Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport 2025 – for professionals

Last updated: 09 Sept 2025
Taking part

Asking parents to play their part

The part a parent and carer plays in their child’s sport can have a big impact on their child’s wellbeing and how they feel about sport.

This year’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Campaign runs 6-12 October 2025 and we’re asking sports parents to play their part and talk to their children about how they can bring out their best through positive actions and support.  

> Download the Partner Activation Pack for organisations 

> Cymraeg - lawrlwytho pecyn gweithredu i bartneriaid

We want sports parents to consider how they show support before, during and after sport. We’ll be asking parents to watch a video to hear real children and parents discuss which actions matter most and then download questions to help them start conversations with their own child about the kind of support that works for them.

> Signpost parents and carers to our campaign page to watch our video - going live on 6 October

What can you do for Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week 2025?

We want all sports clubs, activity organisations and schools to help us get this message out to parents through their own communication channels. 

We’re asking organisations to add the campaign to their marketing and communications calendars then download and read our Partner Activation Pack.

It includes everything you need to activate the campaign in your sport, your organisation or in your local area. It includes:

  • background to the campaign and why it's important
  • social media graphics, videos and suggested copy 
  • links to our posters, wallet cards, guides and much more

Please share a link to our Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport parents' page with your parents so that they can watch our video, download our questions and start conversations with their child. 

Support for organisations

Helping organisations to work with parents

We know that working with parents and carers can be challenging, and that’s why we are also giving you resources to support you during this activation week and beyond.

Webinar: building a positive parent culture in sport with Gordon MacLelland

Thursday 9 October 7:30pm on Zoom

Join us for an insightful and practical webinar exploring the vital role of parental engagement in youth sport. Led by Gordon MacLelland, CEO of Working with Parents in Sport and a global leader in this space, this session will unpack how to create a positive, aligned, and supportive parent culture that benefits children, coaches, and families alike.

"In most cases parents and caregivers are the biggest influence in young people's early sporting journeys which means they play a key part in a young persons sporting experience. How they role model, what they say and how they navigate the journey themselves all go a long way in influencing how their children view their sporting experience.
"Everyone has a role to play in creating the best environments which means the importance of alignment between organisations, coaches, parents and young people should never be underestimated. This session looks to bring all of this together for all those helping to shape the best sporting environments." - Gordon MacLelland

Advice and guidance on involving parents in youth sports

Topic pages

Everyone involved in sport should be committed to ensuring that children's participation is supported. Our Involving parents and carers in sport topics pages should support sports clubs and activity providers to raise awareness with their coaches, staff and volunteers of the crucial role a parent or carer has in helping a child reach their full potential.

On-demand webinar recordings

What parents can do to play their part in their child's sport, as discussed with a member of the NSPCC Young People's Collective. Hear why this campaign matters and what parents and carers can do from 15-year old Fionn from Northern Ireland.

Please share with your families.

How sports can support parents to play their part, as told by Camilla Knight, a professor with over 20 years' experience researching parent involvement in sport, about supporting parents and carers.

Please share with your staff and volunteers.

Why do parents matter in sport?

Why do parents matter in sport?

There are multiple studies such as The role of parents in the motivation of young athletes: a systematic review Jan 2024 that show parents are one of the main influencers that shape a child’s experience and participation in sport and physical activity. 

They show that a strong, positive parent-child relationship helps children feel safe and secure and supports positive behaviour in the children themselves. This allows them to take part in sport confidently, regulate their own emotions better and to build confidence, motivation, self-esteem and healthy relationships.  

Some parents might not realise that certain actions can negatively affect their child's experience in sport. Parenting can be tough, and every family faces different challenges. Things like financial worries, lack of support, or their own childhood experiences can all influence how parents support their children in sport.

That’s why we need to help parents and carers to reflect on their behaviours and better understand what their child needs to keep them safe, secure and help them to enjoy and thrive in sport.  

Ahead of our campaign, we have a wealth of information, advice and guidance to help your organisation better support parents and carers in the crucial role they play in their child’s journey.

Keep up to date

More about the KYCSIS campaign

Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport is a national, year-round campaign which looks at improving parental involvement in children’s sport. The campaign features an annual awareness raising week, usually during the first week of October.

During this awareness raising week we share resources to help sports and parents to work together to keep children safe in sport.

For 2025 we are asking parents to play their part and bring out the best in their child by being the best supporter. 

Keep up to date

You can sign up to our mailing list to receive related resources and guidance throughout the year.

You can also help us to reach more people in sport by liking and sharing our content on LinkedIn at NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit.

Follow us on LinkedIn

NSPCC CPSU

Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport

Are you a sport parent? Learn more about your role in keeping children safe while taking part in sports and activities. 

Hear more about the campaign