Locks Heath Swim Squad, a group of young people stood poolside. They're wearing purple squad t-shirts

Free Sessions Help Parents Better Support their Children in Sport

Date: 9 July 2026 Author: Debbie Aslin

Energise Me's Sport Welfare Officers can provide a Parents in Sport Survey to any sports club in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, analyse the responses and deliver a free one-hour parent session informed by the results.

The questions ask parents which topics are important to them and their children. Topics range from safeguarding confidence and communication to parents’ top concerns, such as injuries, competitive pressure, and bullying.

When Locks Heath Swim Squad asked Energise Me’s Sport Welfare Officer, Sarah Goddard, to open up the conversation with their swim parents, she didn’t bring a generic safeguarding talk. She brought a method.

Step one: the Parents in Sport Survey from NSPCC Sport, completed anonymously by club parents.

Step two: Sarah analysed the answers. The responses showed exactly what Locks Heath Swim Squad parents were most concerned about regarding their children’s experience in sport.

Step three: Sarah shared the headline themes with the club’s committee, so the conversation that followed was directly informed by the parents’ responses.

Step four: Sarah ran a one-hour parent session at the club — ChampioningWelfare & Safe Sport for All — covering what safeguarding, wellbeing and welfare really mean in a club, what the survey had shown, and what to do if something didn’t feel right.

News of the service is spreading. Alton & District Swim Club contacted Sarah after speaking with the club welfare officer at Locks Heath and has since run the same programme for their parents.

"I didn't want to bring parents a generic safeguarding talk. I wanted to start where parents actually were. The NSPCC Sport survey shows us what the club's parents are most concerned about, and then the whole session is geared towards addressing those concerns. It's why Alton picked up the phone after hearing about Locks Heath. Parents feel more engaged when they've been part of shaping the session."

Sarah Goddard, Sport Welfare Officer

Don't miss out

The offer is now open to all sports clubs in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, at no cost to the club. Please apply by emailing sportwelfareofficer@energiseme.org.