League supports national safeguarding campaign

The Premier League and its clubs are joining The FA and other football organisations at all levels of the game to support a national safeguarding campaign.

The Play Safe campaign has been developed by The FA and is being promoted by the Premier League and its clubs to raise awareness of the vital importance of safeguarding in football and how everyone can play their part in ensuring that football is a safe space for all.

The campaign, which is officially supported by the NSPCC, aims to make parents and guardians, as well as staff at all levels of the game, aware of how they can help protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. It also provides those young people with an understanding of the support available to them, should they require it.

Clubs will be showing their support for Play Safe by raising awareness of The FA's campaign videos via their channels and via their community teams, while also highlighting the work they do to protect the safety and wellbeing of all those involved in the game.

The Premier League, its clubs and their community organisations are committed to working together to create positive experiences where children and young people feel safe, valued, and empowered. This collaboration enables people to share knowledge on safeguarding and demonstrate best practice.

Centrally, the League continues to provide necessary training, support and guidance on safeguarding arrangements and awareness-raising measures. It has longstanding safeguarding rules in place, which aim to promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk who are engaged in all our activities.

To assist those in Academy football, the League’s rules ensure mental health and emotional wellbeing support is provided for young players, which includes full-time psychology provision and help from education and player care staff. Club compliance with the League’s safeguarding and related rules is subject to regular independent auditing.

See: PL Academies give positive experience, say parents

The support for children, young people and adults at risk also extends to club community organisations delivering Premier League-funded activity. Club foundations can access safeguarding training and workforce development via the Premier League Charitable Fund to ensure everyone is aware of the need for robust and safe arrangements.

This is also relevant to the recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers. Club community organisations are independently audited on their safeguarding provision.

See: How safeguarding is at the heart of Southampton

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

For more information, go to The FA's Play Safe website.