We work with our clubs and workforce to enable them to be safe, effective and child friendly.
It is important that sports clubs and their workforce have a thorough understanding of good practice when coaching young people. Providing children with positive sporting experiences means that they will be more likely to stay involved in sport and achieve their potential. It is the responsibility of everyone to ensure that sports activities are safe and fun!
Which safeguarding training is right for you will depend upon your role within sport, as well as your safeguarding experience and knowledge. A range of training courses and learning opportunities are available to enable staff and volunteers in various roles within sport to increase their knowledge and skills in order to safeguard children effectively. Please click here to download a chart showing what training is required for which roles.
The Child Protection in Sport Unit have produced an animation to help anyone involved in delivering sport or activities to children and young people. It shows the difference between child protection and safeguarding in a sports setting and looks in more depth at how children and young people can be further protected beyond their time at training sessions. It takes a closer look at contextual safeguarding and how, by looking at where young people practice skills in their spare time, how they travel to practice or where they go afterwards, we can help to make them even safer.
Is your group, club or organisation doing everything it can to keep children and young people safe in sport? The Child Protection in Sport Unit self-assessment tool will take you through an introduction to safeguarding for independent and community sport and physical activity providers. There are 9 sections, which will help you assess what you do well and what you still need to do.
Whether your sport or physical activity club is independent and community based, run as a business or not-for-profit, or affiliated to a national governing body (NGB), using this tool will support you to safeguard the children and young people in your care.
Below are some documents that may be of use to help you maintain a safe club.
This details principles of good ethical practice for members of the sports workforce in the Tees Valley
GUIDANCE ON PHYSICAL CONTACT AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN SPORT
This document provides guidance on physical contact for all individuals involved in working with children and young people in sport. It should be used by organisations and clubs to assist in the development of physical contact procedures.
CODES OF CONDUCT FOR CLUBS, COACHES AND VOLUNTEERS
The “Codes of Behaviour Guidance” provides recommendations and good practice advice to providers of sport concerning codes of behaviour for participants, parents, coaches, officials, spectators, administrators, teachers and the media when involved in any sporting activity delivered by the relevant organisation.
MANAGING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR GUIDELINES
These guidelines aim to promote good practice and to encourage a proactive response to supporting children to manage their own behaviour. They suggest some strategies and sanctions which can be used and also identify unacceptable sanctions or interventions which must never be used by staff or volunteers.
The “Codes of Behaviour Guidance” provides recommendations and good practice advice to providers of sport concerning codes of behaviour for participants, parents, coaches, officials, spectators, administrators, teachers and the media when involved in any sporting activity delivered by the relevant organisation.
Some children may be more vulnerable to abuse and may face more barriers to getting help. This may be because of their race, gender, age, religion or disability, sexual orientation, social background and culture.
Useful Documents