Must do
This level contains the foundations a club must have in place in preparing for junior members’ involvement.
We look at your club’s vision, insurance, safeguarding, welfare, facilities, risk assessments, and how the club’s fee structure is designed. Essentially this is the policy, planning and culture section, and getting it right will provide the foundations for LGBTIQ+ young people's safe and sustained involvement in the club.
Co-created with young people
“Making sure that can we get the vision right”. (Gary, Charlton Invicta)
- As you consider why, how, what, when and which ages of under 18s you would like to include in your activities, you will begin to develop your under 18s vision.
- It is important that this vision is co-created and agreed across all levels of your club.
- Many clubs also include their mission and values alongside this vision.
Links to best practice and other sources of support:
Club Solutions Wales provides an overview of what you might include in a vision statement:
A-Star Sports provides an example of a clear vision that places fun as a central feature:
Hampshire Squash provides an example of a sport-focussed vision:
Wycombe Hockey Club uses an integrated vision that includes juniors:
Surf out/Karma Seas has incorporated the vision into the aims of the organisation:
- This needs to be inclusive of LGBTIQ+ young people needs and lives throughout the club.
- You need to have excellent interpersonal boundaries, so that LGBTIQ+ young people have role models that model what is expected of them.
- Give positive and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism, to better support expectations of conduct.
- It is advisable that your code of conduct lists behaviours that are expected vs behaviours that are forbidden. Instead of saying 'don’t bully others' say 'include everyone in all activities and report any abusive behaviour to your coach/safeguarding officer without delay'.
Links to best practice and other sources of support:
The Youth Sports Trust code of conduct and ethics a great resource from which to create your own:
The National Youth Agency Safeguarding Hub provides this example of a code of conduct that may be useful in helping you to produce your own:
The English Cricket Board provides a useful code of conduct for under 18’s, and it is useful to have a code of conduct for your under 18’s:
And for club members and guests:
Knock Out Boxing offer their code of conduct:
“We need to make sure it’s right.” (Gary, Charlton Invicta)
-
With your vision established, it is crucial to have a well considered and understood safeguarding approach.
-
Safeguarding is a culture of looking after the safety of the children and young people, across all of the club's activities.
-
Developing a culture of safeguarding is about having foresight, being proactive and dynamic in your approach. This includes:
- Create safer settings for children and young people through robust safeguarding policy, procedure and practices that are annually reviewed.
- Everyone at the club is knowledgeable with regards to policies procedures, practices and how to respond to concerns and report incidents.
- Apply vigilance to ensure that no risk is posed to children.
- Children and young people are educated about online and in person safety.
- Maintain a setting in which children feel confident to discuss issues they may have.
- Safeguarding needs to be a culture within the club - not something that is only considered when there is a safeguarding concern or incident.
- It is worth noting that the young people who provided input for this guidance flagged good safeguarding as something they would look for.
- By developing a culture of safeguarding, you create an ever-present safeguarding mindset which is vital for LGBTIQ+ young people.
- The basic safeguarding products needed are:
- Safeguarding Policy
- Safeguarding Process
- Safeguarding Practices
- Safeguarding Officer(s)
- Safeguarding training on a 3-year cycle
- DBS checks for working with people will depend on the role being carried out, please check out https://thecpsu.org.uk/help-advice/topics/safer-recruitment#resources for clarity.
- Consider an annual parental/carer and participant consent form to take part in specified activities.
- Awareness of honour-based abuse and forced marriages are important, for example, some juniors might be conflicted with their sexuality and religion, and may reach out to one of the adults in the club for support and advice.
When developing a culture of safeguarding for LGBTIQ+ youth, there may be increased vulnerabilities that need to be considered. For example:
- Increased likelihood of social isolation and loneliness because of LGBTIQphobia
- Not being out and fear of being outed
- Limited trusted adult contacts to talk to and disclose to
- Increased anticipation of being bullied, rejected and attacked
- Homonormative expectations of LGBTIQ+ identities which may exclude queer, non-binary and trans youth
- Lower confidence and self-esteem, which exposes some LGBTIQ+ young people's vulnerability to exploitation
- Desperately wanting to belong which may impair capacity to understand or avoid abuse
- Neglect of intersectional identity which may result in embracing one aspect of the young person's identity whilst discriminating against another [/column]
Information on DBS checks can be found at:
Unfortunately, some adults may seek out younger people to abuse. Clubs need to be vigilant of adult behaviours that raise concern and take action to address this. Having a low-level concern process for recording any concerns (i.e. including any that may not meet a threshold of safeguarding) is crucial and enables the club to keep a record of any causes for concern.
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport safeguarding self-assessment is a key resource:
Legal guidance can be found here:
The Sports and Recreation Alliance provides overview information here:
The Youth Sports Trust has the following example of a safeguarding reporting form:
The National Youth Agency have created a comprehensive Safeguarding Hub. This provides guidance that is useful for all youth focussed activities:
Under 18s need to get parent/guardian/carer consent to take part in club activities. Volleyball England has an example of a consent form:
The Charity Commission has produced this useful infographic to remind charities of their safeguarding duties. This provides a quick overview that may be helpful for all clubs with a junior section:
It might be worth considering having an annual parental and participant consent form to take part on specified activities
“[We] want to make it easier for young people to feel comfortable to be themselves, have fun and keep active" (Richard, Pride Out)
- Always put the welfare of LGBTIQ+ young people first. This is above winning or achieving goals.
- Ensure an encouraging and constructive environment enables healthy competition, skill development, fun and achievement. Promote all in equal measures. Recognise the needs and abilities of LGBTIQ+ young people where they are at; avoid pushing them to train or compete outside their comfort- or stretch- zone, unless they have agreed to this.
- The Welfare and Safeguarding Officer can be one named person; however, to enhance safeguarding, it is preferable to have separate officers fulfilling these roles.
- Welfare of the under 18s in your care is paramount. Many LGBTIQ+ young people have been put off sport and physical activity, often as a result of LGBTIQphobia. Some LGBTIQ+ young people have used sport as a way to hide their LGBTIQ+ identity:
"I just got involved in football to hide who I was, because people don’t think you’re gay when you’re good at football" (Gary, Charlton Invicta
- And for some LGBTIQ+ young people, sport has been a great means to make friends, keep healthy and enjoy the sport.
"The club is a safety net. Not all LGBT people go to LGBT bars and clubs. This is a club that is like a family, with a great deal of mutual support." (Ubaid-ul, London Goslings)
Links to best practice:
Club Matters has produced this helpful role description to help you to define the role, purpose and functions of your Welfare Officer:
The England Cricket Board has also produced guidance on the appointment and training for club Welfare Officers:
England Hockey has produced this concise guide that highlights good practice when working with young people:
Peer-to-peer abuse is a concern, sometimes referred to as child-on-child assault and harassment. Reports by children regarding other children need to be taken seriously, and parents/carers informed. Most local authorities have an Early Help Hub available for Safeguarding Officers to get support. Here is an example of an Early Help Hub from Manchester:
“Gender neutral toilets or teams 'cause being asked to choose a binary is kinda not the point” (Young Person, Mosiac Youth Project)
- Traditional open plan changing areas may not be the most suitable accommodation to meet the needs of LGBTIQ+ young people.
- Consideration must be given as to how facilities can be adapted, and how other spaces can be utilised for changing, washing, going to the toilet, etc.
- Wherever possible, this should be co-decided with participants, with simple criteria agreed on what is and is not acceptable to ensure people feel respected and avoid negative experiences of changing rooms.
67% of trans students say they can’t use the changing rooms they feel comfortable in - Stonewall School Report (2017)
“It shows that you don’t have to fit into a binary or fit into “normalities” to be successful” (Young Person, U R Potential)
Links to best practice:
LEAP sports has created this great guide on supporting trans access to activities:
and for non-binary inclusion:
Pride Sports has also created a great non-binary guide:
The Football Association has created the following guidance on trans inclusion:
Trans Sport offers a considered participant information section on their website to assure people about the facilities and what participants can expect:
“A football ground is not like a park – we have control, we have a key. Folk can come feeling safe and contained” (Gary, Charlton Invicta)
- It is important to have dynamic and comprehensive risk assessments for young people's involvement and participation across the club activities that can be easily accessed, reviewed and updated -preferably by named officers.
- The risk assessment needs to include clear reference to how safeguarding and the welfare of LGBTIQ+ young people has been considered.
- Find out if any LGBTIQ+ young people have medical conditions that could be aggravated whilst participating in club activities.
- Keep a written record any time a LGBTIQ+ young person is injured in your care, along with details of any treatment such as first aid provided.
- Consider how you will include trans and non binary people in clubs teams. Many young people are gender non-binary so accommodating them in the gendered teams would not be easy or desirable.
Links to best practice:
The Health and Safety Executive provides details of the legislation for amateur sports clubs:
The National Youth Agency Safeguarding Hub has provided risk assessment guidance for youth-focussed activities which can be adapted to suit your club:
Club Matters provides guidance on risk assessments:
The Tiverton Rugby Club website includes a considered risk assessment for junior sessions:
Scottish Swimming has produced a detailed template for open water swimming generally:
- You then need to check your current insurance cover. If you are not sure, we recommend that you have a conversation with your broker about what you are hoping to offer, and what cover you may need.
- Also, check with your national governing body for the types of insurance cover they recommend.
Links to best practice:
The National Youth Agency has produced specific guidance regarding insurance for youth activities:
Club Matters also provides guidance on club insurance:
“Make it clear about clothing” (Young person, U R Potential)
- For many under 18s, lack of finances can limit their opportunities to be involved in the club. Obtaining the “right” kit may be financially unobtainable for many LGBTIQ+ young people.
- If you want to reach a broader range of young people, then poverty needs to be considered .
- Some clubs have created sliding scales of membership fees based on agreed criteria. This may also include options for payments of fees over a period of time.
- Some clubs provide kit and equipment to enable young people to participate free of cost or at low cost.
“We try and break the barriers and boundaries” (Gary, Charlton Invicta
Links to best practice:
HMRC has create overarching Guidance for community amateur clubs regarding fees etc:
Club Matters provides guidance on membership subscriptions:
Evolve Cycling Network have made the membership fees very clear and simple on their website:
British Blind Sports offer under 17s free membership to encourage participation:
Here is a sample of membership options from England Golf:
The FA offers a voucher to redeem a kit and equipment package for young people:
Quick checklist
Top Tips!
- Create a culture of safeguarding in the club. The more embedded it becomes, the safer young people will feel.
- Prioritise the welfare of LGBTIQ+ young people rather than their performance.
- Ask about pronouns and names, and be open about your own pronouns and name.
- Recognise the needs of gender diverse young people.
- Think about financial barriers to inclusion e.g. have some free kit available for young people to use if possible.
The guidance is split into 4 sections ranging from 'must do' to 'nice to do'. Work through these and tick off your progress as you go!