Each year the NSPCC hosts its People Awards. This is a chance to celebrate the staff and volunteers that work and support the NSPCC in its mission to stop child abuse and neglect.
The NSPCC has been looking out for children for over 140 years – and the Child Protection in Sport Unit has been part of this mission since 2001. Each year, together, we help keep 1 million children safer.
This year we are proud to congratulate our winning and short-listed Safe in Sport Volunteers.
- Genevieve: Star Performer Award Winner – Making an Impact
- Kevin and Jasmine: Star Performer Award Nominee – Making an Impact
- Nick: Star Performer Award Nominee – Putting Children First
We asked Genevieve to pen a blog and share with us what it’s like to be a volunteer for the CPSU and NSPCC.
By Genevieve, CPSU Safe in Sport Volunteer
I believe that sport and physical activity provides a great opportunity for children and young people to have fun, stay healthy, make lasting friendships and to develop foundational skills that will help them later in their careers. Whether a child takes part in a team or individual sport, they learn about commitment, self-motivation, trust, teamwork, communication, self-discipline, benefit of practice and lots more… things that help them to be resilient and successful in work and in life.
However, to enjoy sport and physical activity it needs to be in a safe, supportive environment – free from the risk of bullying, undue pressure or abuse. Two years ago, when a friend posted on LinkedIn that the CPSU was looking for volunteers for an insights project, I immediately thought that it was something that I could help with. This would entail gathering online evidence relating to safeguarding practices in sports organisations across the UK. I could make time available and was very happy to work my way through sports organisation’s websites reviewing the accessibility of their safeguarding information and what improvements could be made. It was also very encouraging to receive the responses from the ‘mystery shopping’ exercise. This required me to contact each organisation and test their safeguarding response time to a potential concern. I have even tested out new research methods as well as digitally presented our work to the NSPCC Volunteer Engagement Committee.
I really enjoy volunteering with the CPSU. Helen Shead who leads the CPSU volunteer team creates such an engaging and inclusive environment – everyone is welcome, and she is passionate about making sure it is “safe in sport” for children and young people. The NSPCC in general and the CPSU specifically have a wealth of training content and experienced volunteers happy to share their knowledge. The work that I do is project-based, so I have flexibility to fit it in around my other commitments.
Winning the award was a huge surprise – when I hear the stories of the work that others do for the NSPCC, I really don’t think my small contribution is in any way award-worthy. But I’m proud to know my contributions to a growing evidence base have both informed our work with safeguarding in sport and through feedback, led directly to organisations improving access to safeguarding support to children, young people and their families. It was great to be nominated alongside others from the CPSU team and I am delighted to win for the whole team. As a relatively new unit, doing tremendous work through the Insights and Events projects, it is brilliant to see the CPSU being recognised in this year’s awards.
For anyone else considering volunteering with the CPSU or with any sports groups – I highly recommend it! Helping to create an environment where children and young people can thrive in sport and physical activity is incredibly rewarding – especially in the knowledge that sport can help with the development of life-long skills and friendships.