Every year the whole of football in England unites to promote Play Safe – The FA-led countrywide campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding across our national game.
The FA's Play Safe campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC and was supported across every level of English football, including the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, National League and across the grassroots game.
This year’s Play Safe campaign focussed on the safeguarding role that everyone can play – coaches, players, parents/carers, spectators or volunteers – to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting. There will be several Play Safe Weekends organised through the season to ensure we keep safeguarding and welfare top of mind when participating in grassroots football.
In addition, as part of this year’s Play Safe campaign, The FA are also promoting a free online Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers to raise awareness around safeguarding and how to report any concerns.
The aim is for 100,000 people from across the game to have taken the course, which only takes 30 minutes to complete, by the end of 2024.
The free course provides important information that guides parents and carers through questions they should ask to ensure the club or venue where children play football has the correct safeguarding policies, people and practices in place.
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