IPSOS Publishes Case Study of Ann Craft Trust’s Successful Collaborations

 

As a System Partner for Sport England, Ipsos UK invited The Ann Craft Trust, along with 11 other organisations, to take part in an evaluation. This was an investigation into how organisations work with local partners in order to make a difference in communities, and to tackle inequalities in sport and activity.

This case study focuses on the ways in which the Ann Craft Trust collaborates with diverse stakeholders across the sport and physical activity sector on the topic of Adult Safeguarding

Ipsos UK led a consortium that also involved New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC) at Sheffield Hallam University. Their aim was to understand how successful partnerships work on the ground.

An Open Discussion

The core of the project involved a collaborative online workshop. This was an open discussion of:

• How our partnership functions – what works well and what could be better.
• The challenges and opportunities we see in our local area.
• The impact we feel we are having together.

13 organisations attended the online session in January 2026, representing Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport and National System Partners.

Strengthening Our Connections

Emma Gibson, Head of Safeguarding Adults in Sport at The Ann Craft Trust, said:

I would like to personally thank those partners who willingly gave their time to talk about how collaboration works in the context of adult safeguarding in sport. The results are as in this case study and I believe this process has successfully identified how our partnerships work, including the opportunities that the adult safeguarding in sport network brings.

We will take stock of the information contained within this case study and the identified key learning, with a view to strengthening the connectivity that we already have amongst our sport partners.

We also thank Sport England for their influence in driving up the agenda through their funding of the Ann Craft Trust, the mandating of the Sport Framework for partners and the investment in the Sport Welfare Officer network, all of which are contributing to improvements in adult safeguarding knowledge, confidence and practice across the sector.

Collaboration is Key

Mathew Lea, National Safeguarding Manager at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), said:

I would like to thank the Ann Craft Trust for inviting the LTA to participate in this evaluation.

It was an excellent opportunity to share our experiences, thoughts and feedback, as well as hear about good practice and ideas from other organisations.

Collaboration is a key part of effective safeguarding, and this was a great opportunity for all involved to identify learnings, strengthen relationships and improve safeguarding practices.

Room for Improvement

Ultimately this case study also confirms that while there is effective collaboration and buy in for adult safeguarding, progress remains uneven in places. As a Trust, we will continue to advocate for and support our partners in addressing these inequalities. We also remain committed to our vision:

We can stop the abuse of all adults through raising awareness, building understanding, and working together.

Learn more about our vision, and our strategic plan for achieving this goal.

Access The Full Case Study Here