LAUREUS USA SAFEGUARDING POLICY

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation was founded to fund and promote the use of sport as a tool to tackle social problems worldwide. As a key player in the sport for development field, Laureus Sport for Good funds and supports a global network of community-based sports projects impacting the lives of children and young people. Hence, robust policies and procedures must be in place to ensure that Laureus Sport for Good manages and mitigates risks in relation to the safeguarding and protection of children, young people, and vulnerable adults around the globe.

Laureus USA’s Safeguarding Policy serves as a local adaptation based on Laureus Sport for Good’s global policy and global standards.

The Safeguarding Policy provides a set of guiding principles and procedures to ensure that Laureus USA does all it can to protect and empower the children, young people, and vulnerable adults it impacts, wherever they may be. 

LAUREUS USA SAFEGUARDING POLICY HERE

What is safeguarding?

‘Safeguarding’ refers to the proactive actions we all take to protect all participants, namely children, young people, and vulnerable adults, from harm so they can have safe and effective experiences.

• All individuals and organizations working with children, young people, and vulnerable adults directly or indirectly, including both service providers and funders, have a responsibility to foster the care and protection of the children, young people, and vulnerable adults and act at all times in the best interests of the child, young person or vulnerable adult.

• All participants, children, young people, and vulnerable adults have the right to participate, enjoy, and develop through sport and otherwise in a safe and inclusive environment, free from all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, and exploitation.

• Some children, young people, or vulnerable adults are more vulnerable than others to abuse, and organizations working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults need to take steps to assess and address the different levels of risk that children, young people, or vulnerable adults in their programs may face.

• Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and not be discriminated against based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, beliefs, religious or political affiliation.

Do you need to file a report?

For information about responding to disclosures and reporting procedures, read section 5 in Laureus USA’s Safeguarding Policy and email safeguardingUSA@laureus.com. 

Speak to us about Safeguarding – If you have any questions or concerns about Safeguarding in Laureus Sport for Good or a programme supported by us, please contact:

Laureus USA Safeguarding Officer
Peter Feldman
peter.feldman@laureus.com
+1 347.673.3614

Additional Resources:

#WeRideTogether

For more information about FREE abuse prevention tools and resources, safeguarding education, policy consultation, and more, contact #WeRideTogether at info@weridetogether.today.

#WeRideTogether is a nonprofit organization created to cast light upon the endemic issue of sexual abuse in youth and amateur sports. Their mission is to make the youth and amateur sport environment safer for all athletes. They believe sport should be the safest and healthiest place for children and young adults to grow and flourish, and that every individual has the right to learn, play, and compete without fear of sexual abuse. #WeRideTogether is committed to creating the radical change needed to fulfill that vision by addressing education and awareness, creating a safe place for survivors to find resources and share their voices, and eliminating the stigma around these necessary conversations.

Free Athlete Helpline

The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call, text, and chat service for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone in sports communities who has questions or concerns about abuse or mental well-being in athletics. Call or text 888-279-1026 or go to www.athletehelpline.org.

International Safeguards for Children in Sport

Find out how to develop policies, practices, and procedures to keep sport fun and children safe. These Safeguards aim to outline the things that should be put in place by any organization providing sports activities to children and young people. The Safeguards should be viewed as guides that facilitate an organization’s journey towards safeguarding children rather than an end in themselves.

All grantees must have their own safeguarding policies consistent with Laureus USA’s Safeguarding Policy and aligned with the International Safeguards for Children in Sport. (For more details, see Section 3.4 of Laureus USA’s Safeguarding Policy.)

Safeguarding Self-Audit Tool

Any organization can utilize Laureus’ free, anonymous safeguarding self-audit tool aligned to the International Safeguards for Children in Sport framework. When the webpage opens, be sure to click the relevant language link in the upper right corner and read the Information and Instruction tabs first. Click here to get started.