YSF Safeguarding and Welfare News – April 2025

Mind’s Safe and Effective Practice Guidance 

Sport, physical activity and movement can be a valuable tool that helps us to maintain good mental health and wellbeing. 

But any activity can and should be tailored to our individual needs and work for our physical and mental health. Not against it. 

That’s why we're supporting Mind's new guidance on safe and effective practice for those delivering physical activity and mental health programmes. 

With more programmes taking place across the country – in local parks to mental health inpatient wards - the guidance will provide deliverers with the confidence to safely and effectively support the mental health of participants as well as those involved in delivery. 

Read the guidance today: mind.org.uk/safe-and-effective-practice 

Safe Use of Social Media and Online Messaging 

We’re often asked for guidance around social media and messaging by clubs who want to ensure they are communicating with children and young people safely and appropriately.  

Leeds Safeguarding Children Partnership have produced a useful poster which you can display in your premises or on your website to remind staff and volunteers about key online safety points. You can find out more and download the poster from this page. 

FREE Active Bystander Training 

Have you ever witnessed an incident taking place and wondered if you should act or intervene? In that situation you are a bystander. If you do nothing you are a passive bystander but, if you decide to do something, you become an active bystander. 

Our Active Bystander training looks at the reasons why people don’t intervene, and also gives you a ‘toolkit’ of skills to enable you to take action safely. 

This training is specifically designed around racism and raises awareness of microaggressions, however the bystander tools can be used in any situation where someone is being bullied, harassed or abused. 

We’re already delivering to Football Club Foundation Trusts, leisure centres, National Governing Bodies, and teams within the Local Authority.  

Don’t miss out! Please get in touch with Nicola to find out more or book your session. 

Dementia Action Week – 19 to 25 May 

Earlier this year we were trained to be Dementia Friends by the Alzheimer’s Society. We gained insight into issues faced by people living with dementia, and learned how to make spaces more accessible. 

Would you like to find out more about supporting participants at your club or group who have symptoms of dementia? Get in touch with your local Sport Welfare Officer and we’ll chat about how we can help. You can also become a Dementia Friend yourself by watching a video or accessing the training. Find out more here.  

Meet your Sport Welfare team

Nicola Holmes 
Senior Sport Welfare Officer 
07714 733650 
nicola.holmes@yorkshiresport.org 

Measha Harris 
Sport Welfare Officer for West Yorkshire 
07714 733636 
measha.harris@yorkshiresport.org 

Douglas Blackwood 
Sport Welfare Officer for South Yorkshire 
07702 557007 
douglas.blackwood@yorkshiresport.org