Beyond Sport Summit
Beyond Sport Summit in Johannesburg the international safeguarding children in sport working group launched a set of safeguards designed to make sport safer for children. Staff and volunteers who provide sports activities can end up being a real lifeline for children – which is why is it essential that all sports organisations have safeguarding measures in place and most importantly a team of people on-board that feel enable to take action and do so willingly. These new safeguards set out the key steps that every organisation can take – right from the recruitment stage to developing policies and procedures to ensure children’s safety well-being and protection across all sports.
International Safeguards for Children in Sport - Beyond Sport Summit Working Group Document
The eight safeguards are:
- Developing a Policy
- Procedures for Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
- Advice and Support
- Minimising Risks to Children
- Guidelines for Behaviour
- Recruiting, Training and Communicating
- Working with Partners
- Monitoring and Evaluating.
Overall the Safeguards aim to:
- Help create a safe sporting environment for children wherever they participate and at whatever level
- Provide guidance to sports providers so they can ensure organisations they work with know how to protect children
- Promote good practice for sporting organisations to follow and challenge practice that is harmful to children
- Provide clarity on safeguarding children so all those involved in sport know how to keep children safe