Reporting procedures & support for fans

Newport County welcomes everyone and we pride ourselves on the fact that Rodney Parade is a welcoming, family-friendly stadium where fans can come to enjoy watching football in a safe, secure and welcoming environment.

While promoting inclusion and diversity within the stadium, we applaud and encourage passionate support. However, we do not tolerate discrimination, abuse, foul and abusive language or anti-social and threatening behaviour. This includes discrimination towards any of the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act 2010.

Supporters who behave in an unacceptable way will be challenged about their behaviour by the Club and we will work with South Wales Police if necessary, to pursue criminal charges.

If supporters experience any form of anti-social behaviour, abuse, or discrimination inside the stadium, please help us eliminate it by sending an e-mail to us at office@newport-county.co.uk

REPORTING AN INCIDENT

There are a number of methods for supporters to report an incident on matchdays:

1. Report it to a steward or Police Officer. Reporting incidents early helps clubs to take immediate action.
2. Confidentially report it via the Kick It Out App, available on iPhone and Android
3. Report it to Kick it Out on social media (@KickItOut), phone (020 7253 0162) or email (report@kickitout.org)
4. Via the Kick It Out website form at https://www.kickitout.org/forms/online-reporting-form.
5. Report it direct to the club via the club website and the dropdown links @ newport-county.co.uk/club/contact-us.

SUPPORT HELPLINES

Safeguarding

Newport County AFC Safeguarding Team

safeguarding@newport-county.co.uk

NEWPORT CITY COUNCIL SAFEGUARDING

If you have concerns about a child or young person under 18 years old or an adult at risk, please immediately contact a social services duty officer on (01633) 656656 or the emergency contact team on 0800 328 4432 outside normal office hours, Mondays-Fridays 8.30-5pm.

FA SAFEGUARDING

Tel: 0800 169 1863

Email: safeguarding@TheFA.com

EFL SAFEGUARDING TEAM

Email: Safeguarding@efl.com

NSPCC HELPLINE

Tel: 0808 800 5000 Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

NSPCC'S CHILDLINE SERVICE

Children and young people can contact Childline 365 days a year about anything that may be worrying them no matter how big or small it may seem.

T: 0800 1111 W: childline.org.uk

POLICE

Tel: 999 or 101

MENTAL HEALTH

MIND

Tel: 0300 102 1234

Email: info@mind.org.uk

www.mind.org.uk

STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOUR AND SERVICE

Newport County AFC expects the highest standard of behaviour from its employees and supporters. Employees are bound by their contract to adhere to various policies while performing their duties to ensure professionalism within the workplace.

The club also adopts a zero-tolerance approach to its employees being verbally abused or threatened and as such, a high standard of behaviour from customer is expected when dealing with employees, fellow supports and/or the relevant authorities. This applies to attending and/or travelling to or from matchdays both home and away, as well as non-matchdays.

The club reserves the right to ban supporters from membership and/or ticket purchasing privileges where their behaviour has fallen below the required standards. Full detail on the process for club bans will be detailed in a separate policy which will be available on the club’s website and available on request.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUSION AND ANTI – DISCRIMINATION

Newport County AFC are committed to providing an inclusive environment for all and preventing discrimination.

The club recognises the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010 and will not discriminate on the terms of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage of civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or sexual orientation.

RACISM

Newport County AFC does not tolerate racist language or behaviour at Rodney Parade, or on its social media channels. Our anti-racism policy includes the following objectives:

• Issuing statements via the club website, social media channels, matchday programme and
public address system regarding our policy of zero tolerance towards racist language and
behaviour.
• The club will prevent the distribution of racist literature inside the ground and will take steps to
prevent it in the immediate area of the stadium.
• Disciplinary action will be taken against players or club staff who engage in racial abuse.
• The club will continue to develop links with supporters, local residents, business and
organisations, police and the PFA, with the aim of eradicating racially-based abuse and
discrimination.

RACISM SUPPORT HELPLINES

The PFA: Offers a 24/7 helpline at 07500 000 777, or you can email wellbeing@thepfa.com. The PFA also has a zero-tolerance policy for racist behavior and you can contact equalities@thepfa.com to report abuse.

Kick It Out: An organisation that works to challenge discrimination and promote inclusive practices in football. You can contact them via 02039678989 or report@kickitout.org

Show Racism the Red Card: Works with clubs to host educational events for young people about racism and anti-racism. You can contact info@theredcard.org to work with them on an event.

Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS): Provides advice and assistance on equality and human rights issues. You can call them on 0808 800 0082.

If you have a safeguarding concern, or would like some advice, the person to contact at Newport County is Head of Safeguarding, Hywel Dafydd at hywel.dafydd@newport-county.co.uk.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Newport County AFC wants to utilise all forms of communication with its supporters and recognises that social media platforms such as X (formally known as Twitter), Facebook and Instagram allow the Club to participate in interactive discussions and share information on a global scale about the Club and its work on and off the field.

However, the use of social media sites can allow for unwarranted criticism and, in some cases, hate crime. There are occasions where behaviour of this nature is directed at individual players, supporters or minority groups.

Newport County will not tolerate any hate crime or discriminatory behaviour via any of its social channels.

SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORT HELPLINES

Via Kick it out Online Reporting Form | Kick It Out

Via Twitter How to report abusive behavior on Twitter | Twitter Help

Via Facebook Reporting Abuse | Facebook Help Centre

Via Instagram How do I report a post or profile on Instagram? | Instagram Help Centre

Via Her Game Too Report | #HerGameToo

COMPLAINTS

Newport County AFC is committed to delivering excellent customer service and maintaining a continual awareness of supporter concerns. However, if a service or product has failed to meet the standards expected, then supporters are entitled to make an official complaint.

Where possible, complaints should be submitted in writing so that all details of the complaint are captured in a clear and concise manner.

If you wish to lodge a complaint or observation with our team, please include your name, address, email address and contact telephone number so that we can respond.

The Supporter Liaison Officer for the club is Donna Linton, who with Rob Parsons also acts as the Disabled Supporter Liaison officer. To contact our Liaison officers, please use the following options:

BY POST

Customer Feedback

Newport County AFC

Rodney Parade

Rodney Road

Newport

NP19 0UU

By Email: office@newport-county.co.uk for all enquiries

By telephone (during office opening hours): 01633 302012

IN PERSON COMPLAINTS

We aim to provide a response within 28 working days of receipt but will endeavour to reply as soon as possible.

Should a customer feel that a complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily, they can refer the matter to The Independent Football Ombudsman (IFO) using the following details:

Independent Football Ombudsman

Premier House

1-5 Argyle Way

Stevenage

Hertfordshire

SG1 2AD

Tel: 0330 165 4223

Email: contact@theifo.co.uk

ADDITIONAL SUPPORTER HELPLINE SERVICES

Samaritans

https://www.samaritans.org/

Phone 116 123