Last weekend, football at every level united to promote Play Safe, a national campaign to focus attention on safeguarding.

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, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, and right across the grassroots game. 

This year’s Play Safe weekend has two main messages: 

• ‘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. 

The captains of the four Clapton CFC adult teams in action – the women’s first team, men’s first team, women/nb open access and men’s development – plus the men’s opponents Cannons Wood wore the campaign armband for our games at the weekend.

Our safeguarding and welfare responsibilities include open age 16 plus adult football, volunteers and supporters. We need to develop provision in this area particularly with the exciting rise in female participation in a sport with an ongoing problem of female exclusion.

A good place for us all to start is the Player Welfare in Open Age Football course on the FA website. It only takes about 45 minutes but will equip you with more understanding about welfare in football.

The FA also has a new welfare resource page for open age football with lots more information on safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.

CCFC coach Ellie Guedalla has also appeared on the latest Coachcast podcast to talk about safeguarding. Please do take a listen below.

The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group continues to support Play Safe: “Creating safe environments in every football setting is a collective responsibility. It’s really important that every single person in football – no matter if they’re actively involved or on the sidelines – understands that they have an ongoing role to play. Knowing how to act on any concerns is vital and Play Safe is a key way to raise awareness so that everyone is vigilant and knows what to do if they become aware of any inappropriate behaviour.”

If you have a safeguarding or welfare concern, or would like some advice, please contact welfare-club@claptoncfc.co.uk 

Together, let’s create an ever-safer culture across the club and the game we all love.