Advertise on podcast: Safeguarding Matters with the Ann Craft Trust

Jodi Evans talks to Lucy Kidd from Kent County FA, and Andy Fearn from Protection Approaches, about how active bystander training can help prevent harmful situations from escalating. They talk about the Flag It Active Bystander workshops, which provide practical tips on how people can safely intervene when they encounter potentially abusive situations in a football setting. What stops people from coming forward and speaking up?How can we prevent harm without endangering ourselves?If we can't prevent abuse from happening, how can we offer the right support?

Jodi Evans talks to Joanne Wheatley, Regional Outreach Manager at The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Joanne discusses how she uses workshops, podcasts, and other free resources to help people understand what DBS checks are for, and which sort of checks are required for each role. Joanne and Jodi also explore how DBS checks can help prevent abuse, and how a check is just one part of a wider safer recruitment strategy.

Ann Craft Trust Head of Safeguarding Adults Lisa Curtis talks to Alison Gardner, a researcher at the University of Nottingham's Rights Lab, about the exploitation of adults with cognitive impairments. Dr Alison Gardner shares findings from a two-year research project that explored how cognitive impairments can increase risks for adult exploitation. The study explored how people are targeted for exploitation. It also asked why cognitive impairments might make one more at risk of exploitation.

Ann Craft Trust Head of Safeguarding in Sport Emma Gibson talks to Emma Thomas, a sport ethicist specialising in safeguarding in Muay Thai. Emma Thomas is a trustee board member at Safe Sport International. This stems from her experience as a Muay Thai fighter and a survivor of sexual violence in her sport. She is also the founder of Under the Ropes, an online platform promoting safe and inclusive cultures in Muay Thai, focusing on the elimination of gender-based violence. Emma recently completed her master’s degree in Sports Ethics & Integrity, and for her thesis, she conducted the world’s first study on women’s experiences of sexual harassment and abuse in Muay Thai. This involved trauma-informed interviews with survivors and an analysis of safeguarding policies implemented by federations.

Jodi Evans talks to University of Nottingham Sociology and Criminology student Bella Hamilton about her experiences of safeguarding adults in Ibiza. Bella volunteered with 24-7 Ibiza, a community outreach and support organisation based on the Spanish island.  In this podcast, Bella talks about how the organisation works to safeguard adults in Ibiza. She discusses the relationships she built with other volunteers and organisations, and the importance of good communication in keeping people safe.

Jodi Evans talks to Deborah Peat, a new trustee at The Ann Craft Trust, about the experiences that inspired her to focus on safeguarding adults.  Deborah was the former safeguarding lead at Open University. Unfortunately, she recently suffered a brain haemorrhage. While recovering, she saw a lot of very vulnerable patients. She also witnessed some quite distressing instances where patients were being abused by members of their family, including an instance of cuckooing. Deborah and Jodi discuss how quickly our lives and our circumstances can change, which means that we could all become more at risk of abuse and coercion at some point. Deborah's experiences highlight the importance of advocacy and speaking out. They also demonstrate the power of people, networks, and communities in looking out for each other.

Jodi Evans, Safeguarding Adults in Sport Manager for Wales, talks to Georgina Jones about Grief Disco. Grief Disco is an initiative to help people work through grief with the power of music and movement.  "At Grief Disco, we don’t dance to forget. We dance to remember, to honour, and to reconnect—with ourselves, with joy, and with each other. Music helps us shake off the weight of sorrow, even if just for a moment, and reminds us that life still holds space for movement, laughter, and healing'"

Jodi Evans talks to Catherine McLaughlin, Deputy CEO / Director of Services & Development at the Suzy Lamplugh Trust. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust runs The National Stalking Helpline, a free service offering advice for victims of stalking. They also run free Bystander Training sessions for all kinds of organisations. These half-hour sessions empower individuals effectively intervene when they see harassment taking place, without putting their own personal safety at risk. Jodi and Catherine discuss how stalking and harassment can take place, with particular emphasis on sport settings. They also talk about the steps people can take to prevent this form of abuse - whether you're a victim of it yourself, or you suspect that someone you know is being harassed. 

In this episode of Safeguarding Matters, Jodi Evans talks to Lou Crawford, Brain Health Educator at Head Safe Football.  Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive, degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive head impacts. In a sport setting, repeatedly heading a ball can eventually lead to CTE. The symptoms can appear gradually, over the course of years. Plus, they can stay the same for years before getting worse. Jodi and Lou discuss the risks of repetitive head impact in sport, and how footballers are particularly at risk. They also talk about how cultural changes can help prevent head injuries in sport. Communication can play a big role here. For example, footballers will tell everyone if they hurt their hamstring. But they may not tell anyone if they have a headache, which can be an early symptom of CTE. You can learn more about CTE on the Head Safe Football site.

Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding Adults Manager Laura Thorpe talks to Madison Clarke about her Faithful Safeguarding podcast. Madison hosts the Faithful Safeguarding Podcast with Petros, a not-for-profit offering resilience training and support. The podcast has explored a number of topics, including the safer recruitment, the importance of proper boundaries, and proactive safeguarding in diverse sectors. In this podcast, Madison and Laura discuss how safeguarding works in a spiritual setting. They also explore the factors that can contribute to a safer culture in a faith organisation.

Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding Adults in Sport for Wales Manager Jodi Evans talks to Mhairi Maclennan – Co founder and CEO of Kyniska Advocacy. Kyniska Advocacy work with UK sporting communities to influence change in welfare and wellbeing policies for women in sport. Jodi and Mhairi discuss the work of Kyniska Advocacy, and how working in partnership can help prevent abuse in sport.   Among other things, they cover what we mean when we talk about "participant voice", and explore how sport organisations can effectively listen and respond to their participants to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all.

Laura Thorpe, Safeguarding Adults Manager at The Ann Craft Trust, talks to Daniela Smith and Jessica Johnson from Our Dementia Choir. Our Dementia Choir uses music to bring happiness, connection, and comfort to people affected by dementia. The choir performs throughout the country and offers support and resources to raise awareness and funds. Laura, Daniela, and Jessica discuss the work of the choir, the importance of person-centred support, and the amazing power of music to bring people together. They also offer some tips on how listeners can use music to transform their own worlds.

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.