Safe To Play Campaign
West Yorkshire Police is supporting the NWG and Sport England’s Safe to Play campaign.
The campaign aims to raise awareness around tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE) in sport, so that children and adults can enjoy physical activity safe from harm and abuse.
We’re encouraging parents, coaches and children to know the signs that something isn’t right and have the confidence to report it.
Say Something if you See Something
The Safe to Play campaign provides advice and helps parents and guardians to make informed decisions around activity clubs and sports facilities here in West Yorkshire and to look out for signs that a sports club or activity club may not be as legitimate as it seems.
Activities and clubs can be advertised as a place to take your child but may not be affiliated to any sport governing body or active partnership.
- It is important to look for a club, sport, activity, and coach that takes the safety and wellbeing of your child seriously.
- Always check whether the club or organisation is accredited or otherwise affiliated to an official body (e.g. a sports governing body or national voluntary sector) as this should mean they have the right safeguarding policies and procedures in place.
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Even if a club is accredited, here are some things that you should look out for:
- Review their website or the information you may have been sent, do not be influenced by glossy flyers, smiley children in pictures and lots of quotes from ‘satisfied’ parents.
- Look for safeguarding policies – these should be fully accessible, visible and readily available on their website. If they’re not visible, then please think twice about sending your child into the care of someone who does not have safeguarding arrangements in place.
- Where is the sport activity taking place? If it’s in the grounds of a school or a leisure centre, then ask the Head Teacher or Centre Manager about what due diligence has taken place to ensure the clubs providing activities have the correct safeguarding procedures in place.
- A safe recruitment process for staff and volunteers, including vetting. This means that they have appropriate references, DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks – ask about the last time these were renewed, and ensure the staff have the right technical qualifications for the activity.
- What safeguarding training have staff and volunteers received and can you see the evidence of when this training was delivered? What about new staff, as coaches do move around quite frequently?
- Check if they have a Code of Conduct/Practice for Sport Coaches – this code provides a guide for good and safe coaching practice. A good code will be incorporated into the club and its policies, procedures governance and training and will not be a stand-alone document.
- First Aid procedures – what happens if a child is taken ill? What are the club’s policies and how many people at the club have full first aid certificates?
- Is there a designated Welfare Officer/Safeguarding Lead – find out who the point of contact is that you or child can speak to if you have any concerns of worries.
- Finally, we would encourage parents/carers to speak with their child/children to ensure they are happy and have no concerns. Maintaining an open dialogue with your child/children is very important.
Remember, it's never wrong to ask for more information when it comes to children’s safety, wellbeing and safeguarding.
Organisations should welcome parents and carers asking questions about their policies and activities and should be happy and readily on hand to answer these questions.
Say Something if you See Something
Here are some of the signs of child sexual exploitation:
- Have they become unusually secretive or withdrawn?
- Sudden changes in appearance and behaviour
- Becoming anxious or fearful, feigning injuries. Loss of confidence or low self-esteem
- Being given gifts, including alcohol and drugs
- Coaches or volunteers using inappropriate sexualised, abusive or threatening language
- Coaches giving a child special attention eg offering one to one coaching
- Coaches offering personal advice or being over friendly
Where to get help
If you have any concerns about an activity/club or coach or are worried about inappropriate behaviour by anyone involved in a sports club, you can contact NWG for advice on 01332 585371 or visit www.nwgnetwork.org.
If you think a crime has been committed, you can contact West Yorkshire Police using our online live chat or by calling 101.
If someone is in immediate danger always call 999.
For more information about the Safe to Play campaign, visit https://stop-ce.org/safe-to-play/
Campaign Artwork
How safe are your children? poster
Accessible Content Alternative Text
Text in the poster reads:
How safe are your children?
CSE - Child Sexual Exploitation
Do you know the signs?
Catch – Children using sexually explicit language that you wouldn’t expect from them
Group – Inviting or forcing contact with older groups / adults above their abilities
Target – Giving the child special attention eg offering one to one coaching
Equipment – Giving a child gifts, alcohol or drugs
Uniform – Sudden changes in their appearance and behaviour
Foul – Coaches or volunteers using inappropriate sexualised, abusive or threatening language
Hide – Have they become unusually secretive or withdrawn?
Defence – Anxious or fearful behaviour, feigning injuries. Loss of confidence or low self-esteem
Coach: are you promoting safeguarding in sport? Talk to parents about the risks
Help us stop child sexual exploitation. Say something if you see something suspicious. Contact: Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or Police 101 or www.stop-ce.org
For Police non-emergencies 101. In an emergency always call 999.
West Yorkshire Police | Sport England | STOPCE
Football poster
Accessible Content - Alternative Text
Text in the poster reads:
How safe are your children?
CSE - Child Sexual Exploitation
Do you know the tactics and signs?
Dummy – Pretending to be someone they are not eg saying they have links to sports personalities
Possession – Giving a child gifts, alcohol or drugs
Friendly – Offering personal advice or being overly friendly
Defensive wall – Have they become unusually secretive or withdrawn?
Tactics – Coaches or volunteers using inappropriate sexualised, abusive or threatening language
Injury time –Do they have unexplained marks and scars?
On target – Seeks out vulnerable or impressionable youngsters
Attempts – Using their professional position or reputation to take advantage of a child
Coach: are you promoting safeguarding in sport? Talk to parents about the risks. Help us stop child sexual exploitation. Say something if you see something suspicious.
Contact: Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or Police 101 or www.stop-ce.org. For Police non-emergencies 101. In an emergency always call 999.
West Yorkshire Police | Sport England | STOPCE
Campaign Videos
Jamie's Story
Dad's Story
Coach's Story
Page last reviewed June 2023.