7.10a What does existing evidence show about safeguarding risks for children and young people in sport and sport-based activities, and what further evidence is needed to strengthen child protection and welfare processes?

Background

DCMS is committed to ensuring that sport remains a safe environment for all, particularly children and young people. We seek robust evidence to strengthen child protection processes, recognising that welfare is the foundation of participation and essential for breaking down barriers to opportunity. Simultaneously, to align with the 'Fit for the Future' focus on prevention, we require an urgent evaluation of the UK Concussion Guidelines. We need to understand the barriers to their adoption and effectiveness in high-risk sports to mitigate acute health impacts, reduce the burden on the NHS, and ensure the long-term wellbeing of participants.

Next steps

Get in touch with [email protected]

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Mild Trauma Impact Sensor (MTIS): development of a new, highly-accurate sensor platform to measure and track repetitive, subconcussive head injuries in adolescents and amateur sports teams

    Across the sporting world there is growing concern about long-term health outcomes of traumatic brain injury. Recent evidence suggests that repeated exposure to both concussive ([Wilson et al., 2017][0]) and subconcussiv...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: IMPACT DETECT LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on developing a sensor platform to measure and track head injuries in sports, aligning with the need for evidence to strengthen child protection processes in sport.

  • (Re)assessing the risk agenda: Exploring social discourses of risk and tailoring measures to reduce injury risk in recreational adolescent runners.

    Globally, running is one of the most popular physical activities among children and adolescents [1]. In England, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a 4.5% increase in the prevalence of 5 to 16 year olds taking part in running,...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project explores injury risk reduction measures in adolescent runners, which is related to the broader topic of safeguarding risks for children and young people in sport.

  • Smart headband for brain health management in school and grassroots sport

    Concussion, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a growing issue in contact sport, with significant increase in former players being diagnosed with early onset dementia. This is a gr...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: HEADX LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on developing a smart headband for brain health management in sports, which is relevant to the discussion on safeguarding risks for children and young people in sport.

  • Traumatic Brain Injury Thresholds Study (TBI-TS)

      Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by external forces that injure the brain. However, the biomechanical threshold for head impacts that result in TBI is largely unknown. This fundamental gap in knowledge limit...

    Funded by: MRC

    Lead research organisation: IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON

  • Performance Protection

    Rezon is revolutionising performance in sport through brain protection. Backed by world-leading expertise and technology, Rezon has created Halos(r), a ground-breaking headband offering athletes unparalleled brain protec...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: REZON LTD