Everton backs new Safeguarding Campaign

Everton’s players have backed a pioneering campaign which aims to teach young men how to report indecent images of children in a safe and proactive way.

Midfielder Gareth Barry, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and Under-23s midfielder Kieran Dowell all feature in a video to convey serious messages from the ‘See It, Report It’ campaign, which will be launched by Everton and Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) this weekend (April 15).

‘See It, Report It’ wants to challenge behaviours of 16-24 year old men who ‘stumble’ across indecent images of children on the internet.

More than two thirds of men who haven’t heard of IWF currently close-down the window and delete their browsing history.

Both the IWF and Everton hope the campaign will educate them to paste the link into the IWF website instead - helping to eradicate indecent images of children from the internet.

Adam Green, Head of Safeguarding, said: “There is a stigma around sensitive issues like this but we are not afraid to take the lead in the world of football to help promote positive and educational safety messages to both our fans and the wider community.”

At their Premier League match against Burnley, the club has dedicated posters sites around Goodison Park to help promote the important message ‘See It, Report It’ to fans.

A series of workshops have also taken place in the weeks leading up to the match, with Academy players, Everton in The Community staff and pupils from Everton Free School and Sixth Form College.

The campaign is the first of its kind for the footballing community and has been proudly backed by Everton who have a track record in delivering messages into hard to reach communities.

Susie Hargreaves OBE, IWF CEO, said: “This is an incredibly positive ‘first’ for the footballing community. We want to engage with young men and encourage them to keep safe online and report any illegal images of child sexual abuse they may stumble across on the internet.”

To find out more go to evertonfc.iwf.org.uk and to show your support and join the conversation use @IWFhotline @Everton using #IWFreport 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Contact: Laura Garner, PR Director Kenyons, [email protected] +44 (0) 7551466030

What we do:

We make the internet a safer place. We help victims of child sexual abuse worldwide by identifying and removing online images and videos of their abuse. We search for child sexual abuse images and videos and offer a place for the public to report them anonymously. We then have them removed. We’re a not for profit organisation and are supported by the global internet industry and the European Commission.

For more information please visit www.iwf.org.uk.

The IWF is part of the UK Safer Internet Centre, working with Childnet International and the South West Grid for Learning to promote the safe and responsible use of technology.

Internet Watch Foundation, an incorporated charity, limited by guarantee. Registered in England Charity No. 1112398 Company Reg. 3426366 Registered office as above VAT Reg No. 876 3304 10