With 42 UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children courses having taken place across England and Wales so far in 2021, over 500 coaches and activators have already completed the online course with many more signed up to take part in courses across the rest of the year.
Developed in partnership with the NSPCC and CPSU, the UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children courses are led by British Triathlon tutors who have gone through UK Coaching training to deliver the triathlon-tailored course.
These courses are helping to make sure that coaches and activators across the two Home Nations have the tools and confidence to make their triathlon environment a safe place for all children and young people involved.
In order to protect participation, training and competition environments, Triathlon England and Welsh Triathlon updated their safeguarding standards for all coaches and activators at the end of 2020, giving them 2021 to attain and retain a safeguarding course and DBS check suitable to the environment in which they coach or lead.
Through the course, attendees become aware of signs of abuse, children who may be at greatest risk, and how to take appropriate action where concerns arise. They will also be able recognise areas of their coaching and leading practices that may need reviewing following the session, as well as areas of good practice that they currently demonstrate.
The UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children course, as well as the UK Coaching Safeguarding Adults course, require a three-year renewal which all coaches and activators will be required to undertake.
Helen Marney, Director of Development at British Triathlon, said: “The uptake of these courses has been fantastic in the first few months of this year, and I’m delighted that the coaching and activator community is so committed to making triathlon a safe place to be.
“The safety of everyone taking part in swim, bike, run is central to what we do, and that goes beyond simply ensuring they are fit to take part. We want to make sure that anyone who wants to get involved in our great sport is able to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment, and training and educating those leading within the sport is key to that.”
Coaches and activators have until the end of 2021 to complete the Safeguarding and Protecting Children course, with a range of dates and times for the online course now available to sign up to over the coming months.
