The work we're doing with partners to ensure the game is a safe, positive and enjoyable experience for the millions of children, young people and adults who regularly play, watch, coach, referee and volunteer, continues.
This includes the formation of the Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group created following numerous private discussions with individuals and groups of survivors of non-recent child sexual abuse in football. This group is helping to identify the best ways to support survivors on their healing journeys and how we can use their difficult experiences to help ensure that the game remains safe today for all to enjoy.
Head of Safeguarding for The FA, Sue Ravenlaw, is pleased with its progress so far:
“Already the group has fed into our feedback to government on the out-of-school settings guidance for parents, as well as our response on the Online Harms White Paper, and has played a key role in the creation of The FA’s own guidance for parents and carers.
“In addition, they’ve helped shape a survey to help identify what support from the game works best for victims and survivors and how this offering can be improved. Key learnings were that the role of peers and friends and family were crucial sources of support and that in many cases the right professional services were thought to have been offered. It was also highlighted that survivors feel more vulnerable at certain times – both when reporting an issue and when a case comes to trial – and therefore needing greater support and guidance at these times. They also outlined the need for support over and above professional support services, such as peer-to-peer and therapeutic support, listening services and benevolent funds.”
Since January 2017, in partnership with Sporting Chance, we've funded a route for survivors to seek free, extensive specialist therapeutic support across England when needed. Our approach was informed by survivors and is supported by all the football bodies across the game.
While it’s generally former professional players who have come forward and waived their anonymity in the public domain, the majority of survivors were abused in amateur football settings.
“We very much encourage victims and survivors who are pursuing their own projects such as the Purple Summer campaign driven by David Lean which raises awareness of, and generates important and inspiring conversations about, child abuse – a cause we’re very serious about.
“David has bravely spoken before about how after his public disclosure in 2016, 13 people contacted him within 48 hours who had experienced similar things in their own lives. By speaking out it has caused a ripple effect and it means campaigns like David’s, and the work the FA group is helping to shape are crucial in encouraging more people to be confident to talk about child abuse and improving safeguarding across all levels of the game as we move forwards.
“While the increasing levels of conversation is great, what’s now important is ensuring these discussions get even bigger at every level of the game and ensure that football can remain safe for all to enjoy in the modern day.”
