Sports Safeguarding · UAE & GCC
Sports Safeguarding Consultancy
Practical safeguarding support for sports federations, clubs, academies, schools, events and organisations seeking to create safer environments for athletes and participants.
Authority
Safeguarding Expertise Grounded in International Sport
SLT Sports' safeguarding work is led by Dr Sarra Lajnef-Taylor, OLY, a member of the World Aquatics Athletes Safeguarding Council.
Her experience brings together athlete representation, sports governance, executive leadership, national federation experience and first-hand understanding of elite sporting environments.
Athlete Voice
Active member of the World Aquatics Athletes Safeguarding Council.
Governance
National federation and executive sports-leadership experience.
Safeguarding Framework
Six Connected Components
A complete safeguarding framework connects six components. Weakness in any one of them affects the whole.
01
Policy
Written safeguarding policy aligned to the sport, age groups and jurisdiction.
02
People
Defined roles, designated leads and clear safeguarding responsibilities.
03
Reporting
Confidential reporting routes that are understood by every participant.
04
Education
Consistent training across staff, coaches, volunteers and parents.
05
Events
Safeguarding planning integrated into every event the organisation delivers.
06
Culture
A culture in which participant safety is prioritised in everyday practice.
Common Organisational Gaps
Where Good Intentions Fall Short
The most common gaps we encounter are not malicious — they are operational. They are also addressable.
Policies Exist but Responsibilities Are Unclear
Documents are in place, but staff and coaches are unsure who owns what, or how a concern actually moves through the organisation.
Reporting Routes Are Not Understood
Reporting mechanisms exist but are not visible to participants, parents or volunteers in a way that builds trust.
Training Is Inconsistent Across Staff & Coaches
Some teams have completed safeguarding training; others have not, leaving the organisation exposed at the participant level.
Safeguarding Services
Four Core Service Blocks
Engagements are scoped around four core blocks. Secondary detail is available in the panel below.
Framework & Policy Review
Independent review of existing safeguarding policies, codes of conduct and role-specific procedures.
Reporting & Governance
Review of how concerns are reported, recorded, escalated and referred across the organisation.
Education & Workshops
Practical safeguarding awareness sessions for leadership, staff, coaches, volunteers, athletes and parents.
Event Safeguarding Planning
Safeguarding considerations integrated into sporting-event planning and on-site delivery.
Detailed Inclusions
Athlete Welfare Reviews+
Roles & Responsibilities+
Compliance Mapping+
Organisational Culture+
Implementation Support+
Consultancy Process
How an Engagement Runs
Consult
Initial confidential conversation to understand context and concerns.
Review
Document and process review against good practice.
Assess
Gap assessment identifying areas requiring strengthening.
Recommend
Practical, organisation-specific recommendations.
Implement
Policy, framework and education support during rollout.
Revisit
Follow-up review to refine implementation where needed.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sports safeguarding?+
Sports safeguarding is the set of policies, responsibilities, processes and cultural practices that protect athletes and participants in sporting environments. It applies across age groups and disciplines.
Which sports organisations need safeguarding policies?+
Federations, clubs, academies, schools, event organisers and any organisation responsible for participants in a sporting context all benefit from clear, documented safeguarding arrangements.
Can SLT Sports review an existing safeguarding framework?+
Yes. We can review existing policies and processes and identify practical opportunities to strengthen them.
Can safeguarding workshops be delivered for coaches and employees?+
Yes. Education and awareness sessions can be delivered for leadership, employees, coaches, volunteers, athletes and parents.
Can SLT Sports support safeguarding planning for an event?+
Yes. Event-specific safeguarding planning is a defined part of our service.
Is safeguarding only relevant to children?+
No. Safeguarding applies to athletes and participants of all ages, including adult elite athletes and vulnerable adults.
Strengthen Safeguarding
Strengthen Safeguarding Across Your Organisation
Confidential, organisation-specific support for federations, clubs, academies, schools, events and sporting organisations.
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