Rotherham United and Rotherham United Community Trust are pledging their support for the Play Safe campaign at Wednesday night’s Sky Bet Championship fixture with Bristol City at AESSEAL New York Stadium.
English football united this weekend to promote Play Safe – a countrywide campaign to focus 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 will be 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.
This season EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE – clubs and leagues at every level of the game, (and individuals if they wish) – is being to tell us what they are planning to do to make a difference over the Play Safe weekend and to share this via an online Play Safe Pledge.
The FA’s Survivor Support and Safeguarding Advisory Group (FASSSAG) continues to support Play Safe: “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.”
🤝 | Together with clubs across the EFL, we're backing 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲.
— Rotherham United FC (@RotherhamUnited) September 30, 2023
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲 is the @FA 's national campaign which shines a light on the importance of safeguarding and the role that we all have to play.#rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/LG4BNQaZ4q
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.
Wednesday night’s fixture against Bristol City has been dedicated to supporting the Play Safe campaign and provides us with the opportunity to shine a light on the importance of safeguarding throughout football and the wider community.
Not only does the profile of this televised fixture give us a vehicle to provide education to supporters but it also allows us to share the fantastic progress we have made in respect of safeguarding over the last few years.
It is important that we all know and understand that safeguarding is all of our responsibilities.
Everyone involved in the Club from spectators, to players and staff, families, participants and officials all have a role to play in ensuring that vulnerable children and adults are protected.
It is up to us to report worries or concerns on behalf of children, young people or adults who may be vulnerable whilst out in public and there are plenty of ways in which you can do that.
Reporting is quick and easy and can be completed in a number of ways. You can do so through the QR codes which are located on posters around the stadium on matchdays or pass on information to your nearest steward – who will relay that to the club’s Safeguarding Team.
Our club website www.themillers.co.uk now has a page dedicated to Safeguarding and includes tips and helpful information on keeping children safe on matchdays alongside a number of other helpful resources.
Also available on the page is information about the club’s personnel who are involved with the Safeguarding Team and the dedicated email address which can also be used to flag up concerns both on matchday and throughout the week.