This weekend will see LFE and its football clubs unite to promote Play Safe – a national campaign to focus attention on the vital role that safeguarding plays across the national game.
Led by The Football Association, the Play Safe campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC and supported by every level of the game, including the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship, and across the grassroots game.
LFE is proud to be supporting Play Safe on our website and social media channels – and also by continuing to both deliver safeguarding activities and ensure policy and practice amongst all stakeholders.
Simon Williams, LFE’s Life Skills Manager said: “Safeguarding is the foundation upon which everything else can take place within all football environments, not forgetting the ever-growing digital world in which we all live. Each season provides wide-ranging developments across research, education and support, all of which lies at the core of everything provided to academy players, parents, carers and staff too. From online induction modules to experts on our Life Skills Programme to one-to-one progress reviews, safeguarding is embedded across the many touch points we have with those experiencing academy football.”
This year’s Play Safe weekend has two main messages which everyone can help bring to life.
- ‘Everyone, everywhere, every time’ should have an understanding of safeguarding in football;
- Everyone should ‘watch, listen, talk and act’ if they have any safeguarding concerns.
If you have a safeguarding concern, or would like some advice, the person to contact at your football club is the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
Together, let’s create an ever-safer culture across the game we all love.
