The FA Launch New Safeguarding Strategy An Ever Safer Culture

This announcement follows the publication of the new 2024-28 FA strategy, ‘Inspiring Positive Change Through Football’, to take English football forward, with a clear focus on the biggest opportunities and challenges that need to be addressed.

An Ever-Safer Culture sets out a strong commitment to continuously improving levels of delivery, as well as tackling ongoing and new challenges, putting the support and protection of children and adults at risk at its heart.

Building on their 2021-24 strategy, this new and comprehensive long-term strategy focuses on three key priorities:

1. Governance and Standards: Ensuring we have strong leadership, effective governance oversight and robust standards driving continuous improvement.
2. Education and Empowerment: Educating to empower and help create an ever-safer culture.
3. Managing Concerns: Enabling reporting and handling safeguarding referrals in a safe and effective way.

Through this, the FA aim to drive enhancements to safeguarding requirements and standards at all levels, including with England teams and talent pathway activity. Technology will be used to help safeguard digital channels, as well harness technology to save time for those who carry out ID checks as part of the essential DBS vetting processes.

The strategy takes a purposeful and person-centred approach, ensuring that children’s and adults’ wellbeing is at the heart of what we do, and leading a shared intention at all levels of the game to safeguard Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time.

An Ever-Safer Culture will be delivered collaboratively across the game, including key football authorities, the FA's network of 50 County FAs throughout England and Leagues, Government and other organisations inside and outside the sports sector.

Mark Bullingham, FA Chief Executive, said: "Safeguarding remains a vital part of our game and we are committed to doing all that we can to ensure that every child and adult at risk is able to play football in a fun, safe, inclusive and welcoming environment. Our new safeguarding strategy focuses on three key priorities - governance and standards, education and empowerment, and managing concerns – as we continue to create an ever-safer culture across our national game.”

Sue Ravenlaw, FA Head of Safeguarding, added: “Football is made up of many different parts, with each playing a critical role in safeguarding. This strategy speaks to the commitment that is shared across all these bodies to continue to do all we can to create and maintain football environments where children and adults at risk are safe and can flourish. Our thanks go to everyone playing a part in safeguarding and the delivery of this strategy.”