How Liverpool FC create space to hear young players’ voices

The aim was to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts on everything from how they want to receive information, to best practice for academy feedback.

Led by the Safeguarding Team, each activity was designed as a practical workshop that left the club with real feedback they could use to make change. It also allowed the children a chance to feel listened to, as Nicola Fryer, Director of Safeguarding explained:

Ensuring that children and young people feel listened to is a key part of Premier League safeguarding standards and of our safeguarding culture at Liverpool FC. When young people see that their opinions matter in the day to day aspects of their experience, they are much more likely to speak openly with trusted adults if they encounter a concern or need support. That confidence and trust can make a real difference. While Play Safe provides an important opportunity to highlight the voice of the child, this is something we are committed to embedding throughout the entire season, not just during Play Safe weekend.”

Example activations:

Child’s Guide
Aim: To find out how children want to receive information about safeguarding.
Method: Aided discussion around the symbols, words and pictures used in the Safeguarding policy, using coloured pens and sticky notes to capture thoughts.
Key points: They wanted to see photos of staff looking smiling and looking approachable, so they knew who they should talk to. They also preferred simple words and instructions such as ‘what to do best’ and ‘what it should look like’ so they can more easily understand.
Outcome: New guide created in the children’s voice. Updating the website look and feel, including new photos, simpler language and different symbols to make it more relevant. More importantly it removed a cartoon image that the children all hated!

Play Safe Opportunity for Discussion
Aim: To explain Play Safe and provide children with a safe space to talk about their academy experiences.
Method: 15-20 minutes with each age group, four stations set up around the room based around four questions regarding the Academy: Do you feel safe? Who would you talk to? What’s your biggest worry? What would you change? Answers filled out anonymously on post-it notes, with every child getting a chance to answer every question. Full summary presented to players and staff.
Key points: Lots of suggestions especially around food and nutrition.
Outcome: Changes to food and nutrition. This was communicated back to the children through a ‘you said, we did’ process, so they knew their feedback had been heard and changes were made.

Takeaways
There’s a lot to learn and adopt from Liverpool’s approach. Here are some tips to take forward into your own club:

• Make listening practical and easy.
Use simple, accessible things like sticky notes, colourful pens, discussion stations and anonymous feedback boxes.
• Focus on the small things.
Children’s concerns aren’t always about big safeguarding issues. Make space to talk about food, WiFi on the bus, kit, breaks, communication and education.
• Give everyone a voice (not just the loudest children).
Use a mix of individual, anonymous, group and representative approaches so quieter children aren’t overlooked.
• Let children shape how things are communicated to them.
Ask them how they want to receive information, as well as what they want to hear. Children will influence things like language, symbols and pictures, helping you to create guides that specifically appeal to them.
• Create safe ways to speak.
Questions like, “Do you feel safe?”, “Who would you talk to?”, “What’s your biggest worry?” and “What would you change?” gives children straightforward openings to say what they really think.
• Be clear on what happens with feedback.
A strong approach Liverpool used was “you said, we did”, summarising for everyone what was discussed, what could or couldn’t be changed, and most importantly, why.

Keep up the convo
And remember, you don’t have to wait for a big consultation to hear what children think. Look for any moment where you can keep the conversation going by asking how things are, and if anything can be improved for them. This will help you build trust, identify concerns early, and create a stronger safeguarding culture.