Safeguarding Matters with the Ann Craft Trust Ann-Craft-Trust

Jodi Evans talks to former International Rugby Player Rhys Thomas about his life journey and the lessons he has learnt along the way.

In the early 2000s, Rhys had a thriving international sports career as a capped Welsh rugby player. But in 2012, aged just 29, he suffered a massive heart attack during training, which would change his life forever. 

Rhys is now on a mission to share his unique life experiences to create positive change. He strives to help others reach their full potential through greater self-awareness, perspective and choice.

Nicola chats with Robbie Jacques, who plays for Nottingham Lions FC, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s only LGBTQ+ football team.

The two discuss the rising acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities in professional and grassroots football.

Robbie's recently received a nomination for the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT as part of the National Diversity Awards.

"I believe everyone should be comfortable doing what they love without fear of discrimination and abuse. I believe we have the potential to change attitudes now more than ever. LGBTQ+ friendly clubs can play a significant role in providing a safe and supportive space for players and supporters, irrespective of sexual orientation, gender identity, race and religion."

Learn more about Nottinghamshire Lions FC here.

Robbie also recommends The Gay Football Supporters' Alliance, as a great resource for anyone who wants to know more about LGBTQ+ friendly clubs. 

Nicola talks to Stuart Gallagher a Senior Lecturer at The University of Worcester, about a course he runs: a Post Graduate Certificate in Leading Culture Change in Safeguarding.

She also chats with two students who have taken this course: Victoria Wiegleb from The English Cricket Board, and Kath Bennett from The Rugby Football Union.

Stuart describes the course as "a course for people who are short on time. It's a flexible course for really busy safeguarding leaders. It respects your time, and your work/life balance."

The course allows participants to learn not about safeguarding, but around the subject. It encourages participants to thinks about safeguarding in a different way. How can we change what is, particularly in sport, quite a well-defined process?

Throughout, Stuart, Victoria and Kate refer to The Munro Review. This was an independent review into child protection in England, which called for "a move from a compliance to a learning culture." The three consider how much the safeguarding community has taken onboard this report's lessons: How do you do things right, and do the right thing? It's not an either/or choice. You need to do both!

They also discuss the idea of being a positive "rebel at work". This is a campaign that encourages people to improve and innovate in the work place through asking: What are you doing to make things better? You can learn more about Rebels at Work here.

If you want to learn more about Stuart's Leading Culture Change in Safeguarding post graduate certificate, head to The University of Worcester's site.

On Monday 20 March I had the exciting job of visiting the world famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in Nottinghamshire to speak to Nottinghamshire Men’s Fast Bowler Luke Fletcher and coach Paul Franks, with one of the Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding in Sport Managers, Nicola Dean.
As a cricket fan living in Nottingham, it’s hard not to know the history of Trent Bridge, one of the oldest cricket grounds in the world, or about the success of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.  Nicola and I were interested to hear and see how culture, good or bad, plays its part in the success of one of England’s top sports clubs.


As you'll hear in the podcast, Nottinghamshire Cricket Club places a lot of emphasis on building a positive culture. As soon as Nicola and I stepped through the gates at Trent Bridge, you could feel and see that staff were happy in their work. The person working on the gate gave Nicola a brief history of the ground, and we could tell that he enjoyed coming to work.


This continued as Luke came to greet us with a box of new kit, excited about his new stash for the upcoming season.  After 15 years, ‘Fletch’ could be forgiven for taking his stunning work surroundings for granted. But you can still see the excitement as he walked down the steps of the pavilion and took us out to the pitch. He stopped briefly to see how the ground staff were before talking us through what a good cricket pitch looks and feels like.


The impromptu tour continued to the kitchens, where Fletch and the chef had a light-hearted exchange about what was on the lunch menu for the upcoming pre-season friendly. We could sense a culture based on mutual respect, where everyone was comfortable and appeared happy in their work. 


As we discuss in the podcast, a good culture means encouraging everyone to be the best version of themselves and to have fun in their work. But, if anyone sees, hears, or feels anything isn't right, they call out the poor practice early so that it doesn't become "the norm".  


Thanks to Luke, Paul and Nottinghamshire Cricket Club for their wonderful welcome and openness to sharing with us what a safe culture means for them. Good luck for the season ahead!


- Stuart Sale, CEO, Ann Craft Trust

University of Nottingham student Bridget Tunney is currently volunteering to help The Ann Craft Trust promote Safeguarding Adults Week.

In this podcast, she introduces herself and discusses Rugby Minds, a University of Nottingham safeguarding in sport campaign.

Rugby Minds aims to improve the welfare and culture in the university men’s and women’s rugby teams. Bridget and Nicola discuss this campaign, its aims, and its parallels with The Ann Craft Trust's #SaferCultureSaferSport campaign.

Peer support networks can make a huge difference in helping organisations achieve safeguarding best practice.

In this edition of Safeguarding Matters, Nicola Dean talks to  Cassi Wright, Head of Safeguarding at Crystal Palace FC, and Ashlee Byrne, Senior Safeguarding Officer for the British Horseracing Authority. 

They discuss the importance of peer support in safeguarding. They also offer some tips for anyone looking to set up their own peer support network. In short - reach out to people! You'll find that most people are happy to help.

They also talk about the upcoming Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding Conference in Nottingham.