Safe Sport Day 2026: A Day in the Life

To mark Safe Sport Day on 8 August, Jacqueline Wilson from our Case Management Support Service (CMSS) shares a day in her role dedicated to making sport safer for children. 

Playing with my son generally involves some kind of Paw Patrol mission. Phrases from the show such as “ready for action” and “whenever you’re in trouble, just yelp for help” are frequently repeated. It often strikes me how apt these are in my working life as a project worker in the Case Management Support Service (CMSS). Our aim is to keep children and adults safe in whatever sport they choose to take part in. We do this by supporting sports governing bodies (SGBs) in Scotland to create safe environments for everyone taking part in their sport.  

Every day feels different and while I might have a plan of what my day will look like, an email or phone call can change it all, something I’m sure many can relate to! We’re always "ready for action” and we respond to any enquiries as soon as possible.   

Much of my role is about helping SGBs navigate wellbeing and protection concerns. Sometimes that means providing advice on the steps they need to take to manage potential risks of harm to children or adults. Other times, it’s about being a trusted sounding board – listening, offering reassurance and helping people find the best way forward. Safeguarding roles can feel quite isolating, so being there to support staff and volunteers is just as important as providing technical guidance.  

No two organisations are the same, which is why building strong relationships is such an important part of the job. Whether we’re reviewing policies, discussing complex cases, taking part in disciplinary panels or meeting SGBs in person to better understand the sports they govern, every conversation helps strengthen the systems that keep sport safe.  

We also design and deliver training on investigations and disciplinary processes and we’re about to launch new training on interviewing adults. Seeing people leave these sessions with greater knowledge and confidence to respond appropriately to wellbeing and protection concerns is extremely rewarding.   

Forty-eight invested SGBs to our network group days. We usually have a wide range of sports represented and this creates opportunities to have open conversations about what “being safe” looks like in a sporting context and to share ideas about what we can do to make things better for all children and adults.   

One of the best things about my job is the team – everyone is so supportive and always willing to help. Within the team, there are a wide range of skills and this enables us to learn from each other and give the best response to an SGB when we receive a wellbeing or protection concern. Everyone is passionate about keeping children and adults safe in sport and this shines through in all our conversations and interactions with each other and with our partners. It’s a great team to be a part of!   

On a personal level, both my children are involved in sport, and I can see the huge benefit it has in supporting their physical and mental health, how much they enjoy being part of a team and the camaraderie that comes with it.   

Safe Sport Day reminds us that keeping children and adults safe must always be the top priority.  It’s a call to action – Stand up. Speak out. Play your part. It encourages us all to reflect on the role we play in creating safer environments and making safe sport more visible.   

Both personally and professionally, I believe that all children and adults have the right to participate in sport in an environment where they feel safe, respected, included and listened to.   

Safe Sport Day gives us the opportunity to share this message far and wide. In sport, speaking up when something doesn't feel right is one of the most important ways we can protect one another. Whether you're a child, parent, coach, volunteer or official, never be afraid to “yelp for help” as the Paw Patrol team would say. When it comes to keeping sport safe, we all have a part to play – and we all need to be ready for action.