Sporting chance for the helpers?

THERE are lots of people willing to give up their time to ensure today's youngsters enjoy the same sporting and social opportunities they did.

But volunteer sports coaches and helpers at youth clubs are being made to adhere to stricter regulations about disclosure.

Before they can even lay down cones for kids to dribble a football round, or offer to take four children in their car for an away rugby match, adults have to undergo thorough checks to ensure maximum protection for youngsters.

There are obvious reasons for these measures, not least to stop sex offenders and others with criminal pasts working with children. At present there are more than 3500 adults on the Sex Offenders Register in Scotland and vetting is required to ensure that none is allowed access to children.

But a recent report by sportscotland – a government body set up to oversee sport and its development in Scotland – found the vast majority of those subject to the checks did not mind being vetted, contrary to anecdotal evidence that suggests many are put off by filling out long and complex forms.

The agency says there is a widespread feeling that would-be helpers are discouraged from getting involved.

Its report reads: "We often hear that increased requirements to child protection and increased awareness of child protection issues has a detrimental effect on attracting, retaining and organising volunteers in sport. However, this has tended to be based on assumption rather than fact."

Without doubt those wishing to volunteer with larger organisations have administrative back up but smaller groups are often put off by the paperwork.

There is also the cost to be considered. There is the initial £150 to register with Disclosure Scotland, and an additional £10 for each person they want to be a "signatory" for the scheme. On top of that it costs £20 to have each form processed.

Despite these obstacles, research carried out in conjunction with Edinburgh-based charity Children 1st found 90 per cent of club representatives agreed checks were necessary for the protection of children, and more than half of all sports clubs in Scotland had some kind of written code of conduct relating to child protection.

The research goes on to highlight other findings that show that almost all clubs had sufficient information about the issue at their disposal, and that 91 per cent of volunteers were aware of what child protection involved.

Kathleen McInulty, manager of the Child Protection in Sport Service, run jointly by sportscotland and Children 1st, said: "Children and young people enjoying their chosen sport, whether it is a kick-about in the park, an after-school club, or something more competitive, is something that should be encouraged.

"The findings reveal that most adults can see how various measures like disclosure checks or child protection policies play a real part in keeping children safe. Sport is something that children and adults can enjoy together, and we are delighted adults are not being put off."

The report quotes one sports club volunteer who says: "I think it's right that we have things in place which make sport safe and fun for everyone. Sometimes it means a bit more paperwork but that isn't much when you consider the benefits.

"At our club the coaches, volunteers, parents and – most importantly – the children, understand that the welfare of our youngsters is the priority."

The study was carried out to see how improved information could be circulated to clubs and potential volunteers.

And while the measures in place benefit children who may have been at risk without them, there is a huge proportion of helpers below the top brass in sports clubs who are harmed by it.

Those who give up a couple of hours a week to help out, either because they want to retain an involvement in the sport they love, or because they have a child or a younger sibling involved, are the ones being pushed out.

It is this body of undervalued and rarely appreciated volunteers that sport in Scotland is losing, according the Capital-based Scottish Parent Teacher Council.

It is calling for child protection measures to be relaxed around those who come together to form the backbone of grassroots sport.

"What it does not do is distinguish between those in key positions at the head of organisations and those who just come along to help out," said the SPTC's development manager Judith Gillespie.

"By and large, people who are very central to clubs and spend a lot of time there do not mind filling these forms out and getting the required disclosure. If anything it protects them as much as it does the children because it guards them against accusations and so forth.

"The report reflects that, but what it doesn't do is speak to the people below them, because when the research was being carried out those people who would help out but don't have time to fill out the paperwork weren't there. It can be the difference between someone giving up their time and not doing it.

"We don't feel it is necessary for people with that level of involvement to be subject to these checks because they very often work in groups and in fact don't have that much control or responsibility over the children in any case. Despite that, the heads of sports clubs are very reliant on the lower tier of volunteers and without them a lot of things would simply not be possible."