In summer holidays, much of children's sport and physical activity shifts into informal, community and drop-in events, where things can feel more open, busy, flexible and fast-moving.
And that’s where safeguarding can become unclear. Roles and responsibilities can blur, confidence can become shaky and concerns might not get shared. Everyone thinks it's somebody else's job.
That’s the real risk.
How can community events be safe for all?
Before your event, ask:
“Would everyone here know what to do if something didn’t feel right?”
If not, start there.
Keep safeguarding simple and visible. You need:
- a named, visible and approachable safeguarding lead who is trained in safeguarding and confident in supporting the event
- safer recruitment and vetting for all eligible staff and volunteers
- a clear way to report concerns that everyone knows, understands and is simple to use
- a shared understanding that it’s always okay to speak up if something doesn't feel right
- simple boundaries for behaviour, including for photography, use of social media and supervision
- clear briefs for all volunteers
A simple message: “If something doesn’t feel right, share it.”
Don’t overlook online safety
At community events, safeguarding can be tricky when you have to consider open, public spaces and digital risks too. It can be easier for:
- photos and videos to be taken and shared
- children to appear in social media content
- messaging or contact details to be exchanged informally
- free public Wi-Fi or personal devices to be used
Make sure concerns about online behaviour and engagement with the public are reported the same way as anything else.
Plan what matters
Our event safeguarding tool can help you focus on what’s important and design a community event that has welfare and safeguarding built in, not left as an afterthought. It includes:
- step-by-step questions to guide your thinking and planning
- links to practical resources at the point you need them
- eight sections, but you only complete what’s relevant to your event
Summer events reach huge numbers of children. They should also be the places where children can have fun, make new friends and learn new skills.
If you’re planning an event, our tools and templates can help you make safeguarding simpler and stronger.