Helping to safeguard children joining sport and activity clubs

With the summer holidays almost upon us, families across the region may be looking to sign children up to sports and activity clubs.

- By Darren Worth Childline senior supervisor, North of England

These can be a fantastic way for young people to make new friends, gain confidence and skills, and to stay healthy.

But newly released data from the NSPCC Helpline shows there has been an increase in the number of parents and professionals reaching out with worries about children in sporting activities.

In 2025-26, the NSPCC Helpline handled 683 contacts from adults with safeguarding concerns for a child in a sports setting - a 10% increase on the previous year.