All of English football, including in Essex, will be celebrating Play Safe Weekend this Saturday and Sunday (28th and 29th September), highlighting The FA’s countrywide campaign to focus attention on the vital importance of safeguarding across the national game.

The Play Safe campaign is also endorsed by the NSPCC and it will be supported across every level of English football, including the grassroots game and: Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship, National League.

This year’s Play Safe campaign focuses on the safeguarding role that everyone can play - coaches, players, parents/carers, spectators or volunteers - to keep children and young people safe, no matter what the football setting. To support the campaign, a series of ‘Know Your Role’ videos have been launched across England Football channels, highlighting the different roles in football and everyone’s responsibility in safeguarding.

On the pitch, grassroots youth team captains will be wearing Play Safe armbands and youth team coaches wearing Play Safe pin badges up and down the country in support, including in Essex. As part of this year’s Play Safe campaign, The FA are, once again, promoting the free England Football Learning online Safeguarding Awareness Course for Parents & Carers to raise awareness around safeguarding and how to report any concerns.

The free course provides important information which guides parents and carers through questions they should ask to ensure the club or venue where their children play football has the correct safeguarding policies, people and practices in place.

Essex County FA Safeguarding Manager, Helen Hever is proud of how local football unites each year to celebrate Play Safe Weekend: “Essex 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 our Matchday Environment resources. You can also interact with @EssexCountyFA on X and search for the 'EssexFootball' page on Facebook.