Host Family

Location: Within 3 miles (15 minutes), easy access to Academy Training Ground, SE9 2JR

Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Charlton, south-east London. The club was founded on June 9th, 1905 and has a very storied history from rising to the top-flight of English Football in the 1930s (First Division) and again in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, to winning the FA Cup in 1947 and to leaving their Valley home in the mid-1980s only to make an impassioned return in 1992. Historically, the women's team played under Charlton Athletic from 2000 to 2007 but were released to become an independently run team in 2007 following the men's team's relegation from the Premier League.

The women's team were originally formed as a non-professional team in 1991 and were highly successful in the early 2000s winning The FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Charity Shield, as well as coming runners-up in the top division in multiple seasons. In February 2021, the club acquired the Charlton Athletic Women's team, turning the team full-time professional, and integrating them to become one club again.

Currently, our men's first team competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football, and our women's team competes in Women's Super League 2, the second highest division of women's football in England. At Charlton, we are 'one club' and can be truly described as a 'family club '.

Charlton Athletic FC Academy are seeking special family homes to provide care and accommodation for our talented young academy players aged between 16 and 20 years of age. Many need to live away from home to undertake training at our Sparrows Lane Training Ground. Therefore, we are looking for host families within close proximity of our Training Ground; (Eltham, Lee, Mottingham, Sidcup, Chislehurst, Blackheath, Welling, Bexley).

Host Families will agree to one-year agreement, on an annual rolling basis and will receive a competitive rate of pay. We are also extremely interested in receiving applications from those willing and suitable to provide accommodation on a casual basis in order to accommodate temporary trialist players.

Accommodation requirements vary from short-term (one-night stays) to long-term (5-7 nights
per week). We are looking for families willing to provide either or both types of placements.
Each player must be provided with a private room. Additionally, host households must be non-smoking.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest standards for our academy, which gives our talented young players a chance to thrive and develop their futures. For this role, Charlton Athletic Academy are seeking people who possess empathetic and caring qualities, excellent interpersonal and communication skills; people who can remain non-judgmental, inclusive, and respectful towards all individuals whilst remaining calm and patient when responding to children and young people.

• Provide a homely and friendly environment for our young people
• Support with the development of our young people in your care with their independent living and self-care skills
• Include our young people in family life as much as they feel comfortable with
• Provide access to a private bedroom, bathroom, laundry facilities, and communal areas of the house
• Provide a nutritious evening meal
• Report any welfare concerns to the Safeguarding and Welfare team should they occur.
• Allow access from the Club for regular inspection and visits throughout the season.
• Adhere to any further and ongoing requirements of Host Families, as outlined in the application process, guidance will be provided by the Club on this.

• Provide a warm, welcoming and safe environment for our young person
• Provide the young person with their own private bedroom and relevant amenities
• Excellent communication and listening skills
• Ability to cope with the young person's flexible schedule throughout the football season
• Previous experience of working with young people
• Ability to promote and demonstrate anti-discriminatory practice

• Must have a spare room
• Be over the age of 21
• Have British citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• Meet our DBS requirements
• Meet the suitability criteria

As part of the recruitment process the Club would need to conduct a number of home visits to determine suitability and ensure the home meets the requirements for hosting young people within the Academy.

Charlton Athletic operates a policy of zero tolerance towards all forms of discrimination and anti-social behaviour.

The club has put many years' hard work into this fundamental policy and the club is committed to actively promoting this ethos and encouraging all involved with the club to embrace this.

We believe that everyone has the right to be employed by our football club and attend football matches at The Valley in a safe, welcoming and friendly environment - and that means all members of our community, regardless of their religion, ethnic origin or sexual orientation. Diversity is something to be celebrated and inclusion for all is central to what we do.

Charlton Athletic Football Club are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. The successful candidate may be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post, as all cases are mediated individually according to the nature of the role and the information provided.