English football is set to unite again this weekend to promote Play Safe - a countrywide campaign focusing attention on the vital importance of safeguarding in our national game.
Led by The Football Association, the Play Safe campaign is endorsed by the NSPCC and is being supported this weekend across every level of English football, including in the EFL, Premier League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, and across the grassroots game.
The Hornets will recognise the campaign at this Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Middlesbrough (September 30, 3pm KO).
This year’s Play Safe weekend focuses on the safeguarding role EVERYONE has to play - coach, player, parent/carer, spectator or volunteer - to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting. EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, EVERYTIME is encouraged to WATCH, LISTEN, TALK and ACT if they have any safeguarding concerns.
Here at Watford FC, both within the club and the Community Sports & Education Trust, keeping all our participants safe - as well as our volunteers, staff and wider community - is of paramount importance.
Focusing on the Trust, in a year over 15,000 unique participants engage in a variety of activities, with 84 per cent of those people aged between 0-24. As a result, we must ensure we are prepared to meet the safeguarding needs of the community, in a number of ways:
- We have a dedicated Trust Safeguarding Manager
- We have 11 DSOs (Designated Safeguarding Officers) across the organisation who support participants and manage concerns
- We use a secure reporting system and ensure there are multiple ways to report safeguarding issues, including on the club and Trust websites
- We provide our staff with regular training on all things safeguarding
An example of an individual benefiting from our approach to safeguarding is Rob, from our Man On! programme…
“I had been suffering with depression and anxiety for about 13 years. My counsellor suggested the physical and mental health programmes run by the Trust as she knew I was a big Watford fan - I’ve followed the club since 1977. I went to the Meriden Community Centre, and have been going every Wednesday since. Joining the Man On! programme has made me feel both mentally and physically fitter, and I’ve participated in numerous tournaments at the club’s training ground and at Vicarage Road. This has only been possible because of the confidence given to me by all the coaches and staff.”
Man On! is a sports-based mental wellbeing programme designed to support men aged 18+ with their mental health through physical activity and a conversation café. Click HERE to find out more.
Click HERE for more information on the Play Safe 2023 campaign.
To find out more about Watford FC’s safeguarding commitment, click HERE.
