New Safeguarding and Prevent Policy is an exemplar, says Prevent coordinator
We are delighted to launch our revised Safeguarding and Prevent Policy, hailed as an exemplar by regional Prevent coordinator Sam Slack. The updated policy reflects not only statutory requirements but also our commitment to fostering a culture of safety, inclusivity and integrity across all our work. View our revised policy here.
The updated policy draws on years of practical experience, sector-leading expertise, and an evolving understanding of how to create and sustain safe environments in both sport and education. It is the result of extensive consultation and continuous learning — shaped by our work with sports clubs, National Governing Bodies, Active Partnerships and more recently, as a Main Provider of Apprenticeships.
“Our safeguarding journey started with supporting organisations to put strong policy into practice. Delivering training for over two decades through UK Coaching and the Child Protection in Sport Unit gave us deep insight into the challenges faced across community sport.” Kath Percival, CEO
That journey took a significant turn when we became a government-approved apprenticeship provider. This brought increased oversight through Ofsted and elevated the need to embed robust Prevent processes to protect learners from radicalisation. In response, we engaged with regional Prevent Coordinators, established an internal safeguarding group, and created a Governance Group to ensure policy meets national standards. The revised policy is aligned with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024 and positions safeguarding as a proactive process rather than a reactive requirement.
Sam Slack, East Midlands Regional Prevent Coordinator said ‘“I have been working with & supporting Sport Structures for a number of years now in relation to their Prevent responsibilities & have always found them to be a really positive provider who are proactive in ensuring that they meet & in most instances exceed the requirements of the Prevent Statutory Duty & keeping learners safe generally”
In addition to supporting our own learners and staff, we are also working across the sector. We have recently been appointed by the Active Partnership Network to develop a Club Culture Tool to support Sport Welfare Officers.
Kath Percival said, "Safeguarding is not a standalone policy — it’s a mindset and a responsibility that underpins everything we do. We’re proud to have created a policy that not only meets statutory requirements but reflects our values of togetherness, passion, excellence and integrity. We’ll continue to listen, evolve and improve to make sure every individual we work with feels safe, respected and supported."
