The Irish FA and the NSPCC is calling on sports and activity clubs, teams, parents and carers across the UK to take part in Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport week.
Part of a year-round safeguarding campaign, this year’s week of action – led by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) – takes place between October 7 and 11.
Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport is designed to raise awareness of safeguarding in sports and activity clubs and create safer sporting environments for children across the country.
Celebrities and clubs backing this year’s campaign include Alan Shearer, Olympic basketballer and star of BBC’s The Traitors, Fay Greaves, Olympic weightlifter Chloe Whylie, and Angela Platt, former Northern Ireland Women’s Football International goalkeeper and current Director of Women’s Football at the Irish FA.
The aim of this year’s campaign is to focus on the importance of building stronger, more inclusive communities around sporting and activity clubs, encouraging parents and carers to look out for not just the young people taking part, but their families too, helping anyone who needs support to get it sooner.
The top concerns reported to the NSPCC’s Helpline in 2023/24 by adults relating to a sports setting were sexual abuse and exploitation and emotional abuse.
Angela Platt, Director of Women’s Football, Irish FA, said: “Keeping your child safe in sport campaign is a fantastic initiative from the NSPCC and we, at the Irish FA are delighted to offer our support.
“We’ve encouraged our clubs to host a Team Huddle to build on the good relationships within clubs and make sure parents and carers can support their children on their sporting journey and address any concerns they may have.
“We also know the challenges faced by our young players involved in our international programmes. We try to work alongside parents and carers to raise awareness on how they can support their child’s development and to make sure that, if they have any concerns, we can either address those or access any necessary support.”
The NSPCC’s CEO, Sir Peter Wanless, said: “By participating in this year’s campaign, clubs are showing that they are serious about creating a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable sporting environment for young people.
“Each year, Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week gets stronger, and it provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can all work together to ensure that every child can participate in sport free from harm.”
Michelle North, Head of the CPSU, continued: “Safeguarding children in sport is a shared responsibility. This campaign gives us the opportunity to come together as a community to ensure that the safety and well-being of young athletes are always our top priority.
“By getting involved in this initiative, sports clubs, coaches, and parents can help create a culture where safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of the sporting experience.”
Through the Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign, the CPSU aims to empower parents and carers to feel confident in their role in keeping children safe while helping clubs and teams understand how they can foster a protective and inclusive environment.
As part of this initiative, clubs, coaches, and parents are being urged to host a “Team Huddle” event — a fun and informal gathering that brings together everyone involved in the sporting community to raise awareness and create meaningful discussions around safeguarding.
A Team Huddle can be part of an existing event, such as a club meeting, or it can be its own standalone event designed to bring everyone together. Free Team Huddle Event Packs are available from the CPSU website which include a variety of resources to help spark conversations about safeguarding.
Michelle North added: “Team Huddles are a brilliant way to bring people together, providing an opportunity for parents, coaches, and club leaders to connect in a relaxed environment.
“But they also serve an important purpose. These events open the door to vital conversations about safeguarding, giving everyone involved a chance to reflect on their role in keeping children safe in sport.”
Any clubs taking part in Team Huddles can share their experiences on social media using the hashtag #SafeinSport and help spread the word about the importance of safeguarding practices and celebrate the efforts being made at the grassroots level to protect young athletes.
