Welfare news and the latest topical information was shared with Club and League Welfare Officers when the Essex County FA Safeguarding Conference returned to the calendar on Wednesday 24th April at Channels in Little Waltham, Chelmsford.

We were excited to welcome the return of the conference following a three-year break, with positive feedback that it provided an excellent opportunity to advise on the latest key messages within safeguarding in football. The conference was also a chance to recognise the tremendous efforts of the volunteer Welfare Officer workforce.

Essex County FA’s Youth Council had members present, providing a younger-person’s perspective. The ever-engaging and informative ‘2 Johns’ from eSafety Training were also key speakers, sharing important insights. The conference offered an update on safeguarding for 2024 and, heading into the yearly affiliation process, new requirements for 16 and 17-year-olds playing in open-age football.

Post-Covid-19, mental health has become an increasingly major topic for children and young people, and football is vital to provide an environment where everyday anxieties can be paused for a short time to play sport with friends. In support of this, the County FA are working alongside Kooth, an independent agency providing mental health support. The conference covered this important topic, as well as the matchday environment.

Essex County FA Safeguarding Manager, Helen Hever, was delighted to meet Welfare Officers in-person, explaining: “What a fantastic evening! We were joined by amazing Welfare Officers, Kooth and The 2 Johns. It was a chance to meet and catch-up with volunteers and appreciate the valuable work they do, as well as learning about new topics in the safeguarding arena.”

Follow this link to find out more about safeguarding in grassroots Essex football. You can also interact with the Essex County FA via the @EssexCountyFA account on Twitter/X and by searching for the ‘EssexFootball’ page on Facebook.