1.13 Summary of Session 1

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A young female person shouting into a megaphone.

The main learning and messages from this session are:

Safeguarding is all about preventing abuse from happening and responding appropriately when concerns arise – it is everyone’s responsibility. A positive safeguarding culture includes a commitment to human and child rights, an inclusive and open style of communication and management, and continually learning from experience. A negative safeguarding culture often includes a rigid, hierarchical approach to decision-making, a focus on sport results, and viewing athletes as commodities rather than individuals with rights. Using exercise and training as a punishment can be damaging to anyone, but in particular younger athletes. Stakeholder engagement is important – people have a right to be involved in decisions that affect them, and their involvement will lead to better decisions. Everyone has human rights – adopting a human rights-based approach shifts power to the rights-holders and helps make your organisation safer.

When you are ready, move on to Session 2 Understanding abuse, behaviour, and vulnerability, where you will learn more about understanding and identifying abuse and different forms of vulnerability.