Safeguarding Lessons: A Key Frontier in Donor and Funder Investment Strategies

As we prepare for the #Paris2024 Olympic Games, recognizing the heightened importance of #safeguarding is vital, not just in sports but across all organizations. Drawing on lessons from two landmark UK sports safeguarding reviews, we see a clear trend: ignoring safeguarding exposes sports communities and organizations generally to significant risks that threaten their very existence. This reality is increasingly recognized in the humanitarian and development sectors globally, where organizations must align their practices with crucial safeguarding guidelines as non-negotiable standards for sector participation.

The Sheldon Review and The Whyte Review offer a wealth of critical insights. These lessons are not mere historical footnotes; they are evolving into global essential requirements, signaling an organization's responsibility and commitment. Safeguarding is no longer optional but a fundamental necessity to mitigate existential risks. Embracing these practices ensures a safer, more accountable future for all involved.

…. the support we offer…

For investors and funders: The support we offer you is pivotal in making sound, risk-free investment decisions and meeting essential safeguarding requirements, ensuring your organization thrives in today's accountable landscape.? Partnering with us means navigating the complexities of safeguarding with confidence, securing safer – delivery partners - and more accountable future for all stakeholders.

For For CBOs, NGOs, Non-profits, Social Enterprises - organizations: Adopting these safeguarding practices is increasingly a requirement. By integrating these critical lessons into your operations, you not only meet legal and ethical standards, but also attract support from savvy investors and donors who prioritize safety and accountability. Let us guide you in embedding these essential measures, ensuring your organization thrives in a compliant and responsible manner.

The Sheldon Review & The Whyte Review

These reviews, commissioned by the @English FA and Sport England, respectively, highlight severe abuse cases and offer comprehensive recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.

Think of this as your essential checklist for safeguarding compliance – if you will - but the real impact lies in how effectively these measures are implemented, and how your organization responds on the ground. Ready to see how this can transform your approach?

…..Read on ….. to elevate safeguarding practices … at every level

The Sheldon Review, launched to address extensive abuse in football from 1970 to 2005, uncovered shocking cases of child sexual abuse within the sport. The investigation revealed that perpetrators often created opportunities to isolate young players, leaving many survivors too fearful or embarrassed to come forward. The review's recommendations underscore the critical need for safeguarding training across all levels, the development of a child-centered culture, and the establishment of transparent and accountable organizational practices.

The Whyte Review, prompted by disturbing abuse allegations within British Gymnastics, revealed a deeply troubling culture where athlete welfare was frequently sacrificed for competitive achievement. The review uncovered widespread emotional and physical abuse by coaches, compounded by the organization's failure to intervene, allowing these harmful practices to continue unchecked. Key recommendations from the Whyte Review call for a reassessment of responsibilities, compulsory training for all stakeholders, enhanced complaints handling, and the implementation of strong governance and oversight mechanisms.

Sheldon Review: A Landmark in Safeguarding Football

In November 2016, a series of media disclosures brought to light decades of serious sexual abuse within football. In response, the English Football Association (FA) commissioned Sir Clive Sheldon KC to conduct a comprehensive review of incidents occurring between 1970 and 2005. The findings were staggering: by August 7th, 2020, there were 240 identified suspects and 692 survivors of child sexual abuse within both grassroots and professional football.

Sheldon Review: Key Findings of the Report

The Sheldon Review identified several critical themes:

• Abuse often occurred without the knowledge of others involved in the sport.
• Perpetrators exploited opportunities to isolate young players.
• Contemporary disclosures were rare; many victims felt too ashamed or feared retaliation against themselves or their families.

SHELDON REVIEW: RECOMMENDATIONS

Training at All Levels

The review highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive safeguarding training across all levels. It mandates training for parents and carers, all players and young people, and requires the FA Board and Senior Management Team to undergo training every three years. Professional club boards must also receive training every three years, with an emphasis on engaging in safeguarding strategies. Additionally, all individuals involved in regulated activities must complete training as part of their club’s affiliation with their County FA.

The review emphasized the necessity of widespread safeguarding training:

• Parents and carers
• All players and young people
• FA Board and Senior Management Team (every three years)
• Professional club boards (every three years), with a focus on engaging in safeguarding strategy and implementation
• All individuals in regulated activities, as part of their club’s affiliation with their County FA

Fostering a Child-Centered Culture

To cultivate a culture centered on the welfare of children, the review recommended:

• Appointing a Children’s Safeguarding Champion on the FA Board
• Developing a five-year strategy with specific interventions to amplify children's voices, with periodic monitoring and success assessment
• Ensuring grassroots clubs make safeguarding policies and Welfare Officer contact details easily accessible to parents and carers
• Annually expanding spot-checks of grassroots clubs to evaluate and improve safeguarding practices
• Requiring professional club Safeguarding Leads to report regularly to their boards

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

For greater transparency and accountability, the review suggested:

• Publishing an annual safeguarding report, including a statement from the Chair
• Establishing a National Day of Safeguarding in football

From extensive experience supporting organizations across in the East Africa region and in Africa, these recommendations serve as a vital framework for not only preventing abuse but also fostering a safe and supportive environment for all participants in the sport – and across organizations!

WHYTE REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS: A BLUEPRINT FOR EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDING

In navigating the complex landscape of safeguarding, the Whyte Review offers a compelling roadmap for transformation. Rather than presenting a verbatim account, we’ve distilled these recommendations into actionable insights that any organization can quickly embrace. Here’s what needs your attention:

Safeguarding and Welfare:

• Reevaluate the roles assigned to volunteers to ensure they align with safeguarding best practices.
• Strengthen teams by hiring qualified professionals with the right expertise.
• Update mandatory safeguarding training to reflect sector-specific needs and make it compulsory for all Owners and Managers.
• Enhance welfare measures for high-performance athletes and their families, including a more comprehensive induction, access to an independent disclosure service, and a dedicated Welfare Officer.
• Boost support for non-Olympic disciplines to ensure consistent standards across all areas.

Complaints Handling:

• Upgrade your Case Management Systems to effectively manage and track complaints.
• Maintain thorough records of complaints and monitor trends to identify and address patterns of behavior.
• Improve internal policies on investigating complaints, particularly those involving staff or volunteers in trusted positions.
• Implement a mandatory complaints policy with neutral reporting mechanisms and ensure independent investigations for all welfare-related complaints.
• Keep complainants and respondents informed of actions and outcomes promptly.

Standards and Education:

• Appoint a Director of Education responsible for the training of coaches and Welfare Officers, ensuring alignment with your Standards of Conduct and Policy.
• Regularly review and update your policies, and provide a comprehensive Handbook, outlining conduct standards, reporting obligations, and safeguarding pathways.
• Enhance your educational programs for coaches and Welfare Officers to address identified gaps, and foster direct engagement with registered clubs to ensure compliance.

Governance and Oversight:

• The Board must lead the implementation of these recommendations, publishing progress reports at 6, 12, and 24 months – accountability and demonstrate progress!
• Appoint independent Board members with expertise in safeguarding and athlete welfare.
• Establish governance pathways to ensure that athlete and parent feedback, complaint patterns, and handling performance are integrated into Board decision-making.

Board Level Insights

When considering whether staying Ahead of the Curve, is “a priority”? for the board, from ?safeguarding perspective, here are some highly practical recommendations that could reshape your organization:

Key actions include:

• Comprehensive safeguarding training at all levels.
• Designating a member of the Boards as a “Board Safeguarding Champion”.
• Developing a multi-year safeguarding strategy.
• Conducting spot-checks and annual reports to refine practices.
• Ensuring those responsible for safeguarding possess relevant experience.
• Fostering a culture of openness and tracking safeguarding trends.
• Prioritizing independent advice and investigations.
• Truly listening to and embedding the voices of children, adults at risk, and survivors into your services.

By integrating these recommendations, you not only align with best practices but also foster a culture of safety and accountability. Embrace these insights to elevate your safeguarding framework and ensure a safer environment for everyone involved.

In Summary

For investors and funders: The support we offer is integral to making informed and prudent investment decisions while adhering to best practices in human resources, governance, and safeguarding. By partnering with us, you gain the - boots-on-the-ground - expertise needed to navigate these complexities effectively, ensuring safer and more accountable delivery partners and fostering a more resilient future for all stakeholders involved.

For CBOs, NGOs, Non-profits, Social Enterprises - organizations: Adopting comprehensive safeguarding practices, coupled with robust human resources and governance strategies, is becoming an essential requirement. Integrating these critical lessons into your operations not only ensures compliance with legal and ethical standards, but enhances your attractiveness to discerning investors and donors who value safety, accountability, and strong organizational practices. Let us assist you in embed these vital measures, positioning your organization to thrive in a compliant and responsible manner.

Take Action

Reach out to us today to align your organization or investment strategy with best practices in human resources, governance, and safeguarding. Together, we can build a safer, more accountable, and successful future.

Read on .....much more more to discover and achieve.

Why Safeguarding Can't Wait: #5 Reasons for CEOs to Take Action - https://bit.ly/3LBDBGm

Gichobi Stanley, and Nyambura Kariuki heartfelt gratitude for unwavering support, thought partnership, and mentorship. Your expert guidance Kim Matu and Alice Gugelev and insights in supporting the ecosystem continue to inspire this refinement of safeguarding support practices and driving our shared mission forward.