Safeguarding team joins national event to help build safer sporting cultures

Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Safeguarding and Welfare Team recently attended 'Connect, Share and Learn: Building Safer Cultures Together', a national event hosted at the NSPCC National Training Centre in Leicester.

The day brought together Active Partnerships’ Sport Welfare Officers and Safeguarding Leads from across England, alongside representatives from National Governing Bodies, the NSPCC, Ann Craft Trust and other key partner organisations. It provided a valuable opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and share learning on how we can continue to make sport and physical activity safer, more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Attendees heard about NSPCC Sport's rebrand from the Child Protection in Sport Unit as part of its 25th anniversary celebrations. The programme also included insightful sessions from Sport England on safeguarding within the context of its five-year strategy, as well as the Ann Craft Trust's vision for creating safe sport for all.

Nicola Holmes, YSF Senior Sport Welfare Officer, said:

"Days like these are so important. Spending time in person with sport welfare colleagues and partners from across the country gives us valuable opportunities to learn from one another, share best practice and strengthen the work we're doing locally.

The wide range of organisations represented at the event highlights the growing commitment to improving safeguarding, welfare and inclusivity across sport and physical activity."

Adam Fuller YSF Children and Young People Development Manager reflected on the event saying:

"The opportunity to connect and share national learning around making community sport safer and more inclusive is vital. Strengthening the message around safe practice across organisations at a national, regional and local level helps create stronger safeguards—not just for compliance, but to foster more welcoming, positive experiences for children and adults across Yorkshire."

For support, advice or to discuss safe practice in sport within South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, please get in touch with our Sport Welfare Team .