Sport Welfare on Tour 2026

Active Kent & Medway’s Sport Welfare Officers, Rachel Daly and Jimmy McCormack completed a week-long Sport Welfare on Tour from 28 September – 4 October 2026, stopping off at local sport and leisure venues around Kent. The main objectives of the Tour were to:

• offer informal drop-in sessions for anyone involved in sport and physical activity
• connect with local clubs, coaches, volunteers and participants around the county
• share advice and resources
• promote safe, positive and inclusive sport.

A promotional campaign about the tour began one month before the start date with scheduled posts on Active Kent & Medway’s social media channels, alongside articles in newsletters and club emails. A marketing toolkit, which included venue specific posters, digital screen assets plus social media graphics and copy, was developed and shared with the venue providers to help them promote the tour locally.

To encourage local clubs to stop by and connect with the Sport Welfare team, the team offered a prize draw to win one of 10 A-frame notice boards. A practical way to display Club Welfare Officer information and strengthen visibility of welfare support within clubs.

At each of the 8 venues, the table set up was colourful and welcoming, with interactive elements to encourage connections and conversations. The Tour also offered a simple, visible way to ask children and young people what helps them feel safe in sport. Their written responses provide a useful snapshot of what safety feels like from their perspective.

Responses to the question ‘What makes you feel safe in sport?’ were captured through Graffiti boards. Young people described safe sporting environments as places that not only had rules and safeguarding processes but places where they felt they belonged, were treated with kindness and fairness, had trusted adults and were able to enjoy sport with confidence.

What Young People Told Us…

• Relationships and belonging matter

Young people link feeling safe with being around people they know and trust and part of a community where they feel accepted.

• Trusted adults play a vital role.

Coaches, teachers and parents help young people feel safe when they are kind, approachable, listen and offer support.

• Positive behaviour creates safe environments.

Kindness, respect, honesty, good manners and helping others are central to young people’s experiences of safety in sport.

• Clear rules and fairness are important.

Young people value environments where expectations are understood, rules are followed and everyone is treated fairly.

• Inclusion helps children feel secure.

Feeling welcomed, accepted and able to participate without exclusion is a key to feeling safe.

• Being listened to matters.

Clear communication and having trusted people who listen to their worries and concerns are important.

• Safety is linked to enjoyment.

Fun, encouragement and a friendly atmosphere help young people feel comfortable, confident and safe to take part.