Two years of Reform 25: Reflecting on our progress and strengthening our commitment to change

Two years ago this month, we introduced ‘Reform ’25’ – a comprehensive plan to reform gymnastics in the UK following the Whyte Review. Our goal was to create safe, positive, and fair experiences for everyone in gymnastics.

The first question is, ‘Are we on track to deliver Reform ’25?’. If you look at the list of actions, the answer is yes. However, it’s not just about ticking off actions; it’s about deep-rooted cultural change. We need to ask, ‘Are we seeing the impact on gymnasts, coaches, parents, and clubs?’. While we receive positive feedback, there’s still more work to be done. Our Ethical Coaching program, Live Train Compete curriculum, Collective Accountability approach, and Safe Sport Campaign are examples of our commitment to change. But honestly, our job in this space will never be done.

The Whyte Review was a wake-up call, not just for gymnastics but for the entire UK sport sector. It highlighted that focusing solely on safeguarding standards, policies, and processes led to a false sense of assurance. We ignored the culture, environments, and people who enable safe environments to flourish. Sport is a force for good, providing enjoyment, fun, and a sense of achievement, along with health benefits. Our collective determination at British Gymnastics is to ensure everyone can enjoy these benefits in a safe, enjoyable, and open environment. This remains my driving force and is only strengthened when I hear the real-life experiences of those who we have failed and have experienced harm and abuse.

Our starting point was to acknowledge and accept our failings as a sport. Delivered through a fundamental shift in our approach, where we have involved, collaborated, and especially to listen and understand those who lived experiences and those have been impacted the most. Every board member signed the reform plan, showing collective commitment and accountability for deep cultural and systemic change. This journey has involved reflection, learning, and action. This approach is necessary for National Governing Bodies like ours to bring about deep-rooted change and deliver long-term impact.

Rebuilding a welfare and safe sport approach that delivers and cares

With new leadership, we shifted towards a person-centred approach, focusing on supporting those affected with understanding, respect, and empathy. We revised existing policies and introduced new ones as part of our #BeTheChange campaign, including policies on pain, injury, illness, concussion, and flexibility training. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting greater clarity and understanding, empowering gymnasts, coaches, and parents to speak up and challenge poor behaviour.

We undertook an independent review?of our safeguarding policies and procedures and introduced a new complaint management system. While resolving case backlogs remains a challenge, a revised, simplified, and trauma-informed approach is being finalised. Our work in Welfare and Safe Sport including the soon to launch strategy further establishes British Gymnastics as a thought leader in safe sport, influencing other federations and sports to create safer environments.

Creating a culture of learning, reflection and collaboration

From the start of Reform ‘25, we have been focused on understanding our clubs, coaches, and gymnasts better – we have done this through many conversations. We have held open forums, webinars, surveys, and club visits, alongside our advisory groups and oversight board. We have taken your feedback, proposed changes and got your views regularly along the way.

British Gymnastics commitment to engage and involve has opened the organisation up to diverse groups of people, from our advisory and oversight?boards, wider campaign groups and experts in the field, leading to less insular thinking, passionate debate, thought provoking conversations and ultimately better solutions.? Realising a shift towards more inclusive and collaborative decision-making, with feedback reflecting a real improvement in how we listen and respond to the community’s needs.

Investing in and supporting coaches – now and for the future

Coaches are the backbone of gymnastics. We’ve built a dedicated team to support coaches with their learning and development. Through one-to-one support, group interactions, and CPD Opportunities, we are working to ensure coaches get the support they need. Our goal is to offer world-leading support to our coaches and wider workforce, meeting their needs based on their coaching environments.

We’ve introduced a new online learning platform (BG Academy) to enhance continuous learning and development opportunities. Our approach to Judge Education will evolve, and we’re reviewing our Level 1 and 2 coaching qualifications. We’re also piloting a Coaches Register with CIMSPA to recognise and reward great coaching.

This said we recognise many coaches have felt let down by British Gymnastics. Feeling side-lined, not listened too, collectively blamed, and not represented. We are determined to address this, to rebuild the trust and to give greater recognition and support to the countless coaches doing incredible work every day across the country.

High performance with well-being at the core

Gymnastics is about more than medals, but our competitive athletes remain at the heart of the sport. We’re ensuring our performance pathways are holistic, with athlete welfare and wellbeing at the forefront. We are rethinking how we support athletes to succeed, not just in their careers, but in their lives beyond gymnastics. This balance of high-performance sport with individual care is key to creating an environment where athletes can thrive, long after their competitive days are over.

Our Collective Accountability Plan for the LA Cycle focuses on preparation, competition, people and performers, and optimisation. Every gymnast owns their performance plan and works with their club and national coaches to create and execute it, ensuring the gymnast has a voice and is empowered and supported to use it. Policies for funding, squad selection and competition selection are known and understood to support informed decision-making. Every gymnast on our pathway will be exposed to our Live Train Compete development curriculum, supporting their development in life and gymnastics.

A UK Wide Legacy?

Our Chairman, Mike Darcey, has called for a centralised and independent body to prioritise athlete welfare and safeguarding across all sports. Rather than act as a regulator this body would provide leadership and focus, enabling a consistent approach to Safe Sport. A body with a focus on preventing harm and abuse in the sporting system, and how we can build greater confidence and competence across the sporting bodies to understand the cultures and environments that enable safer sporting experiences and root out abuse.

Following this the National Governing Bodies of Sport have come together with the support and backing of UK Sport and the Home Nations Sports Councils to develop recommendations on how sport can address the issues highlighted in so many of the reviews into abuse in sport. Only then will sport be able to rebuild trust across the system.

British Gymnastics’ journey: building a bright future

While the actions in the Reform ‘25 plan will conclude next year, our work is not complete. We will continue to listen, learn, and grow, embedding this work into our everyday operations. This journey is guided by our vision, values, and strategy to ensure gymnastics is uplifting, safe, and open to everyone.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this work – united we are stronger.

You can read more about our Reform 25 plan on our website.

Sarah Powell

CEO British Gymnastics