England Hockey is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, welcoming and positive environment for all adults involved in hockey. Every adult has the right to participate free from abuse, harm and exploitation.
This section focuses specifically on Adults at Risk, who may require particular safeguarding support because of their care and support needs and their circumstances. Abuse and neglect are not always easy to recognise, and an Adult at Risk may not always feel able to disclose what is happening.
Everyone involved in hockey has a responsibility to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. Clubs and hockey organisations should listen to the Adult at Risk, involve them in decisions, respect their wishes wherever possible and follow the approved safeguarding procedures when a concern arises.
The England Hockey Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy explains who is considered an Adult at Risk and the specific safeguarding responsibilities that apply across hockey. Concerns involving adults who do not meet this definition should still be taken seriously and addressed through the appropriate conduct, disciplinary, welfare or support route.
Who is an Adult at Risk?
Under the Care Act 2014, Local Authorities, the Police, and Health Services have a legal duty to provide additional protection to adults at risk of abuse or neglect. England Hockey recognises and supports these responsibilities and works in line with this legislation.
- An Adult at Risk is defined as someone who is aged 18 or over and:
- Has needs for care and support (whether or not these needs are being met by the local authority)
- Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect
- As a result of their care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from the risk of, or experience of, abuse or neglect
England Hockey is committed to recognising when someone may be an adult at risk and responding appropriately to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
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The Safeguarding Adults Policy is designed to inform and guide everyone involved in our sport on all aspects of adult safeguarding. It outlines how to recognise and respond to concerns, and sets out the roles and responsibilities for those across the hockey community.
England Hockey encourages all clubs, members, and participants to adopt, implement, and promote this policy and procedure within their environments.
England Hockey believes that everyone — including participants, staff, and volunteers, has the right to feel safe, respected, and supported while taking part in hockey. We are committed to fostering a positive culture where safeguarding concerns are recognised, responded to appropriately, and where the rights, wishes, and dignity of adults are respected.
Any action taken by England Hockey will reflect the core principles of adult safeguarding: it will be prompt, proportionate, and will include and respect the voice of the adult concerned.
Where necessary, England Hockey will take appropriate disciplinary action in line with our Disciplinary Regulations, Spirit of Hockey - Codes of Conduct, and this Safeguarding Adults Policy where a breach by members, staff, or connected participants is alleged.
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This depends on your role and whether you are working in regulated activity with adults at risk. The criteria for needing an adult DBS check is different to those for children and it is highly unlikely that anyone involved in hockey will meet them. To qualify for an enhanced adult DBS check with an adult barred list check included, you will need to be doing one of the following activities in regulated activity:
- You are providing healthcare to an adult at risk (Only including first aid when it is performed on behalf of an organisation.
- You are providing personal care to an adult at risk (e.g. helping with eating/drinking, washing, dressing, oral/skin care)
- You are providing social work for an adult at risk.
- You are assisting with the general household matters of an adult at risk (e.g. managing a person’s money, doing their shopping)
- You are helping to conduct the affairs of an adult at risk (e.g. you have the power of attorney under the Mental Capacity Act 2005)
- You are transporting an adult at risk (Only applies to making trips for healthcare, personal care and social work. Drivers for trips that do not meet these criteria do not require a DBS check)
Those who are performing training, teaching, assistance, advice or guidance roles for adults that are receiving health or social care will usually not meet the requirements for regulated activity and therefore will not be required to get an Enhanced DBS Check. However, people in these roles may still qualify for an Enhanced Check without the adult barred list check if they are in an environment where most of the participants are receiving health or social care and meets one of the following criteria:
- The activity they perform occurs more than three days in any period of 30 days.
- It involves staying overnight with an adult at risk.
- The activity they perform occurs at least once a week on an ongoing basis.
Even if a person does not meet the requirement for a DBS check, it is still important that any organisation performs a thorough recruitment process and have thought about whether someone is suitable for the role that they are undertaking.
For more information about DBS Checks for working with adults at risk in sport, please consult the Disclosure and Barring Service’s guidance leaflet.
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All clubs should adopt and promote the England Hockey Safeguarding Adults Policy. Clubs do not need to create their own separate policy, but they should ensure that the England Hockey policy, reporting procedures and supporting guidance are understood and applied within the club.
Safeguarding Adults at Risk requires a distinct approach from safeguarding children and young people. Definitions, legislation, reporting considerations and decision-making principles differ. Adult safeguarding should involve the Adult at Risk, take their wishes seriously and support them to make their own decisions wherever possible.
An adult’s wishes are important, but they do not prevent appropriate action in every circumstance. Where consent, mental capacity or information sharing is uncertain, clubs should follow the approved reporting procedure and seek advice from the England Hockey Safeguarding Team rather than deciding alone
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England Hockey is committed to ensuring that hockey is a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone involved — including adults at risk. Understanding adult safeguarding is essential for clubs, coaches, volunteers, and officials to help protect individuals and promote a culture of care.
To support this, England Hockey recommends the following adult safeguarding training, delivered by leading organisations in the sector:
Ann Craft Trust
The Ann Craft Trust is a national charity dedicated to safeguarding adults in sport and activity. Their training is tailored to help individuals and organisations recognise, respond to, and prevent harm. Recommended courses include:
For more information about the Ann Craft Trust please visit: www.anncrafttrust.org
UK Coaching
UK Coaching offers a range of learning opportunities relevant to adult safeguarding and inclusive practice. Recommended courses include:
- Safeguarding Adults in Sport
- Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity
- Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity+
- Inclusive Coaching Practices
For more information about UK Coaching please visit: www.ukcoaching.org
Who Should Complete This Training?
England Hockey encourages anyone in a position of trust or responsibility, such as club committee members, coaches, team managers, and welfare officers, to complete adult safeguarding training. This helps ensure that adults participating in hockey are supported, respected, and protected from harm.
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England Hockey is committed to supporting clubs, volunteers, and individuals with practical tools and guidance to help create safe, inclusive, and well-governed environments.
The below resources are available to be utilised by clubs, volunteers.- Understanding Safeguarding
- Policies and Procedures
- Terminology and Procedures
- Safer Cultures
- Safeguarding Essentials
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All members, staff, and volunteers, whether adults or children, have the right to raise complaints with England Hockey. Complaints differ from whistleblowing, as they can be made by anyone both inside and outside of England Hockey. Adults, young people, and children can raise complaints by following the England Hockey Complaints Procedures.
If your concern involves an adult at risk, please refer to and use the England Hockey Safeguarding Adults Procedures.
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An example could involve a team manager who is responsible for overseeing a group of adult volunteers beginning a romantic or sexual relationship with one of those volunteers, while still holding decision-making power over their role, opportunities, or selection.
Even among adults, this can be a breach if the relationship is not disclosed or managed appropriately, as it can create conflicts of interest, perceptions of favouritism, and undermine the integrity of the environment. -
Action on Elder Abuse
A national organisation based in London. It aims to prevent the abuse of older people by raising awareness, encouraging education, promoting research and collecting and disseminating information.
Tel: 020 8765 7000
Email: enquiries@elderabuse.org.uk
www.elderabuse.org.ukAnn Craft Trust (ACT)
A national organisation providing information and advice about adult safeguarding. ACT have a specialist Safeguarding Adults in Sport and Activity team to support the sector
Tel: 0115 951 5400
Email: Ann-Craft-Trust@nottingham.ac.uk
Men’s Advice Line
For male domestic abuse survivors
Tel: 0808 801 0327
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline
Tel: 0800 999 5428National 24Hour Freephone Domestic Abuse Helplines
Tel: 0808 2000 247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Contact-usRape Crisis Federation of England and Wales
Rape Crisis was launched in 1996 and exists to provide a range of facilities and resources to enable the continuance and development of Rape Crisis Groups throughout Wales and England.
Email: info@rapecrisis.co.uk
www.rapecrisis.co.ukRespond
Respond provides a range of services to victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse who have learning disabilities, and training and support to those working with them.
0808 808 0700 (Helpline)
Email: services@respond.org.uk
www.respond.org.ukStop Hate Crime
Works to challenge all forms of Hate Crime and discrimination, based on any aspect of an individual’s identity. Stop Hate UK provides independent, confidential and accessible reporting and support for victims, witnesses and third parties.
24 hours service:
Telephone: 0800 138 1625
Web Chat: www.stophateuk.org/talk-to-us/
E mail: talk@stophateuk.org
Text: 07717 989 025
Text relay: 18001 0800 138 1625
By post: PO Box 851, Leeds LS1 9QSSusy Lamplugh Trust
The Trust is a leading authority on personal safety. Its role is to minimise the damage caused to individuals and to society by aggression in all its forms – physical, verbal and psychological.
Tel: 020 83921839
Fax: 020 8392 1830
Email: info@suzylamplugh.org
www.suzylamplugh.orgVictim Support
Provides practical advice and help, emotional support and reassurance to those who have suffered the effects of a crime.
Tel: 0808 168 9111
