Each year the HFA is required to comply with a wide range of gold standard safeguarding requirements, covering both its general operations and the Girls Development Centre.

To monitor compliance, the HFA is audited by both the NSPCC and the Professional Game Academy Audit Company, who provide a short period of notice ahead of a full-day assessment.

We are delighted to confirm that, despite a significant increase in the requirements that we are required to adhere to, the HFA has passed both of these audits at the first time of asking.

The assessors identified a large number of best-practice examples, which will now be distributed across the national network.

Following the assessment, the NSPCC said ‘the team have continued to keep driving the culture of safeguarding forward despite significant budget cuts. There is clear direction provided by leadership, support from Board and a fully functioning and robust safeguarding structure within the County’.

The HFA would like to place on record our thanks to the whole game for its support to this key area of the organisation.

For any questions, please contact safeguarding@herefordshirefa.com