Safeguarding Awareness Week 2024: Information for parents and guardians

Basketball England's Safeguarding Awareness Week 2024.

The purpose of the week is to highlight good safeguarding practice ahead of the 2024/25 season start and to discuss important safeguarding topics. 

Today brings the third of three resources to give all you need to know before season start.

Missed the first two? Read now: 

• BE in the know
• What is poor practice?

Bookmark these pages to help you with anything safeguarding related.

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Safeguarding and parents and guardians

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we want to create the safest possible environment for children to play basketball in.

We want to create an open and inclusive culture where parents and guardians feel able to speak up and raise any questions or concerns as they arise; to keep our sport safe and fun for everyone.  

Parents and guardians play a huge role in encouraging and facilitating child participation in sport.

Research shows that parents and guardians are concerned about how they are involved and how they can best support their children.

We know parents can sometimes worry that raising a concern may impact their child’s sporting pathway, however, the safety of children must always take precedence.  

So what can you do to best support your child? 

There are lots of ways you can do this and the best means of support is individual to each child/family, however, here are some ideas:  

1. Understand child participation in sport should be fun, safe and inclusive, this is paramount. There should not be a win at all costs mentality  
2. Have and show an interest in your child’s sports club or activity  
3. Get involved with the club, eg with fundraising activities or as a volunteer  
4. Get to know the coaches, staff, and volunteers at the club  
5. Understand that some adults enter the world of sports with harmful intent. Be vigilant to the signs   
6. Be confident in raising helpful suggestions and voicing any concerns that you may have  

The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has developed a short e-learning package that covers keeping your child in safe in sport.

It is completely free to access and takes around 10 minutes to complete, helping you: 

• to spot poor or unsafe practice and abuse in sport 
• to speak out when something is wrong 
• to let you know about what safe sports clubs should have in place to keep children safe

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Questions to ask your sports club

The CPSU also encourages parents and guardians to ask their child's sports club five key questions: 

• What's the recruitment process for coaches and club staff?
• Who is the club's Club Welfare Officer? 
• Does the club have a safeguarding policy?  
• How do you report an accident or incident?  
• What safeguarding training is there for coaches? Do they have a valid DBS? And are they licensed by Basketball England?

Did you know, parent/guardian behaviour is covered in our code of ethics and conduct? 

We expect parents and guardians, and family members of all participants to teach, support, and encourage them in a way that will ensure that basketball is a safe and positive space for all.  

Remember – children (under 18 years old) are involved in sport for their enjoyment.

Participation in sport can build confidence and other positive personal attributes. Any behaviour from parents and guardians that discourages or ridicules a child for making a mistake, or in any way seeks to negatively impact a child, will not be tolerated.

If you see this behaviour happening at any BE sanctioned event, please make us aware as soon as possible.  

Children learn best by example – please see our code of conduct for expected standards of behaviour.

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