In This Section:

Guidance for Clubs
Guidance for Parents
Advice for Children and Young People
NSPCC Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport Standard

Each week more than eight million UK children take part in sport. They do so in a range of situations, from local groups to national competitions. But while most enjoy themselves in safety, a small number are at risk of abuse from individuals who choose sports work to gain access to children. Adults working in sport are also in a unique position to identify and act on concerns for children that arise outside the sporting environment.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) works with the UK Sports Councils, governing bodies and other organisations to help them minimise the risk of child abuse during sporting activities.

Central to this work is the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), which was founded in 2001 as a partnership between the NSPCC and Sport England. The Unit`s role is to:

-  Be the first point of contact for sports organisations about child protection issues and individuals after sports organisations.

-  Co-ordinate the production of child protection information and training for sports organisations

- Commission research into a range of issues relating to child protection in sport

-  Develop and promote standards for child protection procedures and training in all sports

To contact the CPSU visit http://www.thecpsu.org.uk

Many sports clubs and organisations provide activity and coaching opportunities for children and young people. In order to protect young people, the coaches and other volunteers working with them, it is important to raise people`s awareness of child protection issues and adopt recommended working practices.

Most governing bodies of sport provide information and guidance with relevance to their particular sport on child protection. It is advised that clubs adopt these policies and procedures. However, the basic principles of child protection that clubs can follow include:

- The club has a named person who takes on the role as child protection officer.

-  The club has a Child Protection Policy and adhere to the policy.

-  Coaches have attended child protection training.

-  Coaches, officials and volunteers are appropriately qualified.

-  The club carries out CRB checks on coaches, officials and volunteers that work with children and young people

-  The club has Codes of Conduct for all coaches, officials and volunteers that work with children and young people.

The further generic advice for organisations and sports club guidlines are available on the CPSU website (please click on the links to be directed to the relevant pages).

A range of resources are available to download in the safeguarding children section of our website Safeguarding Children 

Lots of information is available developed by the CSPU that will provide children advice if they feel in a venerable position - click here for more information.

South Yorkshire Sport are currently committed to gaining the NSPCC`s Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport intermediate standard - for more information please see our Accreditation web page.