WY Safeguarding In Sport Partnership
Safeguarding Children in Sport in West Yorkshire
In 2003 a partnership was established between West Yorkshire Police, NSPCC and West Yorkshire Sport with the aim of improving procedures that relate to safeguarding children in sport across West Yorkshire. In particular the partners have been keen to improve communication between the child protection agencies and sports organisations.
Officers from the three agencies are passionate in their belief that all children have the right to a safe and enjoyable experience when participating in sport and are looking to put in place measures to assist sports organisations in ensuring this.
Over the last couple of years the Partnership has:
• Organised a major conference at Elland Road involving over 120 people from child protection and sports organisations to raise awareness of safeguarding issues.
• Promoted the introduction of the “Leisurewatch” scheme in Bradford and Leeds where the Council’s sports facility staff are being trained in identifying suspicious behaviour by customers.
• Assisted West Yorkshire Sport to become one of the first sports organisations in the country to achieve the NSPCC “Safeguarding Standards”
• Improved direct communication between sports governing bodies and West Yorkshire Police.
The current Initiative has two aims:
• To raise awareness amongst sports club personnel in West Yorkshire on the specific issue of Grooming Behaviour, and
• To improve communications between sports clubs and West Yorkshire Police officers
The pilot took place in early 2005 with 13 athletics clubs from West Yorkshire with very good feedback received. Further workshops have now been implemented aimed at rugby league and gymnastics clubs from across West Yorkshire. To date over 150 people have attended the workshops.