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The need for a recognised system of assessing the commitment of sports organisations to safeguarding children has been recognised by all the Home Nations and each have embraced standards appropriate to the legislation and structure in each country. Although the structure of the standards assessment process may differ, the principles are consistent.
The standards provide a framework for all those involved in sport to help them create a safe sporting environment for children and young people and protect them from harm. The standards also seek to provide a benchmark to help those involved in sport make informed decisions, promote good practice and challenge practice that is harmful to children.
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit is committed to advising and supporting sports organisations in this important work and we hope these standards will provide them with the confidence to safeguard children in their care. On these pages you can view the standards in:
England
Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport (PDF, 5.43MB)
The need for standards for sports organisations was originally identified in the 2000 National Action Plan for Child Protection in Sport. Initial work was carried out by Sport England Governing Body Services, including consultation with stakeholder groups. This work was then taken forward and built on by the Sport Task Force on Policy and Standards.
The Task Force is co-ordinated by the CPSU. The first version of the standards were approved by NSPCC, Sport England and the Sports Minister in September 2002, and published in February 2003. This second edition of the standards incorporates an additional tenth standard. Standard 10 reflects the changes within sport and the growing role some sports organisations have in influencing the delivery of local sports. Through this sport organisations have the opportunity to encourage and promote the adoption and implementation of measures to safeguard children by partner organisations.
Sport England has made working towards achieving the standards a condition of grant aid and they are mandatory for English governing bodies and County Sport Partnerships. The ten areas covered are:
Standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport gives full details of the standards for England, including their purpose, principles, use, and other relevant information resources.
Northern IrelandGetting it right: standards of good practice for child protection (PDF)
Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) recognises its responsibility in protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse. Their commitment to ensuring safeguarding standards are incorporated into any assessment of a Sports Governing Body receiving funding is based on the recognition that all children and vulnerable adults have the right to protection from abuse regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religious belief, nationality, sexual orientation or disability. It is also recognised that the needs of children with disabilities and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.
Sport Northern Ireland has made working towards achieving the standards a condition of grant aid and they are mandatory for NI based governing bodies.
The CPSU NI have worked as part of a steering group sponsored by the DHSSPS and coordinated by the Volunteer Development Agency to develop agreed standards for safeguarding in Northern Ireland for the voluntary sector.
Getting it right: standards of good practice for child protection (PDF) are the standards endorsed by the DHSSPS as the best practice for the voluntary sector. As an organisation working with children/young people you will want to provide the best care for them, support your staff and volunteers through appropriate procedures and guidelines and reassure parents that your organisation is child centred. Getting It Right is intended to help you to meet recognised and agreed minimum standards for child protection and will guide you towards improving your practice where necessary.
There are six standards within Getting It Right :
A framework for safeguarding and protecting children and young people involved in sport in Wales.
This framework has been developed in order to help safeguard and protect children and young people in sport. The framework is based on current good practice and is informed by legislation and guidance; evidence from research; and experience of what works, drawing from the field of safeguarding and from sport.
When implemented fully the framework should provide parents with increased confidence and peace of mind. Most important of all, they should help create safer environments for children, where they can enjoy and get the very best from their involvement in sport in Wales.
Purpose of standards:
Principles:
Use and application of the standards
This is an overarching framework, which is intended to be relevant to all sports at all levels. They apply to sporting activity that takes place in an organised setting.
Umbrella, funding and controlling bodies may choose to use them for a variety of purposes, for example, to raise standards, to assist in decision making or for enforcement purposes.
The safeguarding framework
The framework consists of five areas of action that a sports organisation should be able to demonstrate it undertakes at all levels of its sport. Each of these actions will be promoted and supported through effective communication with all those benefiting from the safeguarding activities of the sports organisation:
For further information please contact the Child Protection in Sport Unit Wales. Telephone 029 20 267000 or email cpsuwales@nspcc.org.uk.
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Scotland2006 Accord for the Protection of Children in Scottish Sport (PDF)
Since the launch of Children and Young People - Safe and Secure in Sport (National Action Plan, 2002) many sports organisations have taken action to fulfil their responsibility to keep children safe in and through sport. Whilst much has been achieved, changes in legislation and national guidance, and the outcomes of the Scottish Executive's Child Protection Reform Programme have introduced new challenges for all organisations which provide services to children and their families, including sport.
The 2006 Accord for the Protection of Children in Scottish Sport (PDF) presents a support framework to help organisations work towards recommended good practice in protecting children and to fulfil responsibilities introduced as part of the Reform Programme.
The Child Protection in Sport Steering Group encourage all organisations to sign up to the 2006 Accord. Those who wish to sign up should in the first instance contact the Child Protection in Sport Service. It is now a requirement of sportscotland investment that all lottery funded Scottish Governing Bodies sign up to the 2006 Accord.
Within 12 months of signing up, organisations are encouraged to develop, formally adopt and publish an action plan which sets out how they intend to achieve each of the outcomes, with clear and realistic timescales for completion. For some organisations, these may already be reflected within, or can be added to existing strategic plans for example, local authorities’ Children’s Services Plans or Child Protection Committee Business Plans.
To help organisations get started, CHILDREN 1ST and sportscotland have produced a list of suggested tasks to help deliver on each of the areas contained in the 2006 Accord:
For further information please contact Child Protection in Sport Service. Visit www.childprotectioninsport.org.uk
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Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered charity number 216401. NSPCC, charity registered in Scotland, charity number SC037717.