This section is dedicated to providing you with essential information on safeguarding, which is vital for young people and adults involved in grassroots sports. It is not intended to be a comprehensive guide and we encourage anyone with concerns over safeguarding to seek advice at the earliest opportunity, either from the relevant sports governing body, local authority or the Police.

Participating in sports can have significant benefits, such as promoting physical health, building social skills, and boosting self-confidence. However, without proper safeguards in place, individuals may also be at risk of abuse, neglect or harm.

It is essential that all those involved in grassroots sports are aware of the signs to watch out for and understand their responsibilities in preventing such incidents from occurring. These signs may include changes in behavior, sudden injuries, or unexplained absences.

Protecting young people is particularly crucial as they are more vulnerable and may not have the knowledge or experience to identify or report incidents of abuse or neglect. Therefore, it is crucial that adults involved in grassroots sports take necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people.

This guidance page will provide you with basic information on how to report incidents of abuse or neglect, and will signpost you to advice on how to identify abuse, what safeguards should be in place, and how to create a safe and inclusive grassroots sports environment.

As advice and best practice differs from region to region and sport to sport, and is changing all the time, Spond does not seek to provide a fully comprehensive guide on this website. The purpose of this section is to signpost our users to the resources and contacts they need.