The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit are supporting the School Games 2022 at Loughborough University. The CPSU have provided comprehensive safeguarding support at the games for the past 17 years.
Our project lead for this year, Liza Ware, tells us more about her role in safeguarding at this years’ Games.
What is the School Games?
The School Games National Finals is a biennial event bringing together the UK’s top performing young athletes to compete in a variety of sports over 4 days. Many athletes from past games have gone on to represent their country at national and international competitions, including the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
What is your role in the School Games 2022?
This year we have been working with the organisers, Youth Sport Trust, and partners at the games to coordinate the safeguarding provision for the event to help keep the games safe and fun for young athletes. This has involved thoroughly addressing many different safeguarding and athlete welfare considerations, through producing and reviewing policies, providing bespoke safeguarding consultation, and leading safeguarding training for the games.
What is new this year?
In addition to updated training and policies, this year we have also begun focusing on how we can communicate important safeguarding messages to children and young people at the games. This has involved producing a poster to encourage children to reach out to one of their sports’ safeguarding leads if they have any concerns or worries. We have also produced some digital graphics to communicate to young people at the games through the closed social media site, Goose Chase, about safe social media use, and Childline’s ‘Report Remove’ service for dealing with nudes being shared online.
What are you most looking forward to at the games?
After being unable to have spectators at the games last year, this year it will be particularly rewarding to see young people competing in their sport, in front of crowds of supporters. The atmosphere is always best when crowds are able to cheer on and join in in the enjoyment of the young athletes doing their sport.
