1. Skip to content

Safeguarding and Protecting Children

Suffolk Sport believes that the welfare and safety of children, young people and adults at risk is of paramount importance, and that all children, young people and adults at risk have the right to protection from abuse and to take part in sport without risk of harm.

Suffolk Sport was awarded the Advanced level standards for Safeguarding and protecting children in 2009, having previously achieved the Preliminary standard in 2004 and Intermediate standard in 2007.

Safeguarding and Protecting Children courses

Latest Safeguarding and Protecting Children News

Child Protection in Sport Unit - Handling allegations of abuse and safeguarding children in sport

Child Protection in Sport Unit - Handling allegations of abuse and safeguarding children in sport

Tue, 13 Dec 2016 09:00

We have all the information and safeguarding tools you need to help you keep children safe in sport and respond confidently to allegations of abuse.

Managing allegationsAny allegation that an employee or... Read More »


Our Responsibilities

Children and Young People

If you are a child or young person and have any concerns about something that happened to you or to someone you know here is some useful information for you.
Advice for children and young people

Adults

Whether you are a coach, parent, Sports Development Officer or other adult, if you want advice about child protection here are some useful numbers for you to call.
Advice for adults

Parents or Carers

If you are a parent or carer and want to know how you can be sure that the sports club your child belongs to is safe here is some useful advice.

Clubs

All sports clubs should adopt a child protection policy, which outlines what they will do to ensure the safety and welfare of junior members. The CPSU have lots of support and guidance for clubs about putting safeguarding standards in place. Club Safeguarding information

Guidance on Behaviour

It is important that everyone within your club knows what is or is not acceptable conduct. Codes of Conduct can help clarify to your members what you expect and what is appropriate. Suffolk Sport has produced three codes of conduct for:

  • coaches,
  • players
  • parents/carers

Please download the codes of conduct from the list below.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) is part of the NSPCC. They can offer you and your club guidance and advice on child protection issues, from implementing policies to managing difficult behaviour with members of your club. For more information go to www.thecpsu.org.uk.

The DBS

The DBS was formed in December 2012 when the CRB and ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) were merged. Since then criminal records checks have been undertaken by the DBS, which issues DBS certificates in place of the original CRB disclosures. In this respect there is no difference between a DBS and CRB certificate.

Individuals deemed to be in regulated activity are eligible for an enhanced DBS check with a check against the barred list (for that activity).

Those who fulfil all criteria for regulated activity but are supervised are only being eligible for an enhanced DBS check without a barred list check.

An enhanced DBS check provides criminal information from PNC (the Police National Computer.) PNC including concerning cautions, convictions, and intelligence information as deemed relevant to their application by the Police.

The barred list check looks at the people who have been barred from working in regulated activity with adults, children or both and makes sure that your applicant is not among them. People may be barred for non-criminal behaviour.

A barred list check also indicates a barring notification. The majority of people with criminal histories that you may feel makes them unsuitable to work with children may not be legally barred from doing so.

Regulated activity is defined as, work which an individual who is barred from working with vulnerable groups including children must not do.

In summary, this includes:

  • Unsupervised activities: teaching, training, instructing, caring for or supervising children, or providing advice/ guidance on well-being, or driving a vehicle only for children.
  • Work being carried out regularly (at least weekly), frequently (four times a month or more) or overnight (between 2am and 6am) or work in a limited range of establishments ('specified places'), with opportunity for contact: e.g. schools, children's homes, and childcare premises.

It is important for employers of staff or volunteers to determine which roles are considered to be regulated activity. It is an offence for a barred person to seek to work in regulated activity, and for an employer knowingly to employ a barred person in regulated activity. The government plans to introduce aspects of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 that will legally require employers to have established whether an individual is barred before placing them in regulated activity.

Guidance about the DBS process can be found on the DBS website.

For further information go to www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk or www.nspcc.org.uk/cpsu

Suffolk Sport has representation on the Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board. The Suffolk SCB can support you by providing guidance and information through leaflets, newsletters, latest policies and procedures, training and seminar details, and more. Click here for more information.

Important Links

Customer First
0808 800 4005

Local Authority Designated Officer
Local Designated Officers, Rennie Everett and Dian Campbell
Can be contacted via email on LADOCentral@suffolk.gcsx.gov.uk
or using the LADO central telephone number 0300 123 2044 for allegations against all staff and volunteers.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)
www.thecpsu.org.uk
0116 366 5590
email: cpsu@nspcc.org.uk

SAFE CIC
http://www.safecic.co.uk/
01379 871091

Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board
www.suffolkscb.org.uk
08456 066067

NSPCC Helpline
www.nspcc.org.uk
0808 800 5000
18 or under?
Childline offers free, confidential advice and support whatever your worry, whenever you need help
0800 1111

For any assistance with Safeguarding and Protecting Children please contact Tracy Brownlow via the information below:

Tracy Brownlow

Tracy Brownlow

Head of Health and Wellbeing

Suffolk Sport

Address
C/O SCDC East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1RT
Telephone
07921 156997
Website
http://www.suffolksport.com
Kathryn James

Kathryn James

Senior Development Officer (Insight, Infrastructure & Capacity)

Suffolk Sport

Address
C/O SCDC East Suffolk House, Station Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1RT
Telephone
01394 444582
  • CSP Network
    Sport England
    Suffolk County Council
    Harrod UK
    Abbeycroft Leisure
  • Ipswich Borough Council
    South Suffolk Leisure
    Waveney District Council
    Mid Suffolk District Council
    Anything Print
  • St Edmundsbury Borough Council
    Suffolk Coastal District Council
    Babergh District Council
    Forest Heath District Council
    Ufford Park
  • CSP Network
  • Sport England
  • Suffolk County Council
  • Harrod UK
  • Abbeycroft Leisure
  • Ipswich Borough Council
  • South Suffolk Leisure
  • Waveney District Council
  • Mid Suffolk District Council
  • Anything Print