Leeds United have joined the NSPCC to promote its new 'Listen Up, Speak Up' campaign, which aims to help create a city of safeguarders.
The club recently hosted a face-to-face NSPCC workshop for parents of its academy players at the Thorp Arch training ground, which offered practical advice about what to do and who to speak to about concerns a child might be experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect. Whilst first-team players have also shown their support, getting involved in a video campaign that highlights what Listen Up, Speak Up is all about.
Helen Westerman, the NSPCC’s Head of Local Campaigns, has said Leeds United’s support for Listen Up, Speak Up was a great way to highlight the campaign to the wider public. She said: “Leeds is a fantastic city with a real sense of civic pride, and that’s something that is echoed by everyone at Leeds United, so we’re hugely grateful for the club’s support.
“Listen Up, Speak Up aims to build on that sense of community pride and create a city of safeguarders, empowering local people, businesses, community groups, taxi drivers and market traders to do what they can to keep the children of Leeds safe.”
Leeds is one of three pilot cities offering face-to-face and virtual workshops to the public, but the campaign also encourages people to take a free 10-minute digital training on their smartphone, computer or tablet, which shares information from experts with actions people can take to help keep children safe.
Long-term, the NSPCC’s ambition is to reach at least a million people in communities and organisations across the UK. Currently, more than half a million children experience abuse or neglect each year, and last year West Yorkshire Police recorded 6,902 crimes of child sexual abuse.
Angus Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer at Leeds United, added: “Everyone at the club is proud to be at the heart of the community in Leeds, and the safeguarding of children within the club and throughout the city is hugely important to us.
“We believe Listen Up, Speak Up offers simple advice and guidance which can help us look out for children and young people in the area, and we were delighted to host the workshop for parents at our Thorp Arch training ground. By sharing this vital but simple information with people across Leeds, we’re proud to help the NSPCC share a little knowledge and help keep a lot of children safer.”
The campaign uses the mnemonic DOTS, which is designed to address the barriers to people acting on concerns.
DOTS stands for:
Helen went on to say: “At the NSPCC, we want to encourage everyone in Leeds to play their part in keeping children safe. We believe Listen Up, Speak Up can be game-changing for how we keep kids safe, so we would love anyone in Leeds to go online and find out more about what they can do to take part.”
To find out more and to sign up to take the 'Listen Up Speak Up' training in Leeds, please email [email protected] or to take the digital training, search online for ‘NSPCC Listen Up Speak Up’.
