Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of people involved in sport and physical activity across Lincolnshire remains a fundamental priority. During the year, Active Lincolnshire worked with local, regional and national partners to strengthen safeguarding practice across the sector.

Training and Learning

Through the Safeguarding and Welfare Training Fund, delivered in partnership with UK Coaching, NSPCC and relevant National Governing Bodies, 20 clubs accessed safeguarding and welfare learning.

One representative from each club completed UK Coaching courses, two completed NSPCC training and their mandatory NGB safeguarding training, and 40 members were offered in-person emergency first aid training. As a result, 87% of learners reported increased confidence and 97% felt better equipped to carry out their role.

Sector Support and Resources

Active Lincolnshire continued to provide sector support through the Sport and Welfare Officer Network, enabling welfare officers, coaches and clubs to access guidance, build confidence and improve their practice.

The knowledge hub complemented this support by providing practical resources, including an accessible Safeguarding and Welfare Guide co-designed with young people, national partners and Thinkclusive. This contributed to stronger policies, clearer procedures and greater confidence in responding to welfare concerns across clubs and activity providers.

Targeted Safeguarding Workshops

Alongside formal learning, Active Lincolnshire delivered targeted workshops addressing emerging safeguarding challenges.

The Understanding Gangs in Sport workshop engaged 32 delegates from clubs, activity providers, local authorities and children and young people teams. The session focused on county lines, criminal exploitation, online harms and the role of sport in early intervention. Average self-assessment scores increased from 5.7 out of 10 before the session to 8.2 out of 10 afterwards.

Partnership Working

Partnership working underpinned this activity. At a regional level, the East Midlands Welfare Forum was established to support welfare officers and safeguarding leads to share practice. Membership reached 197 by December 2025 and has since grown to 485 across the East Midlands.

Youth Coaches Safeguarding Peer Programme

The Youth Coaches Safeguarding Peer Programme was piloted across four clubs, engaging 14 coaches and supporting 10 young coaches.

Evaluation indicated improvements in safeguarding knowledge, confidence to lead sessions, ability to respond to concerns and understanding of reporting pathways. Young coaches also reported increased confidence in supporting young people and acting as positive role models.

Be Safe, Have Fun Campaign

The Be Safe, Have Fun campaign was developed with young people and safeguarding partners to help children and young people understand what feeling safe in sport looks like, build confidence and know how to speak up if something does not feel right.

By providing practical resources and conversation-starting activities, the campaign helped clubs and activity providers create more inclusive environments where young people feel heard, respected and able to enjoy being active.

Overall Impact

Overall, this programme of work strengthened safeguarding practice across Lincolnshire by improving access to support, increasing confidence among coaches and volunteers, and contributing to safer and more inclusive environments for children, young people and communities.

Key Outcomes

• Improved safeguarding confidence and capability across 20 local clubs through funded access to recognised training and learning.

• Strengthened the volunteer and coach workforce, with 87% of learners reporting increased confidence and 97% feeling better equipped to carry out their role.

• Increased access to emergency first aid training, with 40 members offered in-person support to improve immediate response in club and activity settings.

• Raised awareness of emerging safeguarding risks through the Understanding Gangs in Sport workshop, reaching 32 delegates from clubs, activity providers, local authorities and children and young people teams.

• Improved understanding of county lines, criminal exploitation, online harms and early intervention, with average self-assessment scores rising from 5.7 to 8.2 out of 10 following the workshop.

• Expanded regional collaboration through the East Midlands Welfare Forum, which grew from 197 members in December 2025 to 485 members across the region.

• Supported the development of young coaches through a safeguarding peer programme involving four clubs, 14 coaches and 10 young coaches.

• Created youth-informed safeguarding resources through the Be Safe, Have Fun campaign, helping young people better understand what feeling safe in sport looks like and how to speak up.
  

Find out more about our work in Safeguarding here.