Wellbeing & Protection 

The responsibility to safeguard and promote the wellbeing and protection of a child or young person does not rest on one person. We are all responsible. The role of the Wellbeing & Protection Department at the Scottish FA is to ensure that Scottish Football is a safe and inclusive environment. We provide advice, guidance, education and support for Scottish FA staff and volunteers, our member clubs and Affiliated National Associations to embed safeguarding standards throughout Scottish Football, empower children and young people to be heard in matters that affect them and respond to concerns where a child or young person’s wellbeing or safety has been affected.

To help us ensure that Scottish Football is a safe and inclusive environment where children and young people flourish, in August 2019 the Scottish FA launched a 5 year Wellbeing & Protection strategy for Scottish Football, “Getting It Right for Every Child in Scottish Football”. The purpose of the strategy is to help bring about a bold and ambitious programme of transformational change in the culture across the game, which is reflected in our vision and mission:

The strategy has been developed with representatives from across Scottish Football, at all levels of the game including, Child Wellbeing & Protection Officers, children & young people and adult survivors of abuse in football. The strategy is for the whole of Scottish Football and has been developed to reflect our commitment to reducing risk and establishing greater safety systems within our game to protect children and nurture their wellbeing. This commitment is reflected in the 4 wellbeing & protection values, “Accountable, Inclusive, Approachable and Empowering” that will be embedded across the game and underpin the work that will be undertaken through the 5 strategic pillars of the strategy, which are:

1. Embedding a consistent child wellbeing and protection system throughout the game;
2. Promoting children's rights in all we do;
3. Support and develop learning and knowledge of child protection and wellbeing;
4. Improve standards at all levels; 
5. Strengthen leadership, governance and accountability. 

The launch of the strategy is a key recommendation of The Report of the Independent Review of Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football which, published in February 2021, reported that football had not always been a safe place for some of the children and young people involved in our game. 

You can read the annual review of our progress on the strategy for the 2020/2021 season by clicking here. 

A young person's version of the 2020/2021 annual review is available here. 

You can find a review of our progress on the strategy for the 2019/2020 season by clicking here. 

The Scottish FA's commitment to the implementation of the strategy and also the recommendations generated from the Independent Review will be supported by the recently established Independent Wellbeing and Protection Advisory Board (IWPAB). More information on this board and its membership can be found here. 

Alongside the strategy, the Scottish FA’s Child Wellbeing and Protection in Scottish Football policy will embed the procedures, guidance and safeguards required to give confidence, support and the effective response required to fulfil our role and responsibility to keep children and young people safe in football.

You can find the Scottish FA’s Wellbeing & Protection Strategy for Scottish Football, “Getting It Right for Every Child in Scottish Football” here. 

You can find the Scottish FA’s Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy, Procedures and Practice Notes here. 

Meet the team

Alyson Evans

Alyson is the Head of Wellbeing and Protection for the Scottish FA.  Alyson’s job is to lead the development, implementation and review of the Scottish FA’s children’s rights and wellbeing programme.

Barbara Hughes

Barbara is the Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer. Barbara’s role includes the development and review of the Scottish FA’s children’s rights and wellbeing policies and supporting Scottish FA staff, volunteers and member clubs to implement a children’s rights and wellbeing programme across the game.

Robin Drummond

Robin is the Participation and Engagement Officer at the Scottish FA and he works with both the Scottish FA’s Youth Ambassadors and a number of departments across the Association to make sure that children and young people are able to influence decisions that may affect them in Scottish Football.

Fiona Armit 

Fiona is the Wellbeing and Protection Education Officer. Fiona's role is to work with internal and external partners to develop, implement and evaluate a wellbeing and protection learning and development strategy across Scottish Football.

Sara Crawford

Sara is the Quality Development Officer. Sara's role is to work within the Scottish FA and across our members to support continuous improvement in the wellbeing and protection programme.  

Ross McGowan

Ross is the Wellbeing and Protection Coordinator. Ross’ role includes supporting and facilitating a programme of improvement across Scottish FA members in adopting minimum standards for child wellbeing and protection, with specific lead responsibility for Referee Associations, Affiliated National Associations and Recognised Leagues.

Contacting the team:

If you wish to contact one of the team, please email childrenswellbeing@scottishfa.co.uk where one of the team will get back to you as soon as they can. 

Online Wellbeing Module: 

If you are experiencing any difficulty accessing SFA Live or booking onto the Children’s Wellbeing in Scottish Football eLearning course please visit our online Coach Education Support Portal. Here you will find additional information and guidance to assist you.

If you are unable to find the information you need or if you are still having trouble, please raise a support ticket by clicking New Support Ticket at the top of the page. Please include your full name, date of birth and details of what support you require and someone will respond to you.

Concerns

If you have a concern about a child’s wellbeing in football you can speak to the relevant club’s Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer, the relevant Affiliated National Association’s Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer or you can contact the Wellbeing & Protection team here at the Scottish FA at childrenswellbeing@scottishfa.co.uk or 0141 616 6133. 

If you have an immediate concern for the safety and wellbeing of a child or young person, please contact Police Scotland on 101, 999 in an emergency or children’s social care in your area without delay. 

Useful Links

For more information on further national support services and resources for wellbeing & protection please click here.