Sat 27 Sep - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 5mins
Derby County is joining forces with The Football Association, the EFL and EFL in the Community and fellow clubs across the country to mark this year’s Play Safe Weekend, taking place on 27th-28th September 2025.
The FA Play Safe campaign champions safeguarding across the game, with leagues and clubs working together all season long to play their part in making the game ever-safer, fun, and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere.
The theme for Play Safe 2025 is “Small Talk Is Bigger Than You Think” and is about creating environments where children and young people feel empowered and listened to, so they have space to talk and feel safe to share.
Sue Ravenlaw, The FA’s Head of Safeguarding said: “Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and this year’s FA Play Safe campaign is all about encouraging adults in football to actively listen to children - to notice the small things, ask questions, and create a safe space for open conversations.
“We want every club, league and individual involved in the game to feel confident in their role and proud of the part they play in keeping football safe, fun and inclusive for all. We’re excited to see the football community come together once again to show their support and commitment across our Play Safe weekend and beyond. We also hope to see many more parents and carers completing our free online awareness training, which is designed to provide greater insight into this important area of our game.”
The EFL continues to embed safeguarding into everyday football culture through education, collaboration, and proactive risk management, by delivering a wide-ranging training programme tailored to roles across clubs and club charities.
Mandatory courses for directors, safeguarding officers and senior managers, alongside specialist modules on topics like online safety and trauma-informed practice, are offered and the EFL also provides accessible online learning and webinars to ensure consistent standards and continuous development.
If you have a safeguarding concern, or would like some advice, please contact [email protected] and more detail on the EFL’s Safeguarding strategy can be found here.
Further information on the Play Safe campaign can be found here.
Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The club has systems in place to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable groups is dealt with appropriately and sensitively.
Everyone working at the club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm.
The club’s standards of practice ensure all staff are fully aware and understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
All staff are alert to signs of abuse or maltreatment and will refer concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead using the agreed safeguarding procedures.
The club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults (vulnerable groups) have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Enhanced Criminal Record Checks and reference checks.
Derby County's Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy can be viewed here.
Derby County’s Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy can be viewed here.
Whistle-Blowing
Whistle-blowing in a safeguarding context means revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation, or within an independent structure associated with it.
It can be used as an early-warning system or when it is recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life.
Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague’s conduct towards a child or young person can also use whistle-blowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA’s safeguarding team, or via email to: [email protected].
Derby County’s Whistle-blowing Policy can be viewed here.
Useful Resources
The PFA Safety Net offers confidential support to Academy players, Trialists and their parents/guardians/carers, a link to the website can be found here.
The EFL have a number of mental health self-help guides available here.
CEOP offers help and advice to children and young people about staying safe online. A link to the website can be found here.
ThinkUKnow offers advice to parents to help them learn more about how to keep their children safe online here.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) support children and young people aged 0-18 (and their families) with a wide range of mental health difficulties in Derby and South Derbyshire. A link to the website can be found here.
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Graham Redfern
07856 925656
[email protected]
Designated Safeguarding Officer for Derby County Community Trust
Kully Grewal-Pollard
07803 872475
[email protected]
Reporting
If you have concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or vulnerable adult at Derby County Football Club, you can contact the club via telephone or email. A member of team Safeguarding Team will review the information you have provided within 24 hours and decide what action needs to be taken.
You can also fill in the reporting form which can be found at dcfc.co.uk/page/safeguarding.
Derby County have a duty to share information that you provide with other agencies if it is felt that a child or vulnerable adult could be at risk of harm.
Alternatively, concerns can be reported to the following organisations:
- Direct to the local Police or Children’s Social Care services, information on this can be found here.
- The Child Protection in Sport Unit at: [email protected]
- The NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email: [email protected]
