Safeguarding Training Requirements for GBR athletes and supporters

In consideration of the Whyte Review, safeguarding training requirements were extended from 1st February 2023 to all athletes in the ADP, those age 16 and over who are selected to GBR squads and all adults that accompany them to representative events.

(Related news posts – https://www.britishfencing.com/safeguarding-and-selections/)

On this page:

• Who needs to be trained?
• What training is required?
• Why do I need to be trained?

Who needs to be trained?

1. Adults that accompany GBR athletes/teams to events for which a BF selection has taken place, either domestically or internationally. This includes all parents that wish to travel to support internationally at Cadet, Junior and Senior level.
2. ADP athletes (all coaches and staff are already mandated)
3. Athletes aged 16 and over selected to compete for GBR at EFC and FIE events.

What training is required?

Free training will be offered through the ADP programme and will be an online learning module made available to groups 1 and 3 listed above.

If you are a GBR athlete or parent of a GBR athlete not in the ADP and wish to be emailed details of these sessions please contact us through this form here.

We will also accept any of the following courses (all valid for three years), provided certificates are uploaded into the BF membership platform.

• Safeguard Core workshop
• Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport Training (Scotland only)

We will also accept the following course provided they are dated prior to 1st December 2023 and the certificates are uploaded to

• UK Coaching’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport workshop – BF will accept the online classroom version of this course (England and Wales).

• BF Online Renewal Safeguarding & Protecting Children Course (Fencing Specific) (renewal course, requires prior completion of SPC)

Why do I need to be trained?

The welfare of all participants in fencing is a priority for British Fencing.

Trained Welfare Officers (required for all affiliated clubs and licensed competitions, register can be found here) already play a critical role in creating safe and inclusive environments where people can enjoy fencing.

All our registered coaches (register can be found here) and our staff already undertake mandatory safeguarding training.

However, the responsibility for safeguarding does not sit solely with them, it sits with everyone. There are additional safeguarding risk factors that exist for athletes when they travel and research (multi-sport) indicates that National team level athletes are also more at risk from abuse and harassment. Not just from people in positions of power but also from peers.

Understanding what is abuse and harassment, how to spot it, how to report concerns (both in the UK and internationally) and the role that we can all play in creating safe environments for athletes to compete is an important aspect of any person’s involvement with the GBR pathway.

Reporting Safeguarding and Welfare Concerns (a reminder)

If you are an adult and you wish to report a concern, click here.

If you are looking for Mental Health Support, click here

If you are U18 and you have experienced or observed any form of harassment or abuse, or any behaviour that has made you feel uncomfortable we encourage you to reach out click here.

If you have experienced or witnessed any form of harassment or abuse whilst competing internationally at FIE competitions, you can also report it direct to the FIE here.

Please note that all concerns can be raised anonymously but this may affect our ability to take action.