Wanderers are backing this weekend’s national EFL Play Safe Campaign, raising awareness of the vital importance of safeguarding in our national game.
The focus of this year’s campaign remains on parents/carers, with two main messages being conveyed:
- The key role of parents / carers in safeguarding
- The opportunity to take a short, new and free safeguarding course specifically developed for parents/carers.
The course can be accessed here.
Phil Mason, Senior Safeguarding Manager at Bolton Wanderers said: “Here at Bolton Wanderers we take our commitment to safeguarding seriously and have a team of people in all parts of the club and community making sure we keep children and vulnerable adults in our care safe.
“All our staff are aware that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and know the role they need to play to ensure we have a safe and positive environment in which people can flourish.
“This weekend we are delighted to be supporting Play Safe, which is football’s national campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in our national game.”
The FA’s Head of Safeguarding Sue Ravenlaw said: “Play Safe demonstrates that across the game we are all united in the intent to keep children and young people safe in football.
“As adults it's essential that we all work together – including with parents/carers – to create positive football settings where children thrive and feel confident to speak up if they are not feeling ok.
“Backing the Play Safe campaign gives clubs and leagues a particular moment, early in the season, to talk with parents/carers, players, coaches, managers, first aiders and spectators and reinforce their safeguarding practice and what’s expected of everyone involved.
“There are robust reporting systems in place across the game and The FA has a professional Safeguarding Case Management team. The Premier League and EFL Safeguarding Standards, as well as the Safeguarding 365 Standard for County FAs, emphasise the everyday place safeguarding has in football. Premier League and EFL clubs and County FAs, are independently assessed to ensure safer working practice is continuously evolving across the country.
"Play Safe naturally aligns with and shows our support for the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week campaign.”
The campaign is officially supported by the NSPCC as well as the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship. It’s also being backed by every other level of the game across England. Across the game this weekend, managers will wear pin badges and club captains will wear Play Safe armbands to raise awareness for the campaign.