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'Play Safe' campaign launched this weekend in partnership with NSPCC

The campaign will look to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in football, led by a series of short films.

The films emphasise the importance of having safeguarding embedded in all we do, and explain to parents, carers, and children themselves what to do if they feel unsafe or worried.

You can see these films below.

It is a national campaign and has the full backing of the Premier League, EFL, Barclays FA Women’s Super League and the FA Women’s Championship.

It is also supported by every County FA and is being run across all grassroots leagues and clubs.

 

Ricky Stevenson, Chief Executive Officer at the Derbyshire FA, said: "The upcoming launch of the ‘Play Safe’ campaign as part of the National Safeguarding Weekend represents an extremely important cause, and is an exciting step for us in our mission to lead and support the football community across Derbyshire, providing a safe and inclusive environment.

"The involvement of so many important organisations, as well as grassroots leagues and clubs, serves as a vital reminder that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and contributes to achieving the goal of ensuring the safety of everyone involved in the game.

"A number of Derbyshire FA staff will be playing their part this weekend, whether that be visiting local matches or in their voluntary roles as coaches, referees, league/club representatives, and more."

The Derbyshire FA's social media accounts will dedicate the weekend to sharing imagery and videos from clubs across the county, spreading the 'Play Safe' message and emphasising the importance of everyone playing their part.

If you're at a Derbyshire club over the weekend as a player, parent, coach, referee, or volunteer, make sure to tag the Derbyshire FA social media accounts in your images with the hashtag #PlaySafe, and you can share your examples of good practice with others across the county.

Mark Bullingham, Chief Executive Officer at The FA, said: “As a youth team coach, I will be working with my club to ensure we support the 'Play Safe' messaging.

I am 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.

The group has collectively said learning from the past is crucial, so that we can prevent the horrific experiences that happened to us and so many others in football, from happening again.

“As a group of survivors, we fully support the ethos and important messages that 'Play Safe' conveys – whether to club officials, parents/carers and or vitally, children and young people themselves.

"Equally important is that 'Play Safe' is not a one-off campaign – it will be used at key points in the football calendar to remind everyone in football, that children’s welfare and keeping them safe, should be at the heart of all that we do.”

As the survivor group points out, you’ll see 'Play Safe' appearing at various points throughout the season to keep safeguarding front of mind in football.

Together, we want to do everything we can so everyone – particularly children and young people – has a consistently positive experience of our great game.

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