West Ham United’s Academy of Football is proud to support the Play Safe Weekend, taking place over 27-28 September 2025.
The national campaign highlights the importance of safeguarding in football. Within the Academy, Play Safe carries particular resonance, encouraging adults to create open conversations, ask questions and actively listen to children, putting safeguarding at the forefront of people’s minds and reminding everyone to watch, listen, talk, and how to act in every football environment.
This year’s theme, 'Small Talk Is Bigger Than You Think', focuses on creating spaces where children and young people feel empowered to speak and confident they will be heard.
As part of the campaign, Academy staff trialled ‘Bib Voting’, a fun, non-verbal activity that allows players to safely share their experiences while building confidence in giving feedback.
“At the Academy we pride ourselves on how we engage with player voice and how we collect and act on feedback from our young players,” said West Ham's Academy Education Manager, Jamie Bather.
“Linking Play Safe with our workshops is essentially about encouraging our young people to express their thoughts on how we can improve. Whether that’s the training environment or wider Academy life, we want to demonstrate that we listen and, where possible, act on what they share.”
Players are invited to give feedback throughout the year, including via take-home forms, ensuring they always have a channel to put forward their views.
“If we can make changes based on what they tell us, it shows their opinions matter and helps us create the best environment for them to thrive,” Bather added.
Safeguarding is about ensuring no one’s love of football is damaged by negative behaviour or abuse.
Academy Player Care Officer Catherine Stidwill explained: “It’s good for younger players to have early exposure to what safeguarding means. They need to know who is responsible and how to use that knowledge not just in football, but also at school and in other settings.
“On or off the pitch, players should always feel safe. These activities show them how to support their peers and where to go if they have a concern.”
During Play Safe Weekend, the Academy reaffirms its commitment to providing a safe, supportive environment for players and their families, backed by clear safeguarding signposting so every child feels empowered to speak up.
For more information on the 2025 Play Safe Weekend, please click HERE.
