Newcastle United Foundation pledges support for Play Safe Weekend 2023

Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle United are joining English football clubs at every level uniting to promote Play Safe – a national campaign to focus attention of 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 supported this weekend across English football, including the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship, and across the grassroots game.

As the Magpies take on Burnley this afternoon, campaign messaging will be visible around the stadium, with captains for both teams wearing Play Safe armbands and Club staff wearing pin badges to show their support.

Both Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle United Football Club are committed to being a place where everyone is safe, heard, valued and able to thrive with core safeguarding principles underpinning all Club and charity work.

Jonny Larkin, Safeguarding Manager at Newcastle United Foundation, said: “Ensuring all our participants have a positive and inclusive experience is at the heart of what we do at the Foundation across all of our programmes – whether that’s in schools, on the football pitch or in our community building, NUCASTLE.

“Newcastle United Foundation and Newcastle United are fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all individuals and communities we engage with every day, demonstrating best practice and working proactively to ensure everyone is safe, supported and empowered.

“We would encourage everyone involved in football to use the Play Safe weekend to consider their responsibility in keeping children and young people safe – no matter their role or position.

“Working together, we can create an ever-safer culture in football at every level.”

This year’s Play Safe weekend carries 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 FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group (FASSSAG) continues to support Play Safe. A spokesperson said: “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.”

Play Safe also 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, also providing those young people with an understanding of the support available to them, should they require it.

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.

If you have concerns about someone or something does not feel right, contact Newcastle United Foundation’s Safeguarding team by email foundation.safeguarding@nufc.co.uk

Alternatively, contact Newcastle United Football Club’s Safeguarding and Welfare team by email safeguarding@nufc.co.uk

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