360 Safe Play: Strengthening Integrity and Safeguarding in European Grassroots Sport
Ensuring safe, inclusive and well-governed sport environments is a core priority of ENGSO. As highlighted in our Policy Programme, integrity, good governance and safeguarding are fundamental pillars for a strong and sustainable grassroots sport movement across Europe.
Children and young people must be able to practice sport in environments that are built on trust, respect and clear protection mechanisms. Safeguarding is not only a legal or procedural matter, it is a governance responsibility. For ENGSO and its members, strengthening child protection systems directly contributes to higher standards of integrity, stronger club structures and increased confidence from families and communities.
Against this background, ENGSO is actively contributing to the development of a comprehensive safeguarding initiative – 360 Safe Play – which aims to support grassroots sport organisations in building structured and child-centred protection systems.
A Practical Contribution to Grassroots Sport
360 Safe Play focuses on delivering tangible tools and solutions for sport clubs and federations. Among its main outcomes will be:
– A practical 360° child safeguarding system tailored to grassroots sport
– A safeguarding toolkit and training resources for coaches and managers
– An early warning and reporting approach adapted to sport settings
– A digital learning platform and educational awareness tools for young athletes
– Policy recommendations supporting long-term structural improvements
These outputs are designed to be accessible and adaptable across different European contexts, offering direct added value to ENGSO members and their affiliated organisations.
Working Together at European Level
The initiative was formally launched during a two-day meeting in Barcelona (16–17 February), hosted by Fundació Pere Tarrés in cooperation with Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya (UFEC). The discussions focused on how to translate safeguarding principles into practical governance tools that can be embedded in everyday club operations.
ENGSO was represented by Floriane Poncet-Rief, Head of Programmes and Equality, and Bence Garamvölgyi, Project Manager. Within the initiative, ENGSO leads communication and dissemination, ensuring that results are shared widely across its European network and that members can benefit from the knowledge and tools developed.
By connecting safeguarding with governance and integrity standards, ENGSO continues to reinforce its commitment to strengthening grassroots sport structures across Europe – ensuring that sport remains a safe and empowering space for every child.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
