Parents in Coventry and Warwickshire urged to check their child's safety during physical activity
NSPCC have seen nearly a 50% rise in helpline calls with concerns about a child’s welfare in a sport environment
Across Coventry and Warwickshire, sports clubs and parents are being urged to support NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport campaign after almost 50% rise in Helpline contacts.
Last year the NSPCC Helpline received 623 contacts from adults across the UK with concerns about a child’s welfare in a sports setting, a 47% increase on the previous year.
The Helpline also handled 135 contacts from sports professionals, including coaches, club staff, and volunteers – over three times the number it received the previous year.
Rosie Murden is a campaigns manager in the Midlands for the children's charity, she said: "The increase could be due to better knowledge of the helpline alongside adults looking out for issues such as bullying or physical or sexual abuse.
"We take any concern about a child very seriously and we welcome the fact that adults feel more confident to use our helpline to raise any issues they may have seen, or heard.
"Anything that effects a child's health or wellbeing is vitally important and should be addressed."
Rosie added: "We all play a vital role to safeguard children in our communities.
"We can do this by finding out who the safeguarding leads at our local sports clubs are and where you can find their safeguarding policies."