Wrexham AFC backs ICON to help protect babies - ICON: Babies cry, you can cope

We’re delighted to share some encouraging news: Wrexham AFC has supported Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to help promote the ICON campaign and spread its vital message to parents and carers around protecting babies and supporting Parents and Carers.

ICON is being rolled out across the region by the North Wales Safeguarding Board, and has already been launched within maternity and midwifery services delivered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. North Wales is the first area of Wales to adopt the ICON programme.

As part of this collaboration, Anna Davies, Regional Safeguarding Midwifery Lead and Yvonne Hughes, Safeguarding Practice Development Lead, recently visited the STōK Cae Ras to install ICON posters across the stadium which will been seen by up to nearly 11,000 supporters per match. The posters have been placed in both male and female toilets, with particular attention given to locations where they are most likely to capture male supporters attention. This is an important step, as ICON is about supporting everyone who cares for a baby, not just mothers and provides advice and signposting for further support.

This awareness work has been strongly supported by Jamie Dixon, Head of Safeguarding at Wrexham AFC, who has championed the initiative at the club. Jamie has shared photographs of the ICON materials around the ground with the club’s senior management and wider staff.

Wrexham AFC, along with many football clubs, sit at the heart of their communities, and partnerships like this offer a powerful way to reach parents and carers in everyday spaces promoting awareness and options for support. By working together, we can help more people understand that babies cry, that this can be stressful and challenging but that that support is always available to those around the baby.

We’re grateful to everyone at Wrexham AFC, and to Anna, Yvonne and BCUHB, for their commitment to Safeguarding and for helping to amplify the ICON message in such a visible and meaningful way.