A new online self-assessment and action planning tool has been launched to help sports clubs and other organisations ensure they are providing a safe environment for children and young people in sport.
Developed by sportscotland, in partnership with Children 1st, the tool will ensure the continued support of sports organisations to assess what they are currently doing to keep children safe in sport. The tool will also support users to draw up a plan of action for areas they can develop further. These will include links to additional resources and advice on additional steps that can be taken to support children and young people’s wellbeing and to create an even safer sporting environment for all.
Safeguarding standards
The Standards for Children Wellbeing & Protection in Sport (Standards) were created to promote a safe and child centred culture within all SGB’s and community clubs. The Standards provide a framework for all sports organisations, clubs and community groups to work towards creating a safe and positive environment for children and young people to take part in sport.
There are eight standards in total, each with their own criteria of good practice, which provides a benchmark in helping to ensure the safety of young people. sportscotland and Children 1st have been working in partnership for many years and in turn working directly with Scottish Governing Bodies (SGBs) and sports clubs to support a range of child wellbeing and protection initiatives. This includes the development of the new online tool. Karen Burnett, the Lead Safeguarding Officer at Scottish Rugby said;
“Along with other governing bodies we meet regularly with the Child Wellbeing & Protection in Sport Service of Children 1st to discuss safeguarding."
"When we first learned about the tool, we were keen to be involved. It gave us the opportunity to test the self-assessment tool and provide feedback through its development process.”
The recently launched tool will allow users to self-assess their own performance against the safeguarding Standards described above. The programme will then create an action plan which can be put in place to ensure that all Standards are being met and that every sporting environment is as safe for children and young people as possible.
Volunteers from governing bodies and clubs across the country have played a key role in supporting the development of the tool and ensuring it is as intuitive and simple to use as possible.
The Standards and the Tool are applicable and available to all sports organisations who want to create a positive and safe culture for children and young people and want to specify which child wellbeing and protection policies and procedures organisations should have in place. This is something that many SGBs are looking forward to, Karen Burnett, added:
“When we introduce the tool to our clubs, we believe it will be a positive addition to the safeguarding measures and support we already have in place."
"Clubs will be able to measure their progress against the Standards for Wellbeing & Protection in Sport.”
For more information and to access the tool, please see here.
Find out more
- About safeguarding in sport
- About Children 1st
