You Can Champion Safeguarding During Play Safe Weekend
Everyone in Essex grassroots football is invited to take park in this year’s Play Safe Weekend on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September, celebrating the year-round campaign which amplifies the importance of safeguarding across all levels of football.
During these two days, the local game will be committing to making sure everyone knows their role in safeguarding, and what Play Safe is all about. Collectively, Essex football can make the game safer, fun and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere, every time.
Anyone’s love of football can be taken away by negative behaviour and abuse. Safeguarding prevents this from happening. A Play Safe Weekend around the start of each season is there to put safeguarding at the forefront of people’s minds. It reminds everyone to watch, listen, talk and act correctly in every football environment.
No matter what role an individual has in football, its important they know their role and responsibility in making it a safe space for all. Essex County FA Safeguarding Manager, Helen Hever is proud of how local football unites each year to celebrate Play Safe Weekend.
“We look forward to seeing Essex football celebrate Play Safe Weekend this year. Our clubs have really embraced the campaign previously, and it’s helped individuals really reflect on, get to know and reinforce their role in safeguarding. We want to make sure football is safe, fun, and enjoyable for everyone, everywhere, every time.”
When everyone knows their role, together we create an ever-safer game. Find out how to play your part in Play Safe Weekend, access digital content and learn more about the our Matchday Environment resources. You can also interact with @EssexCountyFA on X and search for the 'EssexFootball' page on Facebook.
YOU CAN CHAMPION SAFEGUARDING DURING PLAY SAFE WEEKEND
Activities in Essex on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September
Safeguarding Awareness for Parents & Carers Course
Safeguarding is about creating safe environments and preventing children from experiencing harm or abuse. Put simply, safeguarding refers to measures we take to protect children - and to keep them safe and well. Whether that’s your kids, the opposing players or even the referee, every young person has the right to enjoy football.
This short course is designed to help you make an informed choice about the football setting you enrol your child into. It starts by explaining the importance of safeguarding in football and the child-centred approach the game takes. It will then guide you through questions you should ask to ensure the club or venue where your children play football has the correct safeguarding policies, people and practices in place. Find out more about the course by following this link.
Recognition for Safeguarding Work at the NSPCC Awards
The Play Safe initiative was recently recognised by FA partner the NSPCC at their annual Corporate Impact Awards. The FA were awarded in the ‘Taking a Stand’ category, which recognises organisations who have tackled issues which are difficult to confront, doing so in a way which influences and promotes that work across the wider society to effect change.
Not only is Play Safe endorsed by the NSPCC, it is also supported across every level of English football, including: Premier League, English Football League, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, National League. Additionally, Play Safe aligns closely with our #PlayYourPart Matchday Environment resources.
