Awareness, Response, and Good Practice – How Sport and Activity Organisations Can Help Address Domestic Abuse
Download The Domestic Abuse in Sport and Activity Toolkit
With thanks to Broxtowe Women’s Project for their support and contribution.
Sport and physical activity can be a lifeline for people experiencing domestic abuse. It can provide a safe space, a trusted community, and time away from coercive control.
Domestic abuse affect anyone. But anyone involved in sport and activity, whether they are participants, coaches, staff, volunteers, or supporters, is in a unique position to spot the signs, and provide support where it is needed.
Sport and activity can provide a safe space. But despite this:
- Abusers may restrict access to sessions, or isolate victims
- Victims may be reluctant to disclose due to stigma or fear
- Coaches, staff, volunteers and teammates may be unsure of the support they can offer, or of what they can do if they spot the signs
The Purpose of this Toolkit
This toolkit should help people in the sport and physical activity sector to:
- Have confidence in talking about domestic abuse, both broadly and in response to specific cases
- Acknowledge that domestic abuse can and may be happening within their sport, helping to avoid the ‘it doesn’t happen here’ mindset
- Recognise the signs of domestic abuse
- Respond safely to disclosures or concerns
- Understand referral pathways
- Embed good practice into safeguarding frameworks
- Consider how to manage a situation if they suspect that a club member or participant may be an abuser
Who Is This Toolkit For?
- Sport & activity clubs
- National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
- Active Partnerships (APs)
- Leisure/Gym providers
- Coaches
- Volunteers
- Safeguarding Leads and Welfare/Safeguarding Officers
- Anyone taking part in sport or physical activity
You can also access the toolkit online, below:
Navigate The Domestic Abuse in Sport and Activity Toolkit
- Understanding domestic abuse, and domestic abuse legislation
- Why domestic abuse matters in sport
- Recognising the signs of domestic abuse in a sport setting
- Responding to a disclosure of domestic abuse in a sport setting
- How to support someone following a domestic abuse disclosure
- Responding to internal allegations
- Perpetrator services and self-disclosure
- Embedding good practice
- Key messages for sport and activity organisations
- Directory of useful support organisations
Understanding domestic abuse, and domestic abuse legislation