Safeguarding Protocols and Good Practices

Safeguarding protocols are there for one simple reason: so no one ever feels unsafe, unheard, or unprotected within a mentoring or sports environment.

They are not long documents hidden in a drawer — they are living agreements that tell everyone involved how we keep people safe and cared for.

A good protocol helps you know what’s expected, what to do, and who to turn to if something feels wrong.

When these rules are clear, mentors don’t have to rely on instinct or guesswork. They can act confidently, knowing they are protecting both the mentee and themselves.

Safeguarding protocols create trust. They show that safety and dignity are not left to chance — they are part of the plan.

Across the world, there’s strong agreement on what good safeguarding looks like. UNICEF, UN Women, the IASC, and Safe Sport International all highlight that effective safeguarding is based on prevention, accountability, and empowerment.

In practice, this means:

• Everyone has a duty of care. Safeguarding isn’t only for coordinators or managers — it’s part of your everyday mentoring role.
• Prevention comes first. Risk assessments, boundaries, and consent are not about control; they’re about avoiding harm before it happens.
• Clear procedures save time and protect people. Having one agreed way to raise a concern ensures no one is left guessing what to do.
• Voices must be heard. Mentoring spaces must make it safe for participants to speak up — without fear of blame or exclusion.

These principles come directly from the International Safeguards for Children in Sport (UNICEF, 2014) and UN Guidelines on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (IASC, 2018).

They’ve been adapted here for your reality as a mentor: small-scale, personal, and relationship-based work.

Every club or organisation should have a safeguarding policy — but what really matters is that you know it, believe it, and use it.

Here’s what strong policies have in common:

a) Clear Code of Conduct

It explains how to behave safely and respectfully. For mentors, that means:

• Respecting physical and emotional boundaries.
• Using professional communication (no late-night messages, no private meetings).
• Asking for consent before sharing stories, images, or personal details.
• Treating everyone equally, with no exceptions.

b) Simple and Safe Reporting Pathways

Everyone should know who to talk to and how. Good systems:

• Name a specific safeguarding contact person.
• Offer more than one way to raise a concern (verbal, form, email).
• Guarantee confidentiality and protection from retaliation.

c) Informed Consent and Data Protection

Before sharing a story, image, or quote, you must:

• Explain clearly how it will be used.
• Get explicit, voluntary consent.
• Make sure the person knows they can change their mind later.

These rules protect participants, but also your own integrity as a mentor.

Safeguarding doesn’t have to be abstract. These are tools you can start using today:

The “If Something Happens” Guide

If a mentee tells you something worrying:

1. Listen without judgment.
2. Thank them for trusting you.
3. Don’t promise secrecy.
4. Write down the facts as they said them.
5. Contact your safeguarding focal point.

Even if you’re not sure it’s serious — report it. It’s better to overreact than to stay silent.

The “Consent Conversation”

Before sharing anything related to your mentee (story, image, quote):

“Would you feel comfortable if I share this? You can always say no or change your mind. I’ll explain exactly where it will appear and why.”

Short, respectful, and transparent. That’s what real consent looks like.

Your Personal Safeguarding Promise

Write down two or three personal commitments you’ll always keep. For example:

• “I will never make a mentee feel pressured to share more than she wants.”
• “If I’m unsure what to do, I will ask for guidance before acting.”
• “I will model the same respect I expect from others.”