This year’s Play Safe campaign encourages everyone to understand their role in safeguarding.
“The central push behind this year’s weekend is to create awareness among individuals of the vital safeguarding role they can play in football. It really is about Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time,” says Sue Ravenlaw, FA Head of Safeguarding.
Safeguarding Standards
As part of the Premier League’s three-year £1.6billion funding provision for communities and football at all levels (from Season 2022-25), the Premier League provides financial support to 106 Club Community Organisations which each deliver work in their local communities.
Club charities adhere to a single set of Safeguarding Standards which are a prerequisite for all funded organisations.
This includes having in place effective safeguarding policies, procedures, and practices to promote and protect the safety and welfare of children and adults at risk.
Each organisation also embeds a culture of accountability and continual improvement, with a designated senior staff member holding responsibility for safeguarding arrangements.
Premier League Director of Community Nick Perchard commented: “Everyone should have access to play football in a safe environment and football holds a responsibility to ensure the welfare of participating young people and vulnerable groups.
“The Premier League is pleased to support more than 100 organisations and thousands of individuals who do an incredible job of providing access to football week in, week out.
“Charity organisations and Foundations associated with Premier League, EFL and National League clubs who receive central funding from the Premier League are all required to meet thorough safeguarding standards in order to deliver that work.”
Speaking at the 2024 Premier League Kicks Cup which took place at St George’s Park, Manchester City in the Community Girls Outreach Officer Georgia Dickinson said: “All of our coaches and employees are fully trained and up to date with qualifications in safeguarding. We have training weeks dedicated to that. We create an environment where everyone feels welcome to attend and ensure all venues are inclusive and safe for everyone.”
Since the 2021/22 season, the Premier League and the NSPCC have been working together to help provide children and young people involved in academy football or League-funded community programmes with positive football experiences.
This includes working together to develop an empowerment programme for children and young people, to help them understand how to recognise abuse and how to speak out or seek support.
To find out more about your role in safeguarding, whether you’re a parent/carer, committee member, coach, player, referee, spectator or a safeguarding lead, visit englandfootball.com/playsafe.
The Play Safe weekend takes place from 28-30 September 2024.
