Parents and carers are the focus of this year’s Play Safe campaign. Its aim is to ensure everyone understands the part they can play to safeguard children throughout football in England.
As far as parents and carers are concerned, our current goal is to emphasise the valued and vital safeguarding role every parent/carer plays in football. We’ve also developed a free, short online safeguarding awareness course we’re encouraging all parents/carers to take. You’ll find it here.
We have also recently filmed an incredibly open and frank conversation from three survivors of child sexual abuse in football, which you can see here.
Jamie, Gary and Ellie share a difficult conversation of their own experiences and memories from a horrific time in their lives in the hope that it paves the way for a more open conversations in football to help prevent abuse.
We are also encouraging parents/carers with a child in football to:-
- Ensure you know who your child’s coach/manager is, how they will communicate with you, how you can contact them and how to get feedback on your child - ask if they are FA DBS checked and safeguarding trained
- Put the NSPCC Helpline and CWO name and contact details in your phone/notebook - ensure you and your child understand the CWOs role
- Be clear about acceptable and unacceptable behaviour at your child’s club - sign up and adhere to their codes of conduct
- Ask your child what they enjoy about playing - and remember this when supporting them!
- Agree with your child how you will support/check-in to see how they are doing
- Ensure your child understands their rights - find out more
- Ensure you and your child know how to report a concern - find out more
- Encourage your child to speak to you about anything that worries them, no matter how big or small