With the new school term well underway and families readjusting to routines after the summer holidays, some young people will be looking to take part in new challenges and activities.
Following England’s victory at the Women’s EUROs earlier this summer and the Women’s Rugby World Cup drawing more attention than ever, plenty of children are likely to feel inspired to try out new sports and join local clubs.
Sports and activity clubs provide lots of benefits for children and young people. They offer opportunities to build friendships and to stay active. However, it’s understandable that some parents may have concerns about leaving their children in the care of others at clubs.
Recorded concerns
Last year, the NSPCC Helpline received 623 contacts from adults across the UK who had concerns about a child’s welfare in a sports setting, as well as 135 contacts from sports professionals who were concerned about a child in their group.
The most common concerns were about sexual abuse or exploitation, emotional abuse and physical abuse.
A parent/carer told the NSPCC Helpline: “My 14-year-old daughter has told me about a dance teacher at her school who has been engaging in relationships with other pupils that I believe are inappropriate. Apparently, this teacher communicates with some of the girls over text and meets up with them outside of class.”
A rugby coach who trains under-12s told the Helpline: “Tonight, I witnessed a parent push their child twice really hard in the chest. They then shouted at him aggressively, enough to make him cry.
“Even before this incident, this boy was silent throughout training which is not like him. He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. As a person of trust, I have a duty of care to report this. I hope you can help.”
Child Protection in Sport
The NSPCC founded its Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), to help sports organisations create safe and inclusive environments so that all children can enjoy and thrive in sport and physical activity. Together, they run the year-round Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign to raise awareness of safeguarding children in sports settings and encourage positive behaviour by parents and carers from the sidelines.
As always, the campaign will have a week of action in early October (OCT 6-12), which encourages parents and carers to watch a short online video about the importance of supporting children in sport. New resources also offer helpful questions to ask young people about their experiences, and information for sports clubs across the country to encourage and inspire positive behaviour.
Rachael Barker, Head of the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, said: “As someone who grew up being part of several sports clubs, I know how valuable they are for building friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging. However, I also recognise that some parents may have safeguarding concerns.
“That’s why the work of the Child Protection in Sport Unit is so important. They are there to support parents in making informed choices and to ensure sports clubs adhere to safeguarding procedures so that every child can enjoy sport in a safe, positive, and supportive setting.”
Tips for parents choosing a new club
It’s important to know that a well-run club should welcome your questions about their activities and policies, so the CPSU created a checklist to help guide parents on what they should look for when choosing or renewing membership with a sports club for their child.
- Is there a designated individual to help with concerns? Every organisation should have a designated welfare officer available for parents, caregivers, staff, volunteers, or children to discuss any worries.
- Are they affiliated to a recognised national governing body (NGB)? If so, this is evidence the club or organisation must meet national standards so the sport remains safe, fair and enjoyable for anyone who takes part. If they are not part of a recognised NGB, they may be overseen by the local authority or another overarching national body. Not all clubs are, so it’s important to check.
- Does the club have a safeguarding policy? This should include a clear procedure for dealing with concerns, no matter how small, that someone may have acted in a way that is inappropriate or if there is a risk of abuse. There should also be a named and contactable person responsible for the implementation of the policy.
- What safeguarding training do the staff and volunteers have? Examples of safeguarding training includes those provided by the CPSU and NSPCC Learning, and other specialised training providers.
- Have the coaches/officials been recruited through the relevant Safer Recruitment procedures? Those working with young people should have a clear job description, appropriate references, and a criminal records check, otherwise known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Is there a complaints procedure and a written code of behaviour? These should be in place to deal with complaints or concerns, and to establish what is required of staff, volunteers and participants.
- What guidelines do they have in place for relationships and boundaries? The club should have clear guidelines about appropriate relationships and social activities between staff, volunteers, participating young people, and parents.
To find out more about Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport, go to thecpsu.org.uk/keepingyourchildsafeinsport, and parents can take part in a free e-learning course at any time at thecpsu.org.uk/parents
Anyone with concerns about a child can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk