Imagine a young athlete who has started dreading training. Perhaps the jokes in the changing room have stopped feeling like jokes. Perhaps a coach’s comments have become humiliating. Or perhaps they are struggling with something that has nothing to do with sport at all. Who would they tell? Would they know where to turn? And would they trust that speaking up would not make things worse?

These are not questions a club can answer with a poster on the wall. They are questions about what happens every day, between training sessions, competitions and conversations that may seem small to everyone except the person having them.

Mental health belongs in the conversation

Mental health is a fundamental right, not something to consider only after the sporting results are in. That does not mean asking coaches to become therapists or expecting sports clubs to provide clinical care. It means recognising that the way a club is run, the behaviour it accepts and the support it offers can affect how people experience sport.

Sport can bring friendship, confidence and a welcome break from everyday pressures. Yet participation does not make anyone immune to anxiety, distress or mistreatment. And the athlete who seems most determined on the pitch may be the one who finds it hardest to say that something is wrong.

We have long admired the athlete who keeps going, takes the pressure and never complains. There is value in perseverance. But when resilience becomes the only answer, it can leave people feeling that they must deal with every problem alone. A supportive team should make room for the opposite: the possibility of saying, “I need help,” without fearing what will happen next.

What the State of the Art tells us

SAFE Playground has published its State of the Art: Guidelines for Safe and Inclusive Environments, a review of existing research, European policy frameworks and good practices in sport. It explores mental health, discrimination, pressure, interpersonal violence and the practical challenges of safeguarding in sports organisations.

One recurring issue is the gap between experiencing a problem and feeling able to talk about it. The report describes barriers such as stigma, fear of losing a place on the team and uncertainty about confidentiality. For younger athletes, recognising inappropriate behaviour can be difficult in the first place, particularly when it has been normalised as part of training or team culture.

The report also draws attention to the people around the athlete. A coach may be the first to notice a change in behaviour, but needs the knowledge and confidence to respond appropriately. Parents can offer a listening ear, yet expectations about results can sometimes add pressure. Club leaders set the conditions for everyone else: whether rules are clear, concerns are taken seriously and reporting routes can actually be used.

The point is not that every club member must have every answer. It is that nobody should be left to work everything out alone.

Knowing about safeguarding is not the same as putting it into practice

There is more information about safeguarding in sport than ever before. Clubs can find guidance, codes of conduct and policy templates. These are important starting points. But a written policy is of little use if a young person cannot understand it, a volunteer has never been shown how to respond to a concern or someone is unsure who will receive their report.

The State of the Art identifies this distance between policy and everyday practice as a central challenge, particularly for grassroots clubs working with limited time, staff and resources. It points to the need for accessible training, clear procedures, trusted ways to raise concerns and leadership that treats safeguarding as part of ordinary club life rather than a document to file away.

And inclusion matters here too. People do not all face the same obstacles. The report discusses discrimination and barriers affecting women, migrant and racialised athletes, and LGBTQI+ participants. A club cannot assume that a single approach will work equally well for everyone; it needs to listen to the people who actually use its spaces.

Where SAFE Playground comes in

This report is a starting point for SAFE Playground’s next steps. The project is developing a multilingual online training programme with five modules, together with practical club resources, an updated Good Practices Protocol and a Communication & Complaints Channel. These are intended to help athletes, coaches, staff, families and club leaders understand what they can do and where to turn when concerns arise.

The project also plans a SAFE Playground Diploma to recognise clubs’ work in putting safeguarding measures into practice. The idea is not to declare any club free of risk. It is to encourage a concrete, ongoing commitment that can be seen in how a club operates.

So perhaps the question is not simply whether we call ourselves a community. It is what that word means when someone misses training, goes quiet after a match or says that something is not right. Do we notice? Do we listen? And do we know what to do next?

That is the conversation the State of the Art invites us to have — and the work SAFE Playground is taking forward with sports clubs.

The State of the Art report will be available on our website, which will launch in the coming weeks.

The post SAFE Playground: What does it really mean to feel safe in sport? appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

Armed with the findings of a successful Training Needs Analysis Survey that generated over 450 responses from a range of sporting and non-sporting organisations from around the world, the partners considered the training needs of the Sport for Development sector and how these can be addressed through a package of e-learning courses. The findings are currently being collated into the official Research Report, and partners were informed that this will be published in early 2027.

The survey achieved responses not only from organisations currently engaged in Sport for Development work but also many with aspirations to contribute to this increasingly important field. The partners will be guided by practitioners in developing e-learning that plugs gaps in existing provision, with management skills such as fundraising and training/ developing other staff, plus face-to-face skills such as inclusive coaching and safeguarding all scoring highly.

The partners are also in the midst of holding roundtable discussions with practitioners across Europe and beyond. The research outcomes led to lively discussions and creative planning of the next moves. Sport for Development is a complex field, and the design and delivery of interventions varies greatly according to context. Over the coming months, the process of designing bespoke Sport for Development e-learning modules will begin, drawing upon the strengths of a diverse partnership and acknowledging the differing needs of practitioners across the globe.

Next steps were agreed upon, and following online discussions in the autumn the partners will break into writing teams to begin creating new and unique content to help develop the skills that will advance the Sport for Development profession over the next decade.

The principal strength of the SKILLS4CHANGE partnership, always evident when the partners assemble in person, is the range of perspectives, knowledge and expertise each partner brings to the table. The Copenhagen meeting ended with a strong sense of solidarity and purpose – look out for further updates as the SKILLS4CHANGE partners break new ground in support of Sport for Development practice the world over.

Participants testimonials

“I am really happy to be in this group because we are working really well. We are covering many topics because I think we understand each other and are bringing different perspectives. I am also learning a lot by being part of this project!”

Alexia Santolaya, Editor and Communication Expert, Athletes Inspire Children

“There was a good energy in the room. We are working on complex solutions so it is good that we have bonded well as a group. There will be some challenges in the coming months but we are well placed to succeed.”

Ivo Tiemessen, Team Leader (Creating Space), Johan Cruyff Foundation

“It’s great that all the partners were represented. It has been a very democratic process with a consensus reached. I’ve enjoyed the discussions – the flexible format means we’re able to dig deep without being overly directed. It’s been an open conversation. I’m so excited about where we can take this!”

Talia Kaufman, Senior Programmes Manager, the International Platform on Sport and Development

The post SKILLS4CHANGE: Third Partner Meeting Takes Place in Copenhagen appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

One key decision from the May meeting was to extend the deadline for organisations to submit survey responses to the Global Online Survey of Sport for Development Training Needs, now open until the 10th of July 2026. Add your voice to over 500 coaches, managers, policymakers, practitioners and academics who have already taken the survey!

SKILLS4CHANGE is a two-year project aiming to meet the needs of the Sport for Development (SfD) sector with a comprehensive set of free E-learning courses. The survey is an early step in the process of understanding the assets and needs in the rapidly changing sector. Through this project and other recent sector surveys, such as Res Sportiva’s recent Panorama of the sector, sportanddev has learned that SfD is less siloed than ever, with community and grassroot sports programmes in nearly every country applying SfD practices. 

This SKILLS4CHANGE partner meeting centred on a presentation and discussion of survey findings so far. Firstly, partners agreed that there needs to be a big push for responses up to the deadline, with all avenues explored to increase the response rate – using direct contacts, social media, newsletters etc.

Countries represented in the SKILLS4CHANGE survey so far (results up to 26 May)

Top ten goals of organisations who responded to the survey so far (results up to 26 May)

A key part of the survey is to explore what skills are most in need of improvement in the field of sport for development.

Top training needs of sport for development managers/ coordinators (results up to 26 May)

Top training needs of those who work face-to-face with sport for development participants (results up to 26 May)

These early findings sparked debate among partners, and it will be interesting to see the final results to gain a snapshot of training needs in sport for development globally.

SKILLS4CHANGE partners will use the findings to inform a suite of new e-learning courses for the global sport for development workforce.

During the online meeting the partners also discussed the organisation of nine roundtable discussions on skills and education in the field, planning for course development, and the next in-person meeting due to take place in Copenhagen in September.

The SKILLS4CHANGE project has been funded under the Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union (Call 2025) and has a duration of 2 years, January 2026 – December 2027.

Read more about the project at: www.s4c-sport.eu

Read more about the Survey and how to take part or promote it here

Click here to fill the SKILLS4CHANGE Training Needs Survey

Full list of SKILLS4CHANGE partners:

• SportMalta
• European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE)
• Athletes Inspire Children (AIC)
• International Platform on Sport and Development, operated by International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA)
• International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTFF)
• Palacký University of Olomouc, Faculty of Physical Culture
• Play International
• Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI)\
• The Johan Cruyff Foundation (JCF)

The post SKILLS4CHANGE: One week left to answer training needs survey appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

One key decision from the meeting was to extend the deadline for survey responses to the 26^th of June 2026. 

The main part of the meeting was built around a presentation and discussion of findings so far. Firstly, partners agreed that there needs to be a big push for responses up to the deadline, with all avenues explored to increase the response rate – using direct contacts, social media, newsletters etc.   

Countries represented in the SKILLS4CHANGE survey so far (results up to 26 May) 

Top ten goals of organisations who responded to the survey so far (results up to 26 May) 

A key part of the survey is to explore what skills are most in need of improvement in the field of sport for development.  

Top training needs of sport for development managers/ coordinators (results up to 26 May) 

Top training needs of those who work face-to-face with sport for development participants (results up to 26 May) 

These early findings sparked debate among partners, and it will be interesting to see the final results to gain a snapshot of training needs in sport for development globally.  

SKILLS4CHANGE partners will use the findings to inform a suite of new e-learning courses for the global sport for development workforce.  

During the online meeting the partners also discussed the organisation of nine roundtable discussions on skills and education in the field, planning for course development, and the next in-person meeting due to take place in Copenhagen in September.  

Read more about the project at: www.s4c-sport.eu  

Read more about the Survey and how to take part or promote it here 

>>  CLICK HERE TO FILL THE SKILLS4CHANGE TRAINING NEEDS SURVEY << 

Full list of SKILLS4CHANGE partners:  

• SportMalta 

• European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE) 

• Athletes Inspire Children (AIC) 

• International Platform on Sport and Development, operated by International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) 

• International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTFF) 

• Palacký University of Olomouc, Faculty of Physical Culture 

• Play International  

• Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI) 

• The Johan Cruyff Foundation (JCF) 

The post SKILLS4CHANGE Partners Consider First Findings from Training Needs Survey appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

The survey findings will help the SKILLS4CHANGE partners develop freely available, online, multi-lingual training courses on a global platform which will target the real training priorities of this increasingly important field. Ultimately, this will improve practice and lead to better outcomes for those who really need change in their lives.

The survey invites contributions from Sport for Development organisations and practitioners, and from people in the wider sport movement who would like to join the Sport for Development revolution.

• Format: Online and fully anonymous
• Duration: Maximum 15 minutes
• Languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Dutch and Portuguese.
• Deadline: 12 June 2026

Share the link to the survey on Sport for Development Training Needs: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/skills4change

(Options for alternative languages available on drop-down menu, top right corner of screen)

Why the SKILLS4CHANGE Survey is Important

Sport for Development (sometimes known as Sport for Development and Peace) is a worldwide movement recognised by the United Nations, European Union and national governments as a force for stimulating positive social and economic change for those most in need. Its programmes intentionally use the power of sport to promote goals such as anti-racism, social inclusion, gender equality, integration of migrant communities, integration of people with disabilities, employability, education, personal development and self-esteem, and a range of other positive outcomes and values.

BUT Sport for Development education has not received the attention it deserves. Few evidence-based training courses exist to prepare people to work in this challenging field and to reskill and upskill them for future challenges. SKILLS4CHANGE will help to fill this gap by designing freely available online training which will address the skills needs which this survey identifies.

The survey is designed to generate global data on:

• The role of Sport for Development in modern society
• Priority training needs for managers/coordinators and face-to-face workers
• Priority areas of practice
• Current approaches to training
• The role of qualifications

Once the findings have been analysed and validated through national and international consultation, the project partners will develop 10 online training courses which will address the most urgent priorities to improve the skills, knowledge and behaviours of two sets of staff: coordinators who research, design and manage Sport for Development programmes and the activator-coaches who work face-to-face with participants. These courses will be free of charge and offered in English, French and Spanish as a minimum.

Please Complete This Survey and Promote It as Widely as You Can

The SKILLS4CHANGE partnership urges all EOSE members and newsletter readers to fill in this survey and promote it through your networks to ensure a broad European and global response. As well as organisations already active in Sport for Development, we also need to reach sport federations, local and national government bodies, sport for all organisations, clubs, network associations, national Olympic and Paralympic committees, education providers and anyone else who may have an interest in Sport for Development now or in the future.   

Download survey flyer (PDF) !

The post Global survey launched to identify the priority training needs in Sport for Development appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

Building a strong foundation for collaboration

The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to connect, exchange perspectives, and establish a shared understanding of the project’s ambitions.

SKILLS4CHANGE aims to strengthen skills and capacity in the Sport for Development sector by creating practical learning tools tailored to real needs identified within the field. These tools will support organisations, coaches, and practitioners working to create positive social impact through sport.

The project is structured around four key phases:

1. Training Needs Analysis
2. E-learning development
3. Self-reflection tool
4. Impact and sustainability strategy

Partners emphasised the importance of ensuring that the project’s outputs are accessible not only to organisations already active in Sport for Development, but also to mainstream sport organisations such as federations and clubs, which may be less familiar with this approach.

Advancing the research phase

A key focus of the meeting was the research work package, which will help identify the most relevant skills and training needs across the sector.

Partners reviewed the first findings of the desk research and discussed how these insights can contribute to the design of a comprehensive survey targeting practitioners and organisations involved in Sport for Development.

The survey questionnaire was reviewed collaboratively, with contributions from all partners to improve clarity, accessibility, and relevance. Particular attention was given to ensuring the survey reflects the diversity of contexts in which Sport for Development initiatives operate.

The survey will run from mid-April to the end of May 2026, with the objective of reaching at least 400 respondents. Athletes Inspire Children will actively support the dissemination of the survey through its network, contributing to a broad and representative dataset.

Engaging stakeholders across the sector

In addition to the survey, project partners will organise consultation focus groups in June and July 2026. These discussions will provide deeper insights from practitioners, organisations, and stakeholders, helping ensure that project outputs reflect the realities and challenges faced in the field.

As an organisation committed to using sport as a tool for inclusion, education, and empowerment, Athletes Inspire Children sees this phase as a valuable opportunity to ensure that the voices of practitioners working directly with young people are represented.

Communication and dissemination

Partners agreed on the importance of strong communication to raise awareness about the project and its objectives.

Different channels will be used to reach a wide audience, including:

• Sport for Development organisations
• Sports federations and clubs
• Coaches and educators
• Academic institutions
• Policy makers

Athletes Inspire Children will contribute to dissemination activities by sharing project updates, insights, and opportunities for participation within its international community.

Next steps

Following the successful first meeting, partners will now focus on:

• Finalising and launching the sector survey
• Organising focus groups with stakeholders
• Continuing collaboration on research and communication activities

The next partner meeting will take place online in May 2026, followed by an in-person meeting planned for September 2026.

SKILLS4CHANGE is strongly positioned to support the professional development of practitioners working in Sport for Development, helping strengthen the skills needed to create meaningful and lasting social impact through sport.

About the SKILLS4CHANGE project

SKILLS4CHANGE aims to develop innovative and accessible learning pathways that support the continuing professional development of Sport for Development practitioners, as well as managers, educators, and coaches interested in strengthening their ability to deliver social impact through sport.

By improving skills and knowledge across the sector, the project seeks to enhance the quality and sustainability of Sport for Development initiatives and maximise their positive impact on individuals and communities.

Project partners

The SKILLS4CHANGE partnership brings together leading organisations working at the intersection of sport, education, and social impact:

• SportMalta
• European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE)
• Athletes Inspire Children (AIC)
• International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev / ISCA)
• International Table Tennis Federation Foundation (ITTFF)
• Palacký University Olomouc – Faculty of Physical Culture
• Play International
• Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI)
• Johan Cruyff Foundation (JCF)

The post SKILLS4CHANGE Project launches with first partner meeting in Malta appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

SAFE Playground — Newsletter #1

Words that introduce us. Words that stay with us.

It’s soul for Katerina, alegría for Rosario; seny i rauxa for Gil and Joan. And lüften. Words that, for some of us who met for the first time in Giessen, carry a special meaning — or that we’ve picked up from other languages along the way. They helped us break the ice. And we’d like them to guide how we move through this Erasmus+ project, too.

Welcome to SAFE Playground 👋

The soul of SAFE Playground

The name says it all.

SAFE Playground was created with a clear purpose: to build safer environments in sports clubs and organisations, focusing on something essential — mental health and wellbeing for athletes and for the wider ecosystem around them: coaches, staff, families, and leadership.

When we say “safe”, we also mean “healthy”. And when we say “healthy”, we’re talking about culture, habits, prevention, noticing things in time… and having real tools to act when it matters. 

Lüften…

Open up. Air out. Let fresh air in.

SP starts from a very real place: in sport (especially in competitive settings), pressure, stress, and certain risk situations can seriously affect psychological wellbeing. Many clubs want to do things properly — but often lack structure, clear protocols, training, and practical resources that don’t feel heavy or unrealistic.

We want to fill that gap with a practical, scalable approach, building on previous learning and strengthening/updating tools that already exist. In other words: less theory in the abstract — more breathing space, more clarity, and more action. 

Seny i rauxa

Good judgement and boldness. Method and creativity.

We have two years ahead of us. The issue is clear — now comes the important part: understanding real needs, designing a useful programme, creating meaningful training content, and developing tools that actually work in the everyday life of clubs.

We’ll do it with seny: rigour, listening, good sense — measuring, evaluating, fine-tuning.

And we’ll do it with rauxa, too: staying open to what emerges, what shifts, what evolves — leaving room for creativity and for solutions that don’t just “tick the boxes”, but truly help. 

Along the way, SAFE Playground is working towards some very concrete goals:

• Updating and expanding tools and protocols (and, most importantly, their real implementation in clubs).
• Designing and launching a multilingual online training programme on mental health, prevention, and response.
• Creating a SAFE recognition system (Diploma/Certification) for clubs that put it into practice for real.
• Improving the digital support and reporting channel, making it more integrated, user-friendly, accessible, and confidential.
• Boosting international collaboration and awareness through workshops, activities, and dissemination. 

La alegría

A project is also a team (and without a team, this doesn’t breathe!!!).

SAFE Playground brings together training, practical tools, a digital support and reporting channel, and a recognition/certification system — to help clubs move from theory to action.

But for that to happen, the most important thing is simple: who’s doing it.

On the SAFE stage:

Coordination — AIC (Germany): holding the thread, keeping the rhythm, connecting the pieces.

Protocols, the communication channel, and the structure — Mithra Legal Advisors (Spain): bringing order where it’s needed and turning it into usable tools (including online).

Academic grounding and evidence — CUS-Palermo (Italy): research, the “state of the art“, wellbeing — the sport from the inside.

Training and the MOOC — UVic-UCC (Spain): turning all this into clear, practical learning that’s easy to replicate and adapt.

Real-world club implementation — TC Favorite (Bulgaria): testing, adapting, refining… and showing what works in daily club life. 

And this is how we begin

With soul, with air, with judgement and boldness… and with alegría.

This is SAFE Playground: a project designed to support the day-to-day reality of sports clubs and organisations — so that sport becomes a space for growth, not burnout. A safe place. A place that takes care. 

The post SAFE Playground: Creating safer cultures in sport appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

The post JUMPS AND ENCOUNTERS – Final4 in Cologne appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

At Athletes Inspire Children, we believe in the power of positive influence. That’s why we support initiatives like the EHF Youth Club Trophy, a European Handball Federation competition that brings together youth teams from across Europe to compete, grow and connect. Its Final 4, held on 14–15 June 2025 in Cologne, takes place at the same time as the TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4, creating a meaningful connection between grassroots handball and the highest level of the sport.

For Barça professional player Timothey N’Guessan, seeing the next generation compete in the same city and in the same colours is a proud moment.

“It’s a real pleasure to see Barça’s young players following in our footsteps. It’s a fantastic initiative by the EHF. We already have two or three of them training with us, and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on them. I wish them the best. Above all, I hope they enjoy themselves and have fun. That would be my advice for them.”

But inspiration doesn’t only come from the thrill of competition. It comes from people. That’s where the Respect Your Talent programme makes a real difference. Developed by the EHF, this initiative supports young athletes in their personal development through sessions with experienced player ambassadors. These mentors share not only their technical skills, but also their experience with mental health, media, education and life balance.

“I became a Respect Your Talent ambassador because I saw the opportunity to give back, to pass on the lessons I’ve learned. If even one young player takes something from what I share and uses it, that’s already a success for me,” says Hans Lindberg.

Former Spanish international Nerea Pena knows how powerful representation can be. As a child, she idolised Jackson Richardson because, at the time, there were very few visible female handball players. Today, she understands the importance of becoming that role model for others.

“Those of us who played at the highest level and appeared regularly on TV have to be an example for the girls. We need to stay true to ourselves, but also take care of the image we present to the next generation. It’s important to show them a clear work ethic they can admire and follow as they build their own future.”

For Nerea, being part of Respect Your Talent is about more than just handball.

“I think it’s a great programme. We talk, for example, about the importance of not giving up on education because of sport. Studying has helped me a lot. It clears my mind and gives me something beyond handball to focus on. I always tell young players to find what they love and do it alongside their sport. I’d love to be a reflection of that. I’ve studied a lot, I’ve learned two foreign languages, I have a university degree and two master’s degrees. I’ve always tried to keep learning. That’s how we grow, not just as athletes, but as people.”

Creating these connections isn’t just about building better players. It’s about building stronger futures. When young girls see women leading both on and off the court, and when boys grow up learning to value respect, empathy and resilience, sport becomes a powerful tool for social change.

At Athletes Inspire Children, we are proud to support programmes that create these moments of inspiration. Because sport isn’t just about performance. It’s about people. And behind every champion is a child who once dared to dream.

The post Inspiring the next generation: why role models matter in sport appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.

The post Leonie Fiebich. For all the girls appeared first on Athletes Inspire Children.