When A child goes missing can be extremely traumatic for both adults and children. However, if everyone is aware of the guidelines below, panic levels can be minimised, and more critically, the missing child can, hopefully, be found in an organised and efficient way.

If a child goes missing:

- Ensure the other children are looked after appropriately while a search for the child concerned is organised.

- Inform the child’s parents/carer, if they are present at the event, or nominate an appropriate person to telephone them and advise of the concern. Reassure them you are doing all you can to locate their child and to contact you if the child contacts their parents/carer directly.

- Organise all available responsible adults by areas to be searched. It is best to take a short time to organise the search properly so that all places are searched fully and in an ordered fashion.

- Send searchers immediately to any exits to the venue to ensure the child has not left, and to
any obvious potential danger spots such as nearby lakes or rivers.

- Search the area in which the child has gone missing including changing rooms, toilets, public
and private areas, and the club’s grounds.

- Request all those searching to report back to a nominated adult at a specific point.

- This nominated adult should remain at the reference point and make a note of events,
including a detailed physical description of the child (approximate height, build, hair, and eye colour as well as the clothing the child was wearing) and where and when they were last seen. All this may be required by the police.

- A report should be made to the police no later than 20 minutes after the child’s disappearance is noted, even if the search is not complete.

- If the police recommend further action before they get involved, follow their guidance.
At any stage when the child is located, ensure you inform all adults involved including the parents,
searchers, and the police if, by then, they are involved.

All missing child incidents MUST BE notified at the very earliest opportunity to the Club Welfare Officer Tracy Farrow-Stevenson who must immediately notify the County Welfare Officer, and they must then notify the FA Safeguarding Team.

Regards,

Stoke Mandeville Football Club Committee