YSF Safeguarding and Welfare News - July 2026

Welcome to our July newsletter

After spending some time away on secondment over the past year, Douglas is back with us from mid-August. He’ll be reconnecting with clubs and groups across South Yorkshire, so keep an eye out for an email from him. If you’d like to get booked in for a chat before his diary fills up, feel free to get in touch with him now.

If you need a reminder of how Douglas, Measha and Nicola can support you, please check out this video or our webpage where we explain all the ways we can help.

The Safeguarding Team

As well as the Sport Welfare team, we’ve got a wider safeguarding team at Yorkshire Sport Foundation. Adam Fuller is our Designated Safeguarding Lead and Becca Gallagher is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Douglas, Measha and Nicola are the team you contact if you want to be proactive and improve your practice, policies and procedures. Adam and Becca are there if you have a safeguarding concern and need advice on what action to take.

Usual practice if you have a concern is to follow your club or organisation’s safeguarding policy. If you are affiliated with a National Governing Body it may advise you to report it to them. If it’s urgent you should contact the relevant service, such as the police or duty social care. If you are unsure which route to take or need further guidance please feel free to contact Adam or Becca.

Safe Sport Day – 8 August

Will you be taking the pledge and showing your commitment to making sport safe for all?

The theme this year is: Stand up. Speak out. Play your part.

Safe Sport International believe that sport belongs to everyone, and everyone has the right to participate free from violence, harassment, abuse, discrimination and exploitation.

You can take the pledge and find out more here.

Health Check for Fitness Studios

Do you know if your fitness studio has all the relevant requirements in place? Our friends over at EMD have put together a free health check tool to help you find out: https://emduk.org/studio-health-check/

EMD is the National Governing Body for group exercise and supports fitness instructors and personal trainers. In addition to the health check tool you can also find useful policies and guidance on their website.

Safe To Play

Our colleagues at Active Norfolk are supporting the Safe to Play campaign which advises parents and carers to ensure their child’s club or group is safe and supportive. This is timely guidance as children may be joining activities over the summer holidays or starting with new clubs or group in September.

They’ve put together a fantastic webpage pulling together resources from the NSPCC and the NWG Network. You can find it here.

Upcoming Training and Events

 Event: Y&H Sport Welfare Connect - Autism and practical strategies for coaches and clubs

When: Wednesday 16 September, 6.30pm to 8pm

Where: Online, via Microsoft Teams

Cost: FREE

For: Anyone with an interest in safeguarding and welfare in sport

Book: https://yorkshire.sportsuite.co.uk/forms/view/7704

We’re delighted to be joined by Angie from Matthew’s Hub, a support charity for Autism and ADHD based in Hull and East Riding. This is one of two sessions we’ll be running that focus on supporting neurodivergent participants.

There’ll be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and take part in discussions.

Nicola Holmes
Senior Sport Welfare Officer
Leeds, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire
07714 733650
nicola.holmes@yorkshiresport.org

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

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

Adam Fuller
Designated Safeguarding Lead
07702 557008
adam.fuller@yorkshiresport.org

Becca Gallagher 
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
07964 209314​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​becca.gallagher@yorkshiresport.org