Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday strive to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for supporters and staff.

Home Matchday Text Service

On a home matchday you can report any incidents or concerns discreetly and directly to SWFC Match Control using the number 07963 138580.

Please include as much information as possible, including the stand, row, seat number and names, where possible. Once received, the club will investigate each incident as a matter of priority.

Alternatively, if you feel it is safe to do so, please contact a matchday steward and provide as much detail as possible so the incident can be investigated by the matchday team as a matter of urgency and in real time.

Safeguarding Stand Supervisors are stationed at key points around Hillsborough Stadium. They are wearing maroon jackets and are on hand to help and assist supporters with any queries or concerns.

SWFC encourage feedback from supporters if they feel the club has failed to deliver against the standards and service levels expected.

To report an incident, concern, or make a complaint - this includes the use of discriminatory language, anti-social behaviour and safety concerns - email  operationsenquiries@swfc.co.uk.

Please state valid contact information and contact name for response.

The club will seek to respond in the first instance within 10 working days of receipt; complaints may be subject to internal investigations.

If you are making a complaint and are not satisfied with the response issued, you may contact the Independent Football Ombudsman (IFO). Please note that the IFO has no authority to deal with any complaints until you have contacted the club.

The contact details for the IFO are as follows:

The Independent Football Ombudsman: Premier House, 1-5 Argyle Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2AD
Email: contact@theifo.co.uk

Everyone has the right to live and work in an environment free from harassment, bullying, discrimination and hate crime.

If you have experienced harassment, discrimination, bullying or other unacceptable behaviour as part of your matchday experience with Sheffield Wednesday, please report it. You can do this anonymously if you wish or request further support via operationsenquiries@swfc.co.uk

Remember, it’s okay to say it’s not okay if you experience or witness harassment, hate or discrimination.

Guidance

Contact a National Helpline for advice on discrimination and harassment and human rights issues.

The EASS is a national helpline that advises and assists individuals on issues relating to equality and human rights. Check their ‘Resources’ and ‘Advice and Guidance’ sections and contact them if you need further support. The EASS cannot provide legal assistance but can signpost you if you are unsure where to get legal assistance from. Freephone telephone number is 0808 800 0082.

Harassment, hate and direct discrimination involves hurtful behaviour or treating someone badly because of age, disability, gender identity, pregnancy or maternity, race/ethnicity, religion/belief or sexual orientation.

This can include hate speech, using offensive language or stereotyping, bullying, excluding or isolating, sexual innuendo and sexual harassment, refusing to provide a service on equal terms, graffiti, physical assault and damage to property.

Club Safety

EFL Supporter Sanctioning Guide

Discrimination Reporting Procedures

Sheffield Wednesday do not tolerate discrimination of any kind and continue to work with the relevant authorities to tackle the issue of online abuse in relation to football.

The club will report any online hate/abusive/discriminatory content/comments via priority channels and mute/restrict/block the individual from the relevant account.

The EFL (English Football League) will also be informed when reporting an incident to any of the social media platforms in order for the EFL to keep a league-wide overview of the volume and frequency and are also asked to amplify any central messaging on tackling online abuse where possible.

Sheffield Wednesday will also report any illegal, discriminatory or threatening abuse to the police, who can pursue their investigations.

Working alongside the EFL, where relevant, and after investigations, sanctions will be placed on those responsible, while the club will continue to work with other football authorities to provide clear and concise messaging on progress in this space.

STEPS TO FOLLOW

TWITTER/X

Report any comment(s) that break guidelines using the platform’s in-built tools.

Mute and/or block the account(s) in question via priority channels.

Make the club aware of the comment(s) with a print screen attached to operationsequiries@swfc.co.uk

In instances of illegal, discriminatory, or threatening abuse, report to the police.

FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM

Report any comment(s) that break guidelines using the platform’s in-built tools.

Restrict and/or block the account(s) in question via priority channels.

Make the club aware of the comment(s) with a print screen attached to operationsenquiries@swfc.co.uk

We would also advise that you report any online hate/abusive/discriminatory content/comments to Kick It Out through their online reporting form or via their reporting app available on both iOS and Android.

Alternatively, email Kick It Out at report@kickitout.org

You should also report it to the police, either:

• In person
• By calling the local police on 101
• By calling 999 if you are in an emergency
• You can also report it to The FA at integrity@TheFA.com

Hate crime is an act of violent behaviour or hostility that is usually motivated by hatred of a person’s disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender identity.

To report a hate crime, please follow the link HERE

If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use the police textphone service 18000 or text 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergency SMS service.

If you're not sure whether offensive material is a crime, find more information on what qualifies as an online hate crime here.

Sheffield Wednesday are committed to creating a culture where safeguarding responsibilities and procedures for raising concerns are widely understood and embedded in our values.

Everyone working at the club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm.

Our standards of practice promotes the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment in order to provide a safe environment for everyone involved in the club.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON EASY READ SAFEGUARDING POLICY

ADULTS AT RISK SAFEGUARDING POLICY

ADULTS AT RISK EASY READ SAFEGUARDING POLICY

EASY READ SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK CAN BE VIEWED HERE

CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD

Reporting

If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child, young person or vulnerable adult at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, you can contact us via telephone or email. A member of our Safeguarding Team will review the information you have provided within 24 hours and decide what action needs to be taken. You can also fill in our reporting form which can be found below.

We have a duty to share information that you give us with other agencies if we think that a child or vulnerable adult could be at risk of harm.

If you or another person is in immediate danger, call 999 Police or 999 Ambulance Service for assistance.

Making a referral

What we need from you...

Please say as much as you can about the situation – it will help us take the right action. Tell us the facts that you know, as well as any concerns you have about the individual.

Can I remain anonymous?

You can contact us anonymously if you do not want to tell us who you are. However, it's really helpful to have your name and contact details, as we may need to contact you for more information in order to protect the child or vulnerable adult that you are concerned about.

How to contact us

Tracey Fidler Designated Safeguarding Officer

Tracey.fidler@swfc.co.uk or operationenquiries@swfc.co.uk

Telephone 03700 201867 (in core hours) / 07801 231726

Lindsey Hinton Club Secretary and Senior Safeguarding Manager

Telephone 03700 201867 (in core hours) or operationenquiries@swfc.co.uk

Concerns can also be reported to the following organisations:

Sheffield Children Safeguarding Partnership

Adult Safeguarding Partnership

The Child Protection in Sport Unit at: cpsu@nspcc.org.uk

The NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Sheffield Safeguarding Hub. 0114 273 4855 (24 hours) If you are worried that a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm then call the number to speak to a social worker.

Other useful resources

The PFA Safety Net offers confidential support to academy players, trialists and their parents/guardians/carers.

Adult victims and survivors of childhood abuse within a football context can access information about the support available to them here.

The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) can also be contacted by calling 0808 801 0331 or by visiting their website.

The EFL have a number of mental health self-help guides available.

CEOP is here to keep children safe from sexual abuse and grooming online. You can make a report directly to CEOP if something has happened online which has made you feel unsafe, scared or worried. This might be from someone you know in real life, or someone you have only ever met online. CEOP take all reports seriously, supporting you to keep safe.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) support children and young people aged 0-18 (and their families) with a wide range of mental health difficulties in Sheffield.

Safer recruitment

The club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults (vulnerable groups) have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Enhanced Criminal Record Checks and reference checks.

Further, staff and volunteers working at the club regularly undergo training for the FA Safeguarding Children qualification and other relevant training.

Whistleblowing

This is a policy which means revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation, or within an independent structure associated with it.

It can be used as an early-warning system or when it is recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life.

Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague’s conduct towards a child or young person can also use whistleblowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA’s safeguarding team, or via email to: safeguarding@TheFA.com.

Our Whistleblowing Policy is available here.

KICK IT OUT

Website:  kickitout.org 

Twitter/X: @KickItOut 

Facebook:  kickitoutofficial

You can download the app via the Apple Store and Google Play

Victim Support

Website: victimsupport.org.uk

Telephone: Free 24/7 Support line: 0808 1689111

Show Racism the Red Card

Website: www.srtrc.org 

Twitter/X: @theredcard 

Facebook:  theredcard

The NSPCC Helpline

Call: 0808 800 5000 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Sheffield Safeguarding Hub

Website: sayit.org.uk

Call 0114 273 4855 (24 hours) If you are worried that a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm then phone the number to speak to a social worker.

Age UK

Website: ageuk.org.uk

Age UK Advice Line 0800 678 1602

Free to call 8:00am – 7:00pm 365 days a year

Level Playing Field  

Website: levelplayingfield.org.uk 

Telephone: 0845 230 6237 

Email: info@levelplayingfield.org.uk 

Post The Junction, Station Road, Watford, WD17 1ET 

Level Playing Field is the national registered charity representing disabled supporters of all sports. The campaign aims to promote an inclusive agenda, raise disability awareness through sport and ensure an equality of experiences for all fans.