NSC, Human Services partner to strengthen child protection in sport

Child safety in sport took centre stage on Friday, when the National Sports Commission (NSC), in collaboration with the Human Services and Social Security Ministry and the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), hosted a child safety and protection sensitisation workshop for coaches, trainers and sport organisers.
The important initiative was staged at the National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown, and brought together key stakeholders in the sporting community, including coaching staff attached to the NSC and representatives from several national sporting associations.
The workshop was spearheaded by Assistant Director of Sport Melissa Dow-Richardson, whose efforts were instrumental in bringing the programme to fruition.
The session was facilitated by resource personnel from the Child Care and Protection Agency, who guided participants through discussions on safeguarding protocols, reporting mechanisms and the responsibilities of coaches and administrators in ensuring the wellbeing of young athletes.
Delivering remarks at the brief opening ceremony were Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, Dow-Richardson and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Dr Erica Forte.
In his address, Ninvalle underscored the growing need for deliberate action to protect children within the sporting environment.

While sport is often viewed as a vehicle for discipline, development and opportunity, he noted that the issue of child protection is sometimes overlooked as organisations focus on performance, competition and infrastructure.
According to the Director of Sport, safeguarding young athletes must become a central pillar of sport administration. He emphasised that federations, clubs and coaches must take proactive steps to ensure that children participating in sport are protected from abuse, exploitation and any form of harm.
Ninvalle noted that creating safe sporting environments is not simply an administrative obligation but a moral responsibility shared by everyone involved in the development of young athletes.
Permanent Secretary Dr Forte echoed similar sentiments, praising the collaboration as both timely and necessary.
She noted that while sport plays a critical role in shaping young lives, discussions around child protection often only arise after incidents are reported.
Dr Forte commended the NSC for taking a proactive approach, stressing that initiatives such as the workshop represent a crucial step toward embedding safeguarding policies across the sporting landscape.
She also expressed hope that the sensitisation exercise would not be treated as a one-off event but would instead serve as the beginning of continuous training, dialogue and policy development aimed at strengthening child protection frameworks within sport.
Also speaking with media on the side-lines of the workshop was Orette Francois, senior probation and social services officer with the CCPA and the lead facilitator of the session.
Francois emphasised that educating coaches and sport administrators about child protection conventions, policies and reporting procedures is essential in building safe and supportive environments for young athletes.
He explained that coaches often serve as mentors and authority figures, making it vital that they understand the boundaries, responsibilities and warning signs associated with safeguarding children.
Participants were also encouraged to recognise their role in ensuring that sport remains a secure space where young people can develop their talents, confidence and discipline without fear of exploitation or abuse.
The workshop represents what organisers described as one of the most important collaborations between the sporting and social protection sectors, highlighting a growing recognition that safeguarding young athletes must remain at the forefront of national sport development.
With youth participation continuing to expand across multiple disciplines, stakeholders believe that sustained education and vigilance will be key in ensuring that sport remains not only competitive but also safe and nurturing for the next generation.