While there is no one method for involving the various stakeholder groups, talking to parents, coaches and children through community meetings, games or surveys - even if only informally - can begin the dialogue and develop some ownership and understanding of the process.
It is essential to ask these target groups what their understanding is of how they should:
Behave towards each other (e.g. parents towards coaches)
Be treated by each other (e.g. coaches by children)
Respond to suspected harm or abuse (e.g. not promising to keep it a secret)
Report suspected harm and abuse (e.g. to the club and/or authorities)
It is important to start a dialogue with children on what they perceive as risks and unsafe situations. Learning from them directly allows those that develop policies and procedures to anticipate potential risks and to signal to children that their voices are heard and taken seriously.
You can access a series of resources titled “Creating a Safer World” when wanting to find out how to talk to children about protection and safeguarding. The resource is available in English and French.
The right of children to participate in the issues which affect them and the need to develop a partnership approach towards working with children and young people is the focus of a comprehensive publication titled “Children’s participation in child protection".
