It would be remiss not to focus this month’s though piece on safeguarding in sport and physical activity, given some of the truly awful practices that have been uncovered as part of the recently published Whyte Review, which examined allegations of mistreatment in gymnastics. 

As stated by Sport England and UK Sport when the Whyte Review was published on 16th June, it was co-commissioned following a number of deeply concerning reports about the treatment of gymnasts, from grassroots through to the elite end of the sport, with a view to understanding the experiences of those gymnasts and determining any required change. They went on to state that no-one in sport should ever be subjected to such abuse, and we at Rise absolutely stand with Sport England and UK Sport in that statement. 

The concept of safeguarding within sport and physical activity provision is fundamental. Here at Rise, we are absolutely committed to ensuring that children, young people, and adults at risk can take part in physical activity and sport across Northumberland and Tyne & Wear in a safe environment. Our Safeguarding Statement of Commitment highlights how we seek to ensure this is the case, but it is important to highlight that this is not just about having policies and procedures written down in order that they can be produced when requested by funders or other interested parties. It is not about paying lip service. No, safeguarding is about absolutely embedding a culture whereby the participants’ safety and well-being are placed absolutely front and centre of every decision and every action taken. Without such a culture, we risk more shocking revelations such as those referenced in the Whyte Review, and so we urge all clubs, groups, organisations and individuals that we work with to use this moment to check that the right safeguarding culture is embedded at all levels, and to not rest on their laurels. 

We also join others in thanking all of those gymnasts who came forward to raise their concerns. We know that took courage and we will strive to continue to champion the important role of safeguarding across all that we do out of respect for their experiences and their bravery. 

For more information on safeguarding in sport and physical activity, including contact details for various specialist organisations that can support you if you’ve experienced poor or harmful safeguarding practices, please visit our safeguarding pages on our website.