This weekend sees the launch of Play Safe – an ongoing national FA-led campaign to ensure everyone understands how to play their part in safeguarding children throughout football.
Play Safe is being run in partnership with the NSPCC and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays FA Women’s Super League and the FA Women’s Championship. It’s also supported and being run across every other level of the game.
At the heart of the campaign are three short films, aimed respectively at club officials, parents/carers and crucially, children themselves. All feature England men’s and women’s players.
Among their key messages are the importance of listening to children, as well as knowing how and who to speak to if concerns do arise.
“As a youth team coach myself, I will be working with my club to ensure we support the Play Safe messaging,” said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
“I'm also pleased that the campaign has the support of the former footballers with lived experience of abuse in football, who are on our Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group.”
