Introduction

At Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC, we are proud to announce our participation in the Play Safe Weekend 2023, an initiative by the English FA that underscores the paramount importance of safeguarding in football. This nationwide campaign, endorsed by the NSPCC, unites the entire English football community, from grassroots to the Premier League, in a collective effort to protect and nurture the well-being of our young football talents.

Play Safe: A Focus on Safeguarding for All

This year, the Play Safe campaign places a significant emphasis on the role that each one of us can play in safeguarding children and young people in football. Whether you’re a coach, player, parent/carer, spectator, or volunteer, we all have a vital part to play in ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for our budding football stars.

Our Commitment: Taking the Play Safe Pledge

Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC is wholeheartedly committed to the Play Safe initiative. We have taken the Play Safe Pledge, affirming our dedication to taking tangible actions that will make a difference and raise awareness about the importance of safeguarding over the Play Safe weekend.

Empowering Parents and Carers

As part of the Play Safe campaign, we are also promoting the free FA online Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers . We encourage all our parents and carers to participate in this course, which takes just 30 minutes to complete. It equips you with valuable knowledge on safeguarding, guiding you through the essential questions to ask and ensuring that our club maintains the correct safeguarding policies, people, and practices.

Our Message

As a community football club, we echo the sentiments of FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham, who wants every child and young person involved in football to have a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience. We are committed to fostering an environment where our players can thrive not only as athletes but also as individuals.

Join Us in Making a Difference

At Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC, we firmly believe that safeguarding is a collective responsibility. Together with the FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group (FASSSAG), we emphasise that everyone, regardless of their role in football, plays an ongoing role in safeguarding.

As we embark on this Play Safe Weekend, we invite our entire Eagles family, including players, parents, supporters, and volunteers, to stand with us. Let’s raise awareness about safeguarding and ensure that football remains a safe haven for our young talents to flourish.

Supporting the Initiative

To assist us in our efforts to support Play Safe, we have received various digital and print resources from the FA. These resources enable us to further promote safeguarding awareness within our club.

Conclusion

As Letchworth Garden City Eagles FC joins hands with the entire English football community for the Play Safe Weekend 2023, we reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our young stars. Together, we can create a safer and more nurturing football environment for the future generation.

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.

If you have a safeguarding concern, or would like some advice, the person to contact at Letchworth Eagles is the Child Welfare Officer