Rise North East

05/10/2026

And that’s a wrap for our 2026 campaign!

Thank you to everyone who attended our workshops and engaged with our top tips over the last two weeks, and we hope you’re feeling better prepared for your new sport seasons.

Comment below any changes you’ve made to make this a safer, more inclusive and welcoming season for your club!

How can we support you for the rest of the season? Let us know your ideas and any topics for training and workshops you would like us to organise.

Don’t forget to get in contact for a chat with your Sport Welfare Manager or invite us to visit your club – we'd love to meet you and see how we can best support you! To find out more, visit https://www.risenortheast.co.uk/get-involved/sport-welfare-officers/

Sarah, Richard & Rowena

01/10/2026

tip #5

It’s time to start planning how your club will get involved with this years’ safeguarding and welfare campaigns! ✍️

Getting involved with campaigns is a great way to remind your club community that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility.

Coming up 16th-22nd November is Safeguarding Adults Week. Check out the Ann Craft Trust’s campaign page for how you can be involved: https://www.anncrafttrust.org/events/safeguarding-adults-week/

Get involved in local campaigns or fundraising for local charities such as mental health charities – this is a great way to raise awareness of welfare challenges and issues that may impact your members.

Keep up to date with your Rise Sport Welfare team as we’ll be planning lots of free events for upcoming campaigns throughout the year! , for more information visit:

30/09/2026

tip #4

It’s vital to have a club welfare officer in place, but does everyone in your club know who it is, and what they’re there to do? 🤔

Be sure to highlight yourself/the welfare team and let people know that they can speak to you if they have a worry – here's a few easy ways of doing that:

📷 Add your picture, contact details, and reasons why you should be contacted onto the club website and your club’s social media

🪧 Display a poster with your name and contact details at your club – you can download templates from your sport’s National Governing Body, the NSPCC Sport, and the Ann Craft Trust websites.

👋 Introduce yourself in any pre-season meetings or during the first few weeks of training sessions

⭐ Increase your visibility by wearing a club t-shirt/ lanyard showing your role

✏️ Provide easy ways for club members to leave feedback – use anonymous feedback boxes, send surveys, and speak to members at club sessions.

28/09/2026

tip #3

Are you up to date with the new change in DBS rules?

From 1st September, self-employed individuals and those in supervised roles who work with children or adults at risk (including voluntarily) in regulated activity now require an Enhanced DBS check.

What does this mean for sports clubs and activity providers? This means that previously some roles working under supervision of another – for example as an assistant coach or parent helper – didn’t require a DBS check as long as the person in the supervisory role held one. This has now changed and the new rules remove this ‘supervision exemption.’

For more information please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/change-to-the-definition-of-regulated-activity-with-children-from-1-september-2026

The start of the season is also a good time to make sure everyone who is eligible in your club has a DBS check that is no more than 3 years old.

DBS checks are a vital part of safer recruitment, helping to ensure those in trusted roles are safe and suitable.

✅ Check your sport’s National Governing Body website for guidance on which roles require a DBS and how to apply.

You can also find out more info here 👉 https://safeguardingsports.campaign.gov.uk/

25/09/2026

After six years as Chair of our Board of Trustees, we’re sorry to see Simon Gordon stepping down. At this week’s board meeting he passed on the reins to our new chair, Mark Tweedie.

A further change sees a new trustee with legal experience, Tom Seed, being welcomed to the board as Matt Cormack steps down after eight years’ service.

A huge thank you to Simon and Matt, and welcome to Mark and Tom.

Find out more:

After six years as Chair of our Board of Trustees, we’re sorry to see Simon Gordon stepping down. At this week’s board meeting he passed on the reins to our new chair, Mark Tweedie. Since joining the board in 2020, Simon steered Rise through major changes, including the transfer of County Durham...

24/09/2026

tip #2

Some roles – like coaches and club welfare officers – must complete sport-specific safeguarding training every three years.

Now is a good opportunity to check that everyone in your club is up to date with their required training.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Encourage your volunteers, members, and parents to complete safeguarding training too. There are some great FREE courses and resources available, including easy online options you can do in your own time.

Free online safeguard training resources:
🔗 https://www.highspeedtraining.co.uk/courses/safeguarding/safeguarding-in-sport/
🔗 https://sport.nspcc.org.uk/resource-library/videos/parents-in-sport-e-learning-course/

In-person training:

From Pitch to performance: Coaching with the Menstrual Cycle in Mind

Thursday 24th September
18:00-20:00
In-person
Durham County FA Headquarters, Chester-le –Street, DH3 3QR
Paid parking available

23/09/2026

A pledge to work to make sure people across the North East can cycle, regardless of ability, was signed by 85 attendees, including from organisations and people with lived experienced across the region at the North East's first Accessible Cycling Conference. Read more 👇

Earlier this month, English former Olympic cyclist, Chair of Sport England, Active Travel England Commissioner and Wheels for All Patron, Chris Boardman CBE, addressed a sold-out crowd at the North East’s first Accessible Cycling Conference. The event, jointly hosted by the North East Mayoral Stra...

22/09/2026

tip #1

A new season is a great opportunity to review your policies.

Some things to consider:
✅ Are your children’s and adults’ safeguarding policies up to date?

✅ Do you have clear procedures in place if a concern arises?

✅ Do you have the up to date contact details for your sport’s safeguarding team, your local authority children’s services, LADO, and the adults safeguarding team?

We’ve pulled together some useful resources to help you:

For guidance and templates for safeguarding children – visit NSPCC Sport’s website: https://sport.nspcc.org.uk/

For guidance and templates for safeguarding adults’ - visit the Ann Craft Trust’s website: https://www.anncrafttrust.org/

21/09/2026

Welcome to the Back to Sport campaign where we’ll be sharing information and top tips to help you in your return to sport following the summer break!

Whether you’re a sports coach, volunteer, or parent / guardian, throughout the next two weeks there will be something for you!

We’ll also be teaming up with local experts to offer you free online training in a range of topics to help you to be as best prepared for your season ahead from social media support, to giving effective feedback, and how to create a positive club culture.

Join us over the next two weeks as we help you kick off your new sport season!

Learn more here: https://www.risenortheast.co.uk/get-involved/sport-welfare-officers/

18/09/2026

There is still time to sign up to our fully funded North East Secondary PE Conference, in partnership with The Active Education Alliance and Youth Sport Trust!

📅 Tuesday 6th October - 9:00 - 15:00

📍Sunderland College (Bede Campus), Durham Road, Sunderland SR3 4AH

ℹ️ Delegates will come together with other secondary PE teachers from across the region for a day of learning, practical ideas and discussions. This is a great opportunity to hear from industry leaders and network with colleagues from across the region.

🎟️ Tickets are limited, please e-mail [email protected] for details.