Football club’s aid for abuse victims
BRISTOL Rovers has launched a ground-breaking partnership with a charity which supports adults who have suffered historical child abuse.
The club has teamed up with the Southmead Project, to fundraise, offer support and raise awareness of the vital issue.
The radical step makes Rovers one of the first professional clubs to do this in the country.
The reputation of football with high-profile child abuse cases and ongoing actions, is at an all-time low. The FA chairman Greg Clarke has called it “the biggest crisis in the history of the Football Association.”
In the aftermath of a number of adult professional players breaking their silence and publicly disclosing the abuse they suffered as children at professional clubs, the FA commissioned a report in 2016.
The report led by Clive Sheldon QC looked into allegations of historic child abuse and the possibility of a cover up in football.
At present, due to a number of legal cases the review has been delayed indefinitely because of a pending retrial and further allegations in the Barry Bennell case.
While there hasn’t been any cases involving the club, for Bristol Rovers commercial director Tom Gorridge this move still “sets a precedent, and sends a clear message that Bristol Rovers are committed to safeguarding and feel it’s paramount to encourage those who have suffered in silence to feel supported and able to talk. It is the right time to be bold and make this step.”
It is believed that Bristol Rovers are the first club in the Football League to make this step.
The Southmead Project has a longstanding history of providing support to people.
Mr Gorridge talks often of the ‘authenticity’ of Bristol Rovers, a family club, with real community values, and partnering with the Southmead Trust reflects this, particularly of its founder Mike Pierce.
Dr Pierce founded the organisation in 1994. He is himself a child abuse survivor who has lobbied for greater support, research, and focus for adult victims of child abuse.
The Southmead Project is a service that provides free therapeutic and practical support to adults who were abused as children, and have turned to drugs, alcohol, and other self harming as a consequence of this trauma.
Football is in crisis according to Dr Pierce. Abusers such Bennell and others, are “highly skilled at getting themselves into positions where they can manipulate situations that will lead to access and ultimately abuse of children.”
“Football is an obvious environment, with access to young boys, and indeed girls.
What Bristol Rovers are now doing is “essential for getting a handle on abuse, and the FA and players associations would do well to follow the example the club is setting”
In the longer term the club wants to invite victims to give them a match day experience, and offer opportunities for them to tell their story. It is hoped that this will educate fans, and make it a safe space for potential victims who could now feel ready to come forward more.