Building safer futures in sport: the power of partnership
As we celebrate Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, Children First and Kyniska Advocacy are reflecting on our partnership to build safer futures in sport.
We believe that sport can transform lives and everyone has the right to enjoy sport safely.
Together, Children First and Kyniska Advocacy ensure that the rights of athletes of all ages are protected so that everyone can experience their right to participate in safe, supportive environments. By working to prevent harm before it happens, our partnership is helping make it possible for more girls and women to be able to enjoy the fantastic benefits sport brings safely.
The tip of the iceberg
Research by UN Women/ UNESCO Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls in Sport (2023), found that globally, nearly 21% of professional women athletes report experiencing sexual abuse as children in sport, almost double the rate of male athletes. This is shocking but in fact, we know that these statistics are only the tip of the iceberg.
Behind these figures and beyond them are real women and girls whose lives have been devastated by the trauma they have experienced. They deserve to be more than a statistic; their stories are a call to action. Sport must do better. And that starts with listening to those who have experienced abuse, investing in prevention and putting safeguarding at the heart of sporting organisational culture.
A dual approach
What sets our partnership apart is our approach to prevention. While many organisations are forced to focus solely on reactive measures, responding to abuse after it occurs, Kyniska Advocacy and Children First are building a dual framework of reactive and preventative advocacy.
Together we provide acute, direct support through case management and trauma-informed guidance, alongside proactive education and culture-building to tackle the root causes of maltreatment in sport.
From codeveloping board training and key policies to consulting on investigations and disciplinary processes, our joint efforts have supported countless individuals with lived experience and influenced key legislation.
Experience-led change
We passionately believe in experience-led action. We understand that those who’ve lived through harm are the experts in their own story and trust them to lead the way forward. The collaboration between our organisations amplifies these voices, ensuring that policies, training and support systems are shaped by real experience.
A call to action
Real change in sport requires more than statements of intent. It demands organisational courage. That means prioritising athlete safety over reputation, listening even when it’s uncomfortable and investing in prevention as much as response.
This Women and Girls in Sport Week, we call on all Scottish sporting organisations to lead with integrity, confront the root causes of harm, build trauma-informed cultures and to ensure that safeguarding is not an afterthought but the very foundation of sport itself.
Together, we can prevent harm before it happens. Together, we can protect the future of sport.
Get involved
If you’re part of a sporting organisation, a coach, a parent, or simply someone who believes in the power of safe sport, we invite you to join us. Whether it’s through training, advocacy, or support, there’s a role for everyone in building a safer sporting environment.
For more information or to get involved, reach out to Children First or Kyniska Advocacy.
This blog was written by Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport Service Manager David Black and Kyniska Advocacy Co-Founder and CEO Mhairi Maclennan (pictured below).
About Kyniska Advocacy
Kyniska Advocacy is the UK’s only athlete and survivor-led safe sport organisation, dedicated to protecting the rights and welfare of women in sport. Our mission is to advocate for safer sporting environments, educate communities on the signs and risks of abuse, and support survivors through meaningful, trauma-informed care.
About Children First
As Scotland’s national children’s charity, Children First protects children from harm, keeps them safe, and supports them to recover from trauma and abuse.
Within Children First we have two teams dedicated to helping children and young people stay safe in sport.
Our Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport Service and Case Management Support Service teams work in partnership with sportscotland to help make sport safe for all. They provide expert advice to help manage wellbeing and protection concerns about children and adults in sport and work to educate sporting organisations on the importance of safeguarding within sport.