
YSF Safeguarding and Welfare News – July 2025
Welcome to our Monthly newsletter.
Please pass it on to your Club Welfare Officer and safeguarding staff.
Sport Welfare OfficersSelf-Assessment and AuditsSafeguarding Partners and Other ContactsTraining
The school summer holidays have now begun and for some children this will mean an increase in their participation in sport and physical activity. Some clubs and groups will be putting on additional summer camps or HAF (holiday activities and food) sessions, and seeing child participants on a more frequent basis.
As a member of staff or volunteer at a sport or activity this may mean that, while they are away from school, you are the only professional involved in a child’s life. Do children who attend your club know who to go to for support, and do your staff know what to do if a child discloses a worry? If you need further guidance on this please get in touch.
You can find useful helplines and websites, including the number of your local duty social care, on this webpage

Sharing Good Practice – Trauma Informed Sports Coaching
Leeds LDM Basketball began its journey to becoming trauma informed three years ago when a new volunteer started with experience in this area. LDM were keen to explore how being trauma informed could enhance what they already do for participants. It is now one of their three core priorities.
But what does that mean?
Over 50% of UK youths are experiencing, or have experienced, trauma, with many not getting the support they need to recover, and this can be a barrier to their ability to engage and thrive. Becoming trauma informed not only makes it easier for participants to join in and do well, it can give them the support they need and deserve while they are having fun.

We know safeguarding is important but sometimes we can accidently re-traumatise a youth if we do not understand how trauma affects them and their responses. Becoming trauma informed involves every aspect of the organisation, and how we treat everyone all the time, not just what we do in a few situations. It also involves the way we coach and run sessions; done in the right way the same principles that help everyone do better can also help youths recover from the impact of trauma in a way they may find easier than talking.
There has been a lot to learn and being trauma informed involves constantly learning and improving – just as we do with sport, but it is worth it. Having seen how powerful this approach has been we are currently applying for funding to extend it further and evaluate the impact.
If you want to learn more please feel free to contact Kathryn on kathryn.hodgson@letsdomore.org.uk
On Safe Sport Day, come and join the YSF Sport Welfare Officer team - Douglas, Measha and Nicola - to find out how they can support your club or activity with all things safeguarding, wellbeing and welfare.
The session will be informal and you'll have the opportunity to have a chat and ask questions. It will take place via Microsoft Teams at 12pm on Friday 8 August.

Sun Safety Training and Resources
With skin cancer cases rising and outdoor sport thriving, it’s vital that communities understand how, why and when to sun protect. Sunguarding is a welfare issue — and sunburn can become a reputational issue.
These statistics, taken from the Melanoma Fund’s recent Sunguarding survey speak for themselves. Did you know:
- 72% of coaches and outdoor activity leaders have never received sun safety training
- Only 16% of organisations have a sun protection policy
- Just 4% believe children truly understand the importance of sun safety
- Over two-thirds have reported sun or heat-related incidents, including cancelled sessions, sunburned children and heat exhaustion

The Melanoma Fund’s Sunguarding Course is a free two-hour, online module, providing 3 CIMPSA CPD points.
Other resources include:
· Sunguarding Sport - a downloadable toolkit for clubs, coaches, and outdoor leaders
· Outdoor Kids Sun Safety Code - an accredited campaign for all who work with KS2 children.
All materials are designed to make sun safety easy and impactful across all types of outdoor activity.
In collaboration with the Ann Craft Trust and CPSU, Buddle have created a new animated video which explores the key principles of safeguarding, including:
- the importance of putting safeguarding at the heart of an organisation’s operations
- the five shared principles of safeguarding
- the differences between safeguarding children and adults
- how to appropriately and effectively deal with a safeguarding concern.
You can watch the video here.
Buddle have also updated their welfare officer role description, which outlines the desired qualities, skills and the main tasks of a welfare officer.

Training and Events
Safer Recruitment and DBS checks
· Tuesday 19 August, 6.30pm
· Free of charge
· Online
Join our Sport Welfare colleagues, Laura and Mary, for an informative session on the myths, legends and red flags around DBS checks and safer recruitment.
Child Exploitation for Sports Clubs
· Tuesday 30 September, 6.30pm
· Free of charge
· Online
The team from the Children’s Society will speak about working together to spot the signs of child exploitation. The Ivison Trust will talk about supporting children and families affected by exploitation.
Sport Welfare Connect
· Monday 6 October, 6pm
· Free of charge
· Online
Our next quarterly network meeting will cover supporting participants with neurodiversity and special educational needs.

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
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