Active Sussex and Places Leisure Join Forces for Pop‑Up Safeguarding Event 

A successful pop-up event between Active Sussex and Places Leisure has helped strengthen safeguarding culture in Mid Sussex.

Active Sussex Sport Welfare Officers (SWOs) teamed up with the leisure provider to deliver the engagement event at The Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill on February 5th.

The event was a chance not only to strengthen local safeguarding awareness but also to build new connections with clubs, coaches and parents.

Angela Nilmadhub-Watson, one of the Sport Welfare Officers, said: “In the lead‑up to the event, both Places Leisure and Active Sussex encouraged clubs to drop in and access a range of welfare resources and project support. 

“This helped create a welcoming environment on the day, with a steady flow of parents, club representatives and welfare officers stopping by to engage with us.”

“It was fantastic to talk to such a wide range of people, plus it gave us a chance to hear more about what they need help with – insight that will help us design future events.” 

Supporting parents, clubs and welfare officers

Throughout the event, SWOs distributed parent pocket guides and club safeguarding resources, using these materials as conversation starters to raise awareness of welfare responsibilities and the support available through Active Sussex. 

The visible presence of the team at the leisure centre provided valuable opportunities for informal, honest conversations. 

Several Club Welfare Officers (CWOs) came specifically for the event to connect with the team, even though their clubs were not training at the centre that evening.

These interactions have strengthened existing relationships and helped establish new ones, with clubs expressing interest in further training and support.

Impact and outcomes

The pop‑up event delivered strong engagement and clear next steps for ongoing collaboration.

In total, 15 parents engaged; five clubs connected with the SWOs, including two new clubs; three CWOs attended specifically to meet the SWO team; and an invitation to attend a Karate event on March 8 was received.

This level of engagement highlights the appetite for accessible, face‑to‑face safeguarding support within the community.

Resources shared and signposting provided

To help clubs and parents feel confident in their safeguarding roles, the SWO team distributed 15 parent pocket guides and 15 club guides.

Alongside this, they shared CWO badges, posters and lanyards and signposted to Active Sussex training and learning opportunities, including Connect and Learn sessions.

These resources help reinforce consistent safeguarding messages and ensure clubs know where to go for further support.

Insight gathered

The event also provided valuable insight into the needs and priorities of local clubs. 

Key themes included a strong interest in neurodiversity learning and how to better support neurodivergent young people, and requests for UK Coaching safeguarding training for young leaders, highlighting a desire to upskill the next generation of volunteers.

This feedback will help shape future training offers and support packages.

The pop‑up at The Triangle demonstrates the value of meeting clubs and parents where they are, creating informal, approachable opportunities to talk about welfare, share resources and strengthen safeguarding culture across Sussex.