There are various support and advisory services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse in football.
To read about these services go here
Importantly, encouragement to take the new course has come from FASSSAG – The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group:
“We have inputted into the course and helped frame its key messages from our collective experiences. It’s vitally important to us that every parent/carer understands the role they need to play in football. Taking this course can make a real difference – we are asking every parent/carer to commit to help ensure football is ever-safer.”
The support of FASSSAG has been welcomed by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham, himself a parent and youth football coach.
“The FASSSAG has been important in helping us create our new strategy moving forwards and we really appreciate their input into the new course. I have taken the new course and encourage all parents/carers across football to take it too.
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 or league Designated Safeguarding Officer – our Meadow Sports Child Welfare / Designated Safeguarding Officer is Stuart Hearn, who can be contacted by phone on 07966 757718 or email on meadowsportscwo@outlook.com Stuart will be able to give you the relevant League DSO contact details if required. You can click on his photo above or the red button below to link to our website Club information page which has further information about our policies, FA Codes of Conduct and useful links for parents and children who are faced with dealing with bullying.
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.
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