Safeguarding Is At The Heart Of Everything We Do At Cumberland FA, So We're Delighted To Support The NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week And Share The Vital Messages Across The Grassroots Football Community.

Over the weekend we have seen English football unite to promote Play Safe – the countrywide campaign to focus attention of the vital importance of safeguarding across our national game.

This year’s Play Safe campaign focused on the safeguarding role that everyone can play – coaches, players, parents/carers, spectators and volunteers – to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting. If you were at any youth game this weekend, you may have seen captains wearing Play Safe armbands and youth team coaches wearing Play Safe pin badges to show their support.

In addition, as part of this year’s Play Safe campaign, The FA are promoting the 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.

We’re asking all Cumberland Football parents to take the free course to support their child in their football journey.

Cumberland FA’s Designated Safeguarding Officer, Steve Greenway, commented “With a weekend focussed on the importance of safeguarding across the grassroots game with The FA’s Play Safe, we’re delighted to support The NSPCC week of action to support parents to be involved, be supportive and highlight their role in keeping children safe in football.”

Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week

The aim of this week, run by the NSPCC and CPSU (Child Protection in Sport) is to raise awareness of the important role parents play in keeping their child safe and happy in sport.

From 2 - 6 October 2023, the focus week will launch new resources for parents and bring its messages to life with stories from parents, young people and coaches. 

As part of the campaign this year, 3 key areas of parents being involved in their child’s sport are explored: Getting involved, Being supportive and Keeping children safe.

Getting involved

Parents and carers play an important role in influencing their child's enjoyment and experience of sport through their feedback, actions and support. Not all children need the same involvement from their parents or carers. 

Do you know what involvement would they like you to have and how can you get involved in their sporting journey?

Being Supportive

Sport can be an emotional experience for children, their adults, and coaches. Feedback from parents and carers greatly influences how a child perceives their ability, enjoys their sport, and feels motivated to continue participating.

Keeping Children Safe

It's important that parents and carers feel confident to raise any worries or concerns they may have at their child's sports club or activity. Asking questions about safeguarding policies and procedures should also be commonplace. The NSPCC have resources to help equip you with this knowledge.

WATCH | An animation for parents with children in sport

Parents Can Take A Look At The Following Advice From The FA To Ensure They Play Their Part In Making Football A Safe, Inclusive Space For Children And Upholding Safeguarding Standards.

We are asking every parent/carer to ensure they play their part by making sure they:

* Know who coaches their child and that they are FA DBS checked and safeguarding trained.
* Have the name and contact details of their club’s welfare officer in their phone.
* Are clear about acceptable and unacceptable behaviours at their child’s club.
* Sign up and adhere to their Club’s code of conduct.
* Help their child to understand their rights and know who they can talk to you if they are worried about an adult’s behaviour.
* Encourage their child to speak out about anything that worries them, no matter how big or small.
*Complete the Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers

Follow #SafeinSport on social media during the week and visit https://thecpsu.org.uk/parents for more information.

CUMBERLAND CLUBS

We're asking for your help to reach parents whose children are involved in your Club this year and you can help by:

- Encourage your Parents to complete the Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers to raise awareness around safeguarding and how to report any concerns. 

- Share the weblink https://thecpsu.org.uk/parents to your volunteers and parents

- Download and use the Media toolkit which includes sample copies for use on your social media, social media assets, email signatures and a full resource list. 

Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport 2023 media toolkit

- Remind your mini soccer players to enter the Play Safe competition. 

During the week of action, The NSPCC will be launching new resources and so keep an eye on the Parents' hub and Twitter @NSPCC or @TheCPSU for further information.

If you have any queries about Safeguarding in Football in Cumberland, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Officer, Steve Greenway, on 01900 511800 or email Safeguarding@CumberlandFA.com