Parent in Sport Week – ‘Let’s talk about keeping children safe in sport’  

It’s that time of year when sports clubs and organisations are celebrating the contribution that parents make to sport. As a sports mum who has lost her weekends to regularly standing on the touchline in all weathers and increasingly cold, wet and windy weather, I fully understand the difference it makes having families onside to motivate and support our children to be the best they can be.

We can also play another role and that is to be proactive and aware of safeguarding in the sport our child is involved in.  This means parents not only being aware of the safeguarding policies and procedures in clubs for example but to also know where to go and who to go to when you have concerns about safeguarding. Transparency is key here and a parent shouldn’t have to rummage through a website trying to find who the contact is or hunt down the safeguarding policy amongst a raft of documents.  Safeguarding is everybody’s business so that is, therefore, we all  must play a role in making sport Safe to Play    

The Child Protection Sports Unit (CPSU) has helpfully put together some resources to help coaches and parents with the above and to raise awareness amongst parents of the types of things clubs should have in place to keep children safe and how parents can get help with any concerns. As part of the campaign, the CPSU has asked parents to sign up for the Sports Parents Promise, to become part of the movement and demonstrate a commitment to your child and their chosen sport. 

The Sports Parents Promise 

1. I promise to listen to you if you have any concerns about your sport
2. I promise to learn how your club keeps you safe and what I can do to help
3. I promise to make sure that I set a good example and support you (and your teammates) in a positive way

To support the campaign and share the messages you can do the following: 

• Share this message with your parents’ groups, schools, and sports clubs. 

• Talk to other parents about the campaign at the school gates or during sporting activities 
• Promote Parents in Sport Week on your website, in blogs, social media or in newsletters to sports clubs, coaches and parents  
• You can also support and follow the campaign on social media using the hashtag #ParentsinSportWeek2020 and tag @TheCPSU and @NSPCC. 

Please do let us know how you have shared this message and send us some pictures of the parents “sports promise”   

The link to the CPSU web page for the parents’ sports promise is below  

 https://thecpsu.org.uk/upcoming-events/2020-10-05-parents-in-sport-week/ 

Maria Cassidy 

Families and Communities Lead
Working Hours Mon – Wed
Office: 01332 585371
Mobile: 07399 449041
Email:  [email protected]
Secure Email:  [email protected]