The Play Safe campaign has been developed by The FA and is being promoted by the Premier League to raise awareness of the vital importance of safeguarding in football and how everyone can play their part in ensuring that football is a safe space for all.
The campaign, which is officially supported by the NSPCC, aims to make parents and guardians, as well as staff at all levels of the game, aware of how they can help protect the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. It also provides those young people with an understanding of the support available to them, should they require it.
Newcastle United and Newcastle United Foundation are raising awareness of The FA's campaign through a number of initiatives including education pieces to parents and guardians through the football work and coaching that is carried out in the North East community.
The club and foundation are committed to working together to create positive experiences where children and young people feel safe, valued, and empowered. This collaboration enables people to share knowledge on safeguarding and demonstrate best practice.
Centrally, the league continues to provide necessary training, support and guidance on safeguarding arrangements and awareness-raising measures. It has longstanding safeguarding rules in place, which aim to promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk who are engaged in all our activities.
To assist those in Academy football, the league's rules ensure mental health and emotional wellbeing support is provided for young players, which includes full-time psychology provision and help from education and player care staff. Club compliance with the league's safeguarding and related rules is subject to regular independent auditing.