Safeguarding is about creating safe environments and preventing children from experiencing harm or abuse. Whether that’s your players, the opposition players or the referee, every young person has the right to enjoy football in a safe environment.

Play Safe Weekend is back on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September 2024. This weekend is a reminder to parents/carers to make informed choices about the football setting they enrol their children in.

All affiliated clubs should have already been contacted by The FA sharing a link to order free pin badges and captain’s armbands. We also encourage parents/carers to complete the free FA Safeguarding Awareness for Parents & Carers Course. Please share your club’s work to promote the weekend on X and tag us to re-share via @EssexCountyFA.

Are you new to the role of Club Welfare Officer in youth football? Join our Safeguarding Department on Wednesday 9th October from 6:30pm for a virtual webinar introduction to the Essex County FA and the responsibilities of a Club Welfare Officer.

We will talk through safeguarding qualifications, FA DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Checks and the importance of embedding an ever-safer culture of best practice. You can register your place below. We also have further CPD (Continuing Professional Development) sessions on these topics later in the 2024/25 season… so keep your eyes peeled: Female Health in Football; Neurodiversity in Football; Online Gambling and Gaming Awareness; Safeguarding and Welfare in Open-Age Football.

Created from conversations with grassroots clubs across the country, England Football and the Essex County FA hope participants will sign up to a new ‘Grassroots Code’ and show they want to improve behaviour across every league.

The Grassroots Code is here to unite the grassroots game by driving positive ‘Standards of Behaviour’ everyone can all get behind. Locally, we also provide #PlayYourPart Matchday Environment resources which also display that good behaviour deserves everyone’s respect.