Blues Community partner NSPCC

Posted: 25th October 2019
 

Bedford Blues Community have teamed up with the NSPCC to highlight the work of the charity and raise awareness of child protection.

The partnership will see both organisations work together on various initiatives and campaigns throughout this season, including the NSPCC providing workshops and resources to the club and parents around issues such as online safety and neglect.

Supporters will get the chance to find out about the charity’s work and the importance of child protection at certain games, but the main focus will be on awareness raising through the Blues Community outreach programmes.

Both parties will be engaging with young people through the ‘Speak Out Stay Safe’ assemblies in primary schools. In the last school year, the NSPCC service reached more than 18,000 children at 65 schools in Bedfordshire, empowering pupils to recognise and report abuse.

As well as schools’ projects, Blues Community have partnered with NSPCC for the Match Day Guard of Honour opportunity, sponsored by Optimis Consulting.

Gareth Alred, Chief Operating Officer at Bedford Blues, said: “NSPCC is the perfect fit as the first Blues Community charity partner. There are many shared aims between the two parties with child safety and protection remaining as a top priority for all community initiatives.

“We look forward to working with their team and help create further awareness of the great projects and work NSPCC already deliver.” 

Emma Motherwell, Campaigns Manger at the NSPCC said: “We are so pleased that Bedford Blues are supporting us in keeping more local children safe.

“Working with local communities is vital if we are to really embrace that safeguarding is everyone’s business and so we are looking forward to working with the club’s coaches, young players and parents to do all we can to ensure we reach more people with vital information about protecting children.”

The NSPCC runs a dedicated helpline for adults who are concerned about a child, which can be contacted on 0808 800 5000 or via help@nspcc.org.uk. 

If you would like to contact Blues Community about any of the Club's projects or to get involved, click here or email our new Head of Community, Adam King on community@bedfordrugby.co.uk.