Our aim is to improve the quality of life for all through cultural and sporting activities, support the pursuit of excellence, and champion the tourism, creative and leisure industries.
Sport plays a positive role in the lives of many children and
young people.
As well as the obvious health benefits, they can also gain
important social and life skills. That is why it is important that everyone who
provides sport does as much as possible to create and maintain an enjoyable and
safe environment.
As a parent or carer you play a very important role in
protecting your child and helping them get the best from sport. The information
you give them
and the example you set can provide them with the knowledge and
confidence needed to deal with potentially threatening or abusive situations.
It is also important for you to check how a sports club or activity is run.
This is your responsibility. Even though the organisation may seem
professional, you should not make any assumptions about the way the club or
activity is run until you have checked it yourself.
This leaflet gives advice to help you ask the right questions
about important child protection measures that the sports providers should have
in place, wherever and whatever your child participates in.
If you’re concerned about the safety of a child, please contact
the free NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000, which offers a
confidential advice service.
Gerry Sutcliffe and Kevin Brennan
In the UK many millions of children enjoy taking part in sport
every week.
We know that parents and carers appreciate how important such
participation
is for a child’s health and development. We want to ensure that
all children
have the best possible experience. That’s why it’s important
that sport takes place in an environment where children are safe from the
possibility of any form of ill-treatment.
We hope this leaflet will help you to know what to look for and what to
ask when you enrol your child in any sports activity.
All organisations providing sports for children should welcome
your questions about how they will keep your child safe. Sports clubs have specific responsibilities
to make sure that their coaches and other staff are safe to work with children.
Although most coaches want to work with children for the right reasons, and
ill-treatment of children by sports coaches is very rare, clubs still need to
check the background of people they employ. Clubs should be able to provide you
with confirmation that staff and volunteers are suitable and have undergone the
right checks.
With this leaflet we want to help parents and carers to make the
right decision about where your child takes part in sport, and how to ensure
their safety.
We hope you find the series of questions helpful.
Gerry Sutcliffe
Minister for Sport
Kevin Brennan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young
People and Families
At the NSPCC we believe all children should be able to enjoy
sport in a safe
environment. The information in this leaflet will help you
understand what
to look for if you think there may be a problem – and what questions to ask.
This is not only for the sake of your child’s well-being and
safety, but also for your own peace of mind.
Dame Mary Marsh
NSPCC Director and Chief Executive
When choosing from the many sports activities available in local
communities there are a number of questions you should ask and things you
should look for in relation to the safety of your child. This includes the
commitment of the
club to good practice and child protection.
You could ask the following questions:
A good club will welcome questions about its activities and the
safety of its environment. It will have a child protection policy and you
should be told what to do if your child has any concerns. Ideally, there should
be a club welfare officer who will answer any questions you might have.
Criminal Records Bureau check
You need to be sure that the staff and volunteers who will be
working with your child are suitable. Ask if the club undertakes enhanced level
CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks on coaches and helpers.
Training and education
Appropriate training and education ensures that everyone working
with children in sport is aware of how to make the activities enjoyable for
them. Ask if coaches and volunteers have undertaken training through a
recognised Sport National Governing Body, or achieved a formal qualification in
the sport.
Events away from home
Ask about what arrangements the club makes to ensure children
are kept safe when they take part in competitions or events away from home.
Club accreditation
Find out whether the club has an accreditation award such as
Clubmark or National Governing Body equivalent. This shows that it has achieved
a recognised minimum standard that ensures it provides a good
experience for children.
Promoting your child’s welfare
Ask about how the club safeguards and promotes the welfare of
children. This can include a register at the beginning and end of sessions;
first aid provision; the number of children looked after per coach/trainer;
arrangements for transporting them to and from events; and signing children in
and out.
A good club will welcome questions about their activities and
the safety
of their environment
Things to
watch out for
The following may alert you to
any inappropriate situations that may be affecting your child:
-
Activities where parents
are discouraged from staying to watch or from becoming involved.
-
Individuals who take
charge and operate independently of organisational guidelines.
-
Individuals who show
favouritism or personally reward specific children.
-
Encouragement of
inappropriate physical contact.
-
Poor communication and
negative responses to questions about safeguards for your child.
-
A “win at all costs”
attitude towards the sport or activity.
-
Children who drop out or
stop going for no apparent reason.
-
Invitations for children
to spend time alone with staff or volunteers (or even to visit their home).
-
If you feel any of the
above may be happening, contact the sports organisation immediately and ask
questions.
Helping your child
Of course you want your child
to enjoy their sporting activities. While you don’t want to put them off
getting involved, it is important that you teach them what to do if they feel
they are being badly treated by someone who is supposed to be coaching or
looking after them.
If your child is affected by
such behaviour you may notice them appearing worried or not wanting to take
part in their sport. Talk to them, but understand that if they are being badly
treated, it may be difficult for them to open up immediately. Remember to tell
them it is not their fault.
Your child may be upset or
frightened by witnessing bad behaviour by a member of staff towards one of
their friends. You can help by making sure that the matter is taken forward.
You can also let them know that their friend should tell an adult they trust as
soon as possible. This could be:
-
A parent or guardian, or
someone else in their family
-
Another member of staff
at the sports club
-
A teacher or school
counsellor
-
Their doctor or school
nurse
-
Another adult they may
trust or feel comfortable with
-
ChildLine, the free
helpline for children and young people in the UK. Children and young people can
call on 0800 1111 to talk about any problem
Examples & frequently asked questions
“I have asked to see the
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check for my child’s coach but have been told I
can’t. How can I be sure that the club
have carried out these checks?”
Don’t worry – There are very clear guidelines from the CRB
about who can have access to a CRB disclosure certificate and you are not
allowed to see it. However, the club will have confirmation from its governing
body that the check has been undertaken, and will have a record that there are
no concerns.
Many clubs have accreditation
programmes such as Clubmark, Swim 21, Gym mark or the FA Charter mark. As part
of the accreditation they will have had to show that they have taken all necessary
steps to make sure all volunteers are suitable to work with children. If for
any reason you have concerns, tell the welfare officer at the club or national
governing body. Contact details for national governing bodies can be found at
the following website:
www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/resource_ul.htm#governing
“My child has been asked to
take part in a competition away from home
but I can’t find any details
about what arrangements have been made.”
A good club will have clear
guidance for those organising trips and for children and their parents/carers
that clarify arrangements to ensure your child’s welfare is a priority. If you
have any concerns speak to the organiser.
A good club should always
encourage parents to be part of their child’s
sporting activities and this
includes watching training sessions
“My child’s coach has suggested
some additional one to one coaching
sessions to help development. I
don’t know if we should accept.”
One to one coaching in
isolation, with very few exceptions, is not considered
to be good practice. If the
coach has suggested this, ask for some more information and ask for the club’s
welfare officer to be involved in the discussion.
“The club won’t allow us to
watch the training sessions and have told
us this is because we will put
the children off.”
A good club should always
encourage parents to be part of their child’s sports and this includes watching
training sessions. However, there are some activities, particularly those using
specialist equipment, where distractions can cause difficulties. There are also
occasions where a minority of parents interfere with the coaching. Ask the club
what safe arrangements are available for viewing – and if it has a code of
conduct for parents.
Children should enjoy their
sport.
It is positive that the child
wants to continue playing sport, and this should be encouraged
“I arrived to pick up my child
from the session and the coach said they
had left with a friend. Should
children be allowed to leave sessions?”
The club and coach are
responsible for the supervision of your child during
the session and should be clear
about guidelines for collecting children from activities. Normal practice is
that children, particularly under nine, will always be collected by parents
unless alternative arrangements have been made by you and the club has been
informed.
“My child’s photo and some of their details are on the club website but we were not asked for permission. Can a club do this without our permission?”
No, a good club should always
ask for your permission to put images or information about your child on its
website. Club websites do provide a good way of promoting and celebrating young
people’s involvement and success in sport. However care needs to be taken about
the details that are included.
“I find it difficult to get
information from the club about the training
sessions and how the teams are
picked.”
Clubs should operate in a fair
and open manner. It is important that children and parents understand both what
is expected of them and what they can expect of the club. Clubs should be happy
to answer any questions to show how activities will be provided in a way that
makes all children feel valued
and able to participate to the
best of their ability.
“My child is being weighed at
every training session and is becoming
worried about how much they
eat.”
Monitoring a child’s weight at
every training session is not appropriate or necessary. It can create a range
of problems for children and young people, including medical ones. For those
sports where weight is an element of competition, guidance should be available
from the governing body about
how and when weight should be
monitored. Feel free to speak to the club welfare officer if you have any
concerns.
“My child has suddenly started
saying they don’t want to continue with the club and asked if we can find
somewhere else to play.”
Talk to your child and try to
find out more, as there could be many reasons
for this. Also talk to other
parents to see if their children are expressing similar concerns. If the cause
is linked to the behaviour of someone in the club it is important to report
this to the club welfare officer.
Suggest that the club start an
anti-bullying policy that can be promoted through its activities
“My child has been receiving
text messages from their coach, and when
I asked they said all the squad
do.”
Coaches should not be
contacting your child independently without your knowledge and consent. While
there may be occasions when it is necessary
for a coach to contact a young
person at short notice the parent should always be informed. Ask your child if
they are worried about any of the texts and ask to see them. If you are
concerned in any way speak to the club welfare officer.
“I’ve complained to the club
secretary about the bullying my child has experienced in the club changing
rooms. I have been told I am over sensitive and it’s normal for children to
behave in this way.”
It is important that you do not
have your concerns dismissed. Children should
be appropriately supervised in
changing areas. Speak directly to the club welfare officer or contact your
sports national governing body for guidance. Suggest that the club start an
anti-bullying policy that can be promoted through its activities.
For more information about
choosing
a club for your child go to:
Clubmark website: www
.clubmark.org.uk
CPSU website:
www.thecpsu.org.uk
If you have concerns go to:
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111
For information on the
governing bodies of sport please visit:
www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/resource_ul.htm#governing
For more information about
safeguarding your children please visit:
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/safeguarding
For information about the
Criminal Records Bureau please visit:
www.crb.gov.uk
We can also provide documents
to meet the specific requirements of people with disabilities.
Please call 020 7211 6200 or
email enquiries@culture.gov.uk
Department for Culture, Media
and Sport
©Crown Copyright
July 2007 pp1012