Keeping Children Safe to Play
A new campaign is being launched in South Tyneside to help keep children and young people safe when taking part in sports clubs and other activities outside of school.
The Safe to Play campaign will see a series of interactive cards given out offering advice to parents, carers and coaches to help them ask the right questions before allowing their children to take part in sports clubs or activities such as drama or dance.
South Tyneside is the only area in the North East selected to pilot this initiative which is being launched by the South Tyneside Safeguarding Children and Adults Partnership in partnership with the National Working Group (NWG) which is a leading national charity tackling child exploitation.
Supporting families is one of the Council's core priorities.
Councillor Joan Atkinson, Deputy Leader with responsibility for Leisure and Culture, said: "There has been a lot of publicity in the national news recently about the abuse that can occur in clubs outside of school.
"We want our young people to enjoy activities and be fit and healthy but we all have a duty to make sure the environments they train in are safe."
The pocket-sized cards can be scanned with a mobile phone or tablet which then takes people to a range of digital resources designed to promote positive safeguarding messages.
Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children Young People and Families, said: "These resources give parents and carers more confidence to ask the right questions before allowing their children to sign up to activities outside school and challenge anything which may not seem right.
"I would encourage as many parents and carers as possible to get involved with the scheme to make sure play is safe in South Tyneside."
Anyone wishing to find out more about the scheme can sign up to a virtual session via Microsoft Teams which will be held on Tuesday 8 June between 1.15pm and 3.15pm and Thursday 10 June between 6pm and 8pm. People are asked to reserve a place by emailing STSCAP@southtyneside.gov.uk
Free training for bystanders watching sports or activities their children are taking part in will follow later in the year.