Safeguarding in Sport

If you run an organisation which provides sport activities for children and young people, it is essential that you have the correct safeguarding policies and procedures in place. It is also important that your staff (paid or voluntary) know what their responsibilities are with regards to the safety and welfare of children and what to do should they be concerned about a child within their care. Having the correct policies and procedures in place to safeguard children and young people shows that your organisation/ group takes safeguarding seriously.

Guidance

The following list of guidance and links will help you create a safeguarding pack for your sports club:

Safeguarding checklist – This checklist is a guide to the policies, procedures and practices you should have in place to maximise safeguarding efforts in sport.

Disclosure and Barring Service – Provides information on getting a criminal record check, the DBS update service and all the latest updates on changes to the service, including applicant only disclosures.

Updates to Disclosure and Barring Service – IMPORTANT CHANGES you need to know

Reporting concerns – If you have any concerns about a child or young person in a sports setting you should contact the Leeds Duty and Advice team: What to do if you are concerned about a child

Managing allegations – The Local Authority Designated Officer should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against children, or related to a child, or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates s/he may pose a risk to children. (Working Together 2013)

You should also contact the national governing body of sport lead safeguarding officers. See: Dealing with a concern; Child Protection in Sport Unit.

Further information and support is also available from:

• West Yorkshire Sport : Safeguarding 
• Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), Safeguarding children in sport, NSPCC
• Child Protection in Sport Unit – Safeguarding LGBTQ+ young people
• Safeguarding in Sport Training Package
• Sport England have brought leading bodies from Safeguarding together with the Martial Arts sector to launch the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts
• Info for sports parents to help keep children safe | CPSU (thecpsu.org.uk)
• Parents in sport – advice for clubs and coaches | CPSU (thecpsu.org.uk)

Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings

• Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings: code of practice
• Information for self-employed providers or volunteers running out-of-school settings
• Information on safeguarding for providers of tuition and faith groups
• Information for providers on keeping children safe in sports clubs and other extra-curricular activities
• Seven steps checklist towards running a safe club, activity or tuition class for children
• Safeguarding for providers of extra-curricular clubs, youth organisations and study groups
• Guidance for parents and carers on safeguarding children in out-of-school settings
• Information for parents choosing an after school club, community activity or tuition