Safeguarding Matters with the Ann Craft Trust – Details, episodes & analysis

Jodi Evans talks to former International Rugby Player Rhys Thomas about his life journey and the lessons he has learnt along the way.

In the early 2000s, Rhys had a thriving international sports career as a capped Welsh rugby player. But in 2012, aged just 29, he suffered a massive heart attack during training, which would change his life forever. 

Rhys is now on a mission to share his unique life experiences to create positive change. He strives to help others reach their full potential through greater self-awareness, perspective and choice.

Nicola chats with Robbie Jacques, who plays for Nottingham Lions FC, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s only LGBTQ+ football team.

The two discuss the rising acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in professional and grassroots football.

Robbie's recently received a nomination for the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT as part of the National Diversity Awards.

"I believe everyone should be comfortable doing what they love without fear of discrimination and abuse. I believe we have the potential to change attitudes now more than ever. LGBTQ+ friendly clubs can play a significant role in providing a safe and supportive space for players and supporters, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity, race and religion."

Learn more about Nottinghamshire Lions FC here.

Robbie also recommends The Gay Football Supporters' Alliance, as a great resource for anyone who wants to know more about LGBTQ+ friendly clubs. 

Catherine Sykes talks to David Rose, Deputy CEO of The Football Supporters' Association (FSA).

David talks about how the FSA is working to develop policies and procedures to safeguard adults in their organisation.

He discusses how important it is to listen to the voices of people who use services, as this helps clubs and organisations truly meet their needs.

David also shares some of his methods for engaging with FSA members. He stresses that supporters are the lifeblood of football, so it's vital that we create a culture of trust in which nobody's ever afraid to speak out.

It can be too easy to ignore problems. So the trick is to make it even easier to act on problems.

Finally, David shares some advice for any sport and activity organisations starting on safeguarding journey: Don't fear it! Because if you start worrying, you might put it off, and it might never happen.

David concludes that safeguarding is not as daunting or complicated as it seems, and there's loads of help out there if you need it.

Nicola chats with Denise Richards from The CPSU following an online conference focused on creating safer cultures in sport and activity.

The conference took place over two mornings on 19 and 20 January 2022.

From Learning Lessons to Taking Action, the conference challenged attendees to create a safer place for all children and adults in your organisation, whatever their role.

The conference explored:

• How you ensure that your organisation is operating a safer culture for participants of all ages, abilities, race, cultures, sexuality, sex, and gender
• Protecting and safeguarding the wellbeing of those taking part
• How you ensure that everyone feels able to share any concerns at an early stage
• How you ensure that everyone feels confident to interrupt or question poor practice or behaviour.

The keynote presentations and workshops addressed:

• The learning from recent reviews about safeguarding and welfare concerns in sport and other settings
• New strategies from government and sports councils
• Initiatives to embed best practice in safeguarding
• The response to the voices of those with lived experience within sport and physical activity
• How we can develop safer cultures in our organisations

In this podcast, Nicola and Denise reflect on the conference’s themes. They also discuss some of the key messages from the presentations and workshops.

Nicola chats with Jayne Wilson, Training and Development Coordinator and Lead Safeguarding Officer for Active Lancashire. 

Jayne shares lots of tips for NGBs and Active Partnerships on how they can effectively work with their local safeguarding adults board.

The two also discuss the importance of accessible language in safeguarding. Jayne mentions how, initially, she found the amount of jargon and acronyms hard to understand.

Finally, they talk about how safeguarding should not be a box-ticking exercise. It must be focused on and tailored to the individual. When working with individuals, we should always ask: "What outcome do they want?"

As part of the #SaferCultureSaferSport campaign, Nicola and Ruth talk with Fiona and Nathan from Disability Sport Wales about creating more inclusive cultures in sport and activity.

ACT's Safeguarding Children and Young People lead Sarah Goff talks to Nadine Tilbury about working with parents with learning disabilities.

Nadine Tilbury is the Policy Officer at the Working Together for Parents Network, which is housed within the University of Bristol. Her work involves trying to influence what happens to parents with learning disabilities who are involved with children's service because there are concerns about how they parent their children.

In this podcast, Sarah and Nadine discuss the new Good Practice Guidance for Working With Parents With a Learning Disability.

Nicola and Ruth chat with Rosalind Porter, Director of Women and Girls Cricket at Oxford Cricket Club, and her two daughters, Jenny and Eloise.

The podcast looks at domestic abuse and coercive control. If you've been affected by any of the issues we discuss, please remember that help and support is there if you need it.

Rosalind, Jenny and Eloise's lives have been shaped by their involvement in cricket.

Rosalind's ex-husband was passionate about cricket, and the whole family immersed themselves in it. Cricket offered them a chance to do things as a family that they would not normally be able to do due to the domestic abuse and coercive control they experienced.

Cricket also provided a safe space for Rosalind, who found friendship with someone who was later able to give some support. 

This is an exploration of how sport clubs and organisations can support people who are experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control - whether they're children or adults.

Joanne talks with DBS and RFU about how safer recruitment can help create safer cultures.

Guests on this Safeguarding Matters podcast include Cathy Taylor, engagement advisor at DBS, and Cath Bennet, safeguarding case manager at rugby football union.

Cathy discusses how DBS supports national organisations with anything they'd like to know about safer recruitment:

"We are the people you can contact for help and support, and we will try our best to help and support you."

Nicola talks to ACT Patron Sir Roger Singleton CBE about his career in safeguarding.

Roger Singleton has a background in education, children’s services, management, mediation and safeguarding. He is a former chief executive of Barnardo’s. Since leaving in 2005 he has been an independent consultant specialising in safeguarding and interim management. He is a consultant to charities and organisations on their safeguarding policies and practices; he trains board members and senior staff in safeguarding; and he carries out statutory and in-house reviews and investigations into child and adult protection issues.

From 2007-20012 he chaired the Independent Safeguarding Authority prior to its merger with the Criminal Records Bureau to form the Disclosure and Barring Service. He has been the Government’s Chief Adviser on the Safety of Children; interim chief executive of the children’s charity, Lumos; and the interim Director of Safeguarding at the Church of England.

Speaking about Safeguarding Adults Week, Sir Roger said:

"The safety and well-being of people, especially those with very special needs, continues to give rise to serious concern.    Do take the opportunity of Adult Safeguarding Week  to update your knowledge of the signs of abuse and neglect and what can be done to create safer cultures.   Each day of the week focuses on a different aspect of safeguarding and free resources to support the week are available from ACT."