No one involved in sport & physical activity, whether they’re a volunteer, participant, spectator, or an elite athlete, should ever have to worry about abuse or harassment.
Sport England
Welcome to our Safeguarding in Sport & Physical Activity hub, dedicated to promoting the safety well- being & protection of everyone involved in sport & physical activity, from young children to adults at risk. Safeguarding is at the heart of creating positive, inclusive environments where participants can thrive, free from harm, abuse or neglect. Whether you’re a coach, volunteer, parent or participant, safeguarding ensures that everyone can enjoy sport in a safe and supportive atmosphere.
On this site, you’ll find essential resources, guidelines & information to help protect and promote the welfare of all individuals within the sport & physical activity sector. Let’s work together to build a safer, stronger sporting community.
Effective safeguarding is about preventing harm before it happens by identifying risks and ensuring that appropriate measures are in place. This includes developing robust safeguarding policies, conducting background checks for staff & volunteers, providing mandatory training on recognising and responding to signs of abuse, and creating clear reporting mechanisms for any concerns.
All individuals involved, from coaches, volunteers, participants and parents, must be aware of these policies as well as their roles in maintaining a safe environment.
This ensures a culture of safety, inclusion and respect, fostering personal growth, healthy development and a lifelong love for sport & physical activity.
Our Safeguarding Policies
We believe everyone should be able to enjoy being active in a safe and welcoming environment. Our safeguarding policies are designed to protect children, young people and adults at risk, helping to ensure their wellbeing is always put first. By following clear procedures and promoting good practice, we work to create positive experiences for everyone involved in our programmes and events.
Many funding applications require up-to-date safeguarding policies. This guide has been developed following our work with more than 100 clubs and organisations to create new or improve existing safeguarding policies, helping them meet best practice and funding requirements. If your policy needs updating, or you don’t yet have one, explore our guide and contact Wayne and Marianne, our Sport Welfare Leads for free 1:1 support.
Our Safeguarding Training & Development Offer
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and having the right knowledge and confidence is key to creating safe, inclusive and positive environments. Our free safeguarding and welfare training programme has been developed to support sports clubs, physical activity providers, volunteers, coaches and committee members in strengthening their understanding and practice. From safeguarding fundamentals to wellbeing, adult safeguarding and creating a positive culture, our range of practical and engaging sessions is designed to meet the needs of grassroots sport and physical activity across Essex.
Explore our training offer in the brochure below and discover how we can support you, your club or organisation.
