It’s Children’s Mental Health Week 2022 and Wiltshire FA is proud to launch their Youth Communication Strategy with new partner, Wiltshire based estate agents, Strakers.

Coming on board to support the promotion of Safeguarding messages, Strakers will sponsor the new Wiltshire FA safeguarding mascot, Ron and a campaign to get important information to key groups of people, crucially to the children involved in football in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire FA CEO, Oliver Selfe said, “The recently published Sheldon Enquiry has shaken everyone involved in the delivery of grassroots football. Safeguarding is Wiltshire FAs number 1 priority, therefore bringing Straker’s on board as a key strategic partner for safeguarding will support Wiltshire FA to further expand our safeguarding awareness and support to the local game, thus ensuring that information is engaging and accessible, with the goal that no child is left behind.”

Wiltshire FA has a robust safeguarding system in place with regular assessments to ensure safer working practices.

Oliver continues, “We take safeguarding seriously, enforcing strict procedures, policies and training to ensure standards are met. We have a constant need to communicate with our community to make sure everyone is kept up to date with safeguarding information and is confident to speak up to keep the game safe.”

Wiltshire FA has recently announced a new safeguarding mascot, Ron, to engage the young people involved in football in Wiltshire. Ron not only aims to make sure people know who they can speak to if they have any concerns but also wants to raise awareness about wellbeing, promoting ways in which young people can look after their mental wellness as well as their physical health.

Laura Wells, Marketing Manager at Strakers said, “We are delighted to come onboard to support this important campaign. Our company ethos is to help our customers, limiting the stresses that come with buying, selling and letting properties, and ultimately support people to find their happy place.

“We believe a home should be a safe place, a happy place, a sanctuary, so the campaign with Ron really resonates with our company values. We are proud to help raise awareness about wellbeing, making sure children know who they can speak to if they have any concerns.”

With four branches across Wiltshire, independent estate agent, Strakers has been supporting people to buy, sell or let homes since 1995.

Oliver concludes, “With our new mascot, Ron, and our new partner, Strakers, we are looking forward to developing our Safeguarding messages.

Today, during Children’s Mental Health Week, we are launching our Youth Communications Strategy, our long-term plan which outlines our aims to generate relevant communications to raise awareness and drive engagement, empowering individuals to speak up and stay safe.

The theme of the week this year is #GrowingTogether, finding ways to help each other grow, fits in well with our wider plans to promote wellbeing, making sure young people know who they can talk to, where they can get support and how to take care of their mental health.”

Using the hashtag #ShootShoutShare, the Wiltshire FA safeguarding campaign encourages people to believe in themselves, to speak up and stay safe and to be confident because their voice matters, with additional messages to promote positivity and wellbeing.