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Brunel Professor joins NSPCC in a Call to Action to put child protection at the heart of sport

Prof. Brackenridge, Director of the Centre for Youth Sport and Athlete Welfare, will give a presentation on 'Myths and Evidence - Learning from our Journey' in which she will address the research evidence that supports or refutes many myths related to child welfare in sport.

The Call to Action is a roadmap developed in partnership with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), Sport England, UK Sport, and the Youth Sport Trust, and marks a tipping point for child protection in sport.

It calls on all organisations providing sport to children to sign up to a series of key actions, such as involving children and young people in creating child protection plans, and ensuring appropriate checks are followed when recruiting staff and volunteers.

NSPCC Director of the Child Protection in Sport Unit Anne Tiivas said: “Around 8 million children and young people take part in sporting activity each year. Most do so safely, but tragically a significant minority do suffer abuse by adults working or volunteering in sport.

“A huge amount of progress has been made by sports organisations since the creation of the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit in England in 2001. There's a sense of real momentum and commitment from sports organisations to take improvements in child protection to the next level, and deliver a high quality experience for all children playing sport.

“We now want anyone providing sport for children to work closely with partners in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors to ensure children and young people can enjoy sport free from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

“It's also important to recognise the vital role that sport has in identifying and getting help for children who may be experiencing abuse elsewhere. Staff and volunteers need to know what to do if a child turns to them for help.

“The 'Call to Action' is a commitment to protect and empower children and young people in sport. We want to make sure they know their rights and how to get help if they need it, and ensure all UK sports organisations prioritise young people's safety.“

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Media Contact:
For more information please contact Adrian Brown in the NSPCC's media office on 020 7825 2516 or email adrianbrown@nspcc.org.uk. Out of hours mobile 07976 206 625.