.
If you are concerned about a child's safety, report the concern. Do not wait until you have proof — every concern is taken seriously.
Open the confidential form
Welfare · Est. 2020
Welfare first. Always.
The welfare and best interests of the child come before football performance, competition, reputation or organisational interests. That is the core principle behind everything we do at Sporting Pearls.
0Safeguarding Principles
2026–31Policy Window
v1.0Policy Version
01 · Our Safeguarding Commitment
Safe places to play and grow.
Sporting Pearls Football Academy is committed to protecting children and young people involved in its programmes from abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, harassment, discrimination and other forms of harm.
Our safeguarding policy establishes the principles, responsibilities and procedures through which we prevent safeguarding risks, promote a culture of safety, respond appropriately to concerns, provide safe reporting channels, and work appropriately with parents, guardians and relevant authorities.
It applies to everyone involved with the academy — players, coaches, staff, volunteers, board members, parents and guardians, visitors and partners — during training, matches, tournaments, travel, camps, academy events, community activities, digital communication and any activity conducted in Sporting Pearls' name.
Core Principle
"The welfare and best interests of the child come before football performance, competition, reputation or organizational interests."
Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy 2026–2031 · Sporting Pearls Football Academy
What we protect young people from
Physical abuseEmotional abuseSexual abuse or exploitationNeglectBullyingHarassmentDiscriminationGroomingOnline abuseExploitationUnsafe environmentsAbuse of authority
02 · Our Principles
Eight principles. One standard.
Every coach, volunteer, staff member and leader at Sporting Pearls works to the same safeguarding principles.
1
Child First
Children's welfare takes priority.
2
Prevention
We seek to identify and reduce risks before harm occurs.
3
Listening
Children should have safe and appropriate opportunities to express concerns.
4
Respect
Every child deserves dignity and fair treatment.
5
Accountability
Adults working with children are responsible for their conduct.
6
Confidentiality
Safeguarding information will be handled responsibly and shared only where appropriate and necessary.
7
Non-Retaliation
A person raising a genuine concern should not be punished or intimidated for reporting it.
8
Best Interests
Actions concerning a child should prioritise their safety and wellbeing.
03 · How to Raise a Concern
Concerned about a child?
Anyone can raise a concern — a player, parent, guardian, coach, volunteer or visitor. Use our confidential online form, write to the Safeguarding Lead, or speak to any member of academy staff. You do not need proof, and you may report anonymously.
Report the concern. Don't wait for proof.If you are concerned about a child's safety, report it. You do not need to be certain — every concern is taken seriously.
Open the Confidential Report Form
1
Listen
Allow the person to communicate without unnecessary questioning.
2
Reassure
Respond calmly and take the concern seriously.
3
Record
Document the information accurately and promptly.
4
Report
Pass the concern to the designated safeguarding lead through the established procedure.
5
Escalate
Where necessary, the safeguarding lead refers the matter to appropriate external authorities or professional services.
What our staff and volunteers will never do
- ✕Promise absolute secrecy
- ✕Investigate allegations themselves
- ✕Confront an alleged perpetrator
- ✕Conduct unnecessary interviews
- ✕Pressure a child for details
- ✕Delay reporting because they are uncertain
- ✕Delete relevant messages or evidence
- ✕Attempt to resolve serious concerns informally
The purpose of academy staff is to recognise, respond, record and report — not to conduct professional investigations.
In an emergency
Immediate serious risk — the priority is
Get the child to safety→Seek appropriate emergency help→Notify the safeguarding lead→Document the incident
Where a child appears to face an immediate serious risk, emergency help comes first. Our emergency procedure uses verified local emergency and child-protection contacts — we do not publish unverified telephone numbers.
04 · Recruitment & Vetting
Positions of trust.
Adults working with young people hold positions of trust — so safeguarding checks are built into recruitment.
Depending on the role, joining the Sporting Pearls team involves a structured screening process. No one is considered suitable simply because they have football experience.
"No person should automatically be considered suitable simply because they have football experience."
- Application form and identity verification
- References and relevant qualifications
- Safeguarding training
- Appropriate background / vetting checks
- Interview
- Code-of-conduct acknowledgement
- Declaration of safeguarding responsibilities
Code of Conduct — Adults Working With Players
Clear boundaries, always.
- Treat players respectfully and maintain appropriate boundaries
- Never humiliate, degrade or use inappropriate language
- Avoid favouritism and never use physical punishment
- Never exploit a position of authority
- Follow communication, photography and media procedures
- Report safeguarding concerns and respect confidentiality
05 · Player & Parent Information
Everyone knows their part.
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. Here is what we expect of our players — and what parents and guardians can expect from us.
For Players
Our player code of conduct keeps every squad safe, fair and enjoyable. Players are expected to:
- Respect teammates, opponents, coaches and officials
- Reject bullying and discriminatory behaviour
- Report concerns and protect teammates
- Follow reasonable safety instructions
For Parents & Guardians
Parents and guardians receive safeguarding information and know exactly who to approach with a concern:
- Safeguarding information and relevant codes of conduct
- Reporting procedures and emergency information
- Consent information and communication expectations
- A named person to approach with any concern
"Player welfare comes before social-media engagement."
Before any identifiable image of a young player is published, appropriate consent must be in place. Clear rules govern who may photograph players, where images may be used, and how consent is recorded — and images are never used in a manner that compromises a child's dignity, safety or privacy.
06 · Safeguarding Contact
Talk to someone.
Designated Focal Point
Welfare & Safeguarding Lead
Receives safeguarding concerns, coordinates initial responses, escalates serious concerns to the appropriate authorities, and maintains the academy's safeguarding records and policies.
Sporting Pearls Football Academy · Mtwapa, Kilifi County, Kenya
Report Online · Confidential
The fastest way to raise a concern. Our confidential online form reaches the academy's safeguarding team directly, is logged with a reference number, and lets you choose between confidential follow-up or a completely anonymous report.
In line with our own policy, we only publish verified contact details. The Safeguarding Lead's direct line will be published here once confirmed — until then, the confidential form and the academy office are the ways to reach the safeguarding team.
If a child is in immediate danger, contact the police or appropriate emergency services first, then notify the academy.
Open the Confidential Report Form Other enquiries · Contact the Academy07 · Key Public Policies
Transparent by design.
Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
Public Documents
- Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy 2026–2031 · Read the full policy →Published as a web page — scope, principles, roles, safe recruitment, responding to concerns and policy governance
- Coach & Volunteer Code of Conduct · Read the code →Published as a web page — conduct, boundaries, communication rules and the duty to report for every adult in a position of trust
- Player Code of Conduct & Parent Expectations · Read the code →Published as a web page — how players train, compete and behave, and what we ask of parents, guardians and spectators
- Raising a Concern — Online Form · Open Form 10 (Confidential) →Live now — four guided steps, anonymous option, delivered straight to the Welfare & Safeguarding Lead
All three policy documents are published on this site as accessible web pages — no downloads needed, and they print cleanly if you need paper copies. Detailed internal procedures are deliberately not published — they are applied, monitored and reviewed within the academy's governance.