The whole of football in England – at every level – joined forces this weekend to promote ‘Play Safe’, a national campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in football.

Play Safe is officially supported by the NSPCC and will run on a designated weekend every season from now on.

At the heart of the campaign are three short films to emphasise the importance of safeguarding for key groups of people, crucially children themselves:

Play Safe - Children of all ages

Play Safe - Club Officials

Play Safe - Parents and Carers

As you’ll see, England men’s and women’s players are right behind Play Safe too.

So whatever your role in football – whether an active participant or an administrator, please remember safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

For example:

If you’re a coach working with children:
• Is your DBS Check up to date?
• Are you up to date with The FA’s ‘Safeguarding Children’ course?
• Do you regularly check-in with your players and help them to feel safe to share their thoughts and speak up about any concerns?
• Are you following safe practice when communicating with under-18s for example via social media?

If you’re a Board or Committee member at a club or league:
• Have you taken The FA’s ‘Safeguarding for Committee’ members’ course?
• Does your club have a formal welcome process for new players and their parents/carers?
• Are all your club’s safeguarding policies and procedures up to date?
• Are your Club Welfare Officers contact details widely available?
• Is safeguarding a constant item on your main meeting agendas and in your club’s day to day practices?

If you’re a parent/carer:
• Do you know your child’s club Welfare Officer?
• If so, do you have their tel no. in your ‘phone, as well as that of the NSPCC?
• Are you up to speed with your child’s club’s safeguarding policies and procedures?
• Have you taken The FA’s free online ‘Safeguarding For All’ course?
• Do you regularly check-in with your child to see what they are enjoying/not enjoying and why?

If you’re a Club or League Welfare Officer:
• Do you know who your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer is?
• If so, do you have their tel. no in your phone?
• Have you reviewed your club’s or league’s safeguarding policies and procedures recently?

For more information on the safeguarding framework The FA has in place, together with numerous helpful guidance notes, please click here

Play Safe is not a one-off campaign – there will be a designated Play Safe weekend every season. It will also be used to support other safeguarding-related events during the year, e.g. Anti-Bullying Week, Safer Internet Day and NSPCC Parents in Sport Week.

If you are worried about a child, it’s vital you report your concerns. Doing nothing is not an option. It’s also important you stay calm, and if any child is present, reassure them they are not to blame. But don’t make promises of confidentiality or outcome.

There are five ways to report a concern:

1. To your club Designated Safeguarding Officer – Karen Kitahara - for her contact details see https://www.prideparkfc.com/contact/ or e-mail welfareofficer@prideparkfc.com
2. To your County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer. Click here
for a list of County FA contacts,
3. By emailing The FA Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@TheFA.com; 
4. If urgent and you cannot contact your club, league or County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer, you can contact the NSPCC Helpline for expert advice and support on 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk;
 5. If it is an emergency because a child or children are at immediate risk, then call the Police or Children’s Social Care in your area.

You can read more about Play Safe on The FA’s website here