Some of you will know that for many years I chaired the independent safeguarding commission in the South West. The commission was made up of a team of professionals from the police, probation, children’s and adults’ services, health and probation. In addition to reviewing abuse cases and putting in place measures to manage the risk around offenders returning to the community, we had an important role to provide a safe place where victims of abuse could come forward to be heard and supported. This week we have all witnessed a storm of allegations of abuse in football. My experience tells me that we have probably seen nothing yet and that there will be uncomfortable revelations coming from other sports. In common with all CEOs of NGBs, I received a letter this week from the Minister of Sport asking me to look into our practices, both past and present with regards to the safeguarding of children and young people. I am in fact extending that remit to also look into how we ensure ours is a safe sport for vulnerable adults. The word ‘vulnerable’ is not one we all necessarily relate to, or feel comfortable with; it has connotations of being defenceless or helpless but in reality it just means that there are areas and times in our life where we need some additional support and that applies to all of us whether able bodied or not.
The very nature of our sport means that our bread and butter is making sure we provide a safe environment for everyone and we have an even bigger responsibility for the many athletes, staff and volunteers who are not able bodied and who require various levels of support. In growing our rugby family to include children and young people from a wide range of backgrounds we inevitably increase the potential safeguarding risks. I take our responsibility to promote a safe, open and healthy culture very seriously, as do all staff and board members. All in our sport should know and be aware of our Safe and Sound Safeguarding Policy, it is on the website and should be available to you in your clubs. It provides the detail of the processes and procedures we have put in place to protect all in our sport. It also provides clear guidance as to what to do when things seem not to be right. Every club has a Club Welfare Officer and that person is the person to go to in the club if you have any concerns or questions at all about anything to do with the welfare of anyone – child or adult. You should know who your CWO is and if you don’t then ask your club coach or manager. Likewise if anyone has concerns about behaviour they have witnessed or experienced in the past then they should come forward and say so. I am always available to meet anyone who feels that they have something they wish to discuss but if you would prefer, I also can arrange for someone completely independent to meet with you so that you have the opportunity to share your concerns.
We pride ourselves on being ‘more than a sport’, we speak about the ‘wheelchair rugby family’ but we should still be aware that abuse can occur in any community and ironically it is actually found most in the family setting. So like any organisation we need to be alert and vigilant and we need to be conscious of those low level indicators that should start to ring alarm bells – for example are we always comfortable that the boundaries between adults and the children and young people we work and play with are appropriate? If we are coaches or managers do we have favourites and are we easily flattered by those who look up to us? Are we comfortable with what and how we and others communicate through social media? And what about our tournaments and events – are we sure that we remain vigilant and alert to inappropriate behaviour? And if we see something that makes us feel uneasy do we do anything about it?
The biggest risk to our sport as with any organisation which works with children, young people and vulnerable adults, is that someone gets harmed whilst in our care. I believe that we have good practices and procedures in place to reduce that risk for us but ultimately such measures are only helpful if they are understood and used. I am always inspired by pretty much everyone I meet in our sport, it is the main reason that I love my job but I am not so naïve as to think ‘it can’t happen to us’. My experience of safeguarding over the years has had a considerable impact on how I view situations and I have come to realise that in all walks of life the possibility for someone to do evil is ever present but fortunately on balance most people do good!
David Pond
