What’s New — Expanded Safeguarding Case Management Group
In recent organisational developments, UK Athletics has expanded its Safeguarding Case Management Group (CMG) — the panel that provides *independent oversight and decision-making on safeguarding cases — from its previous size to 11 members. This expansion increases the group’s capacity, expertise and independent oversight capabilities across the sport. (LinkedIn)
Purpose of the Expansion
- The Case Management Group exists to support the UK Athletics Safeguarding Team by offering independent advice, guidance and oversight when managing safeguarding cases. (LinkedIn)
- The current expansion means the panel now includes a broader range of safeguarding specialists, helping ensure that decisions about risk and participant protection are robust, consistent and based on best practice. (LinkedIn)
Why It Matters
- It enhances independent oversight beyond the immediate safeguarding staff, reducing reliance on a smaller internal team and making the process more transparent and accountable. (LinkedIn)
- Broader panel membership helps ensure decisions about serious safeguarding concerns — including allegations of abuse or harm — benefit from diverse professional insight, which can improve fairness and credibility in outcomes. (LinkedIn)
Context: Safeguarding Framework in UK Athletics
This latest change builds on a major safeguarding overhaul that began after an independent review commissioned by UK Athletics and supported by Sport Resolutions. That review recommended a formal case management group and panel system to deal with safeguarding concerns consistently across the sport. (UK Athletics)
How Safeguarding Cases Are Managed
Under UK Athletics’ current regulations, safeguarding referrals are first reviewed by a Lead Safeguarding Officer. Some cases may be resolved through summary procedures if they are low-risk and straightforward. More serious or complex cases are escalated to a panel or case management group for formal consideration, which can include imposing interim orders or other protective measures. (UK Athletics)
Role of the Case Management Group
- It can review interim orders imposed by safeguarding officers.
- It may maintain, modify, or lift these orders.
- It reviews managed orders such as behavior restrictions for individuals deemed a risk.
These functions are vital for ensuring safeguarding decisions are not made by a single individual and receive collective scrutiny. (UK Athletics)
Commentary & Reactions
Official Statements
While no broad public press release has been widely covered in national media yet, UK Athletics has noted publicly on social media that strengthening the Case Management Group with additional members will improve the robustness of safeguarding decisions — helping to protect children and adults participating in the sport. (LinkedIn)
Expert Perspective
Experts in sports governance see value in larger independent panels, as they:
- Provide multiple expert perspectives on complex cases,
- Reduce the perception of bias, and
- Help build trust that safeguarding decisions are fair, thorough and based on professional knowledge. This aligns with broader guidelines being promoted by World Athletics and other national bodies on safeguarding standards in sport. (worldathletics.org)
Why This Matters Going Forward
Safeguarding systems are critical in sport to:
- Protect children and adults at risk,
- Respond fairly and transparently when concerns are raised, and
- Build confidence among athletes, families and the public that athletics is safe and accountable. (LinkedIn)
By expanding the Case Management Group, UK Athletics is strengthening independent oversight, expertise and resilience in how safeguarding cases are assessed and resolved — a positive step in maintaining welfare standards across the sport.
Here’s a case-study snapshot and commentary-style breakdown of the recent move by UK Athletics to expand safeguarding case management oversight — focussing on what’s changed, how it fits into broader practice, and what experts and governance trends suggest about the impact:
Case Study 1 — UK Athletics Expands the Safeguarding Case Management Group (CMG)
What Changed
In early March 2026, UK Athletics announced that it has expanded its Safeguarding Case Management Group (CMG) to 11 members. This group provides independent oversight, advice and guidance to the UKA Safeguarding Team on how to manage and decide safeguarding cases involving children and adults at risk in athletics. (LinkedIn)
Why the Expansion Matters
- Increased Capacity & Expertise: Adding more panel members broadens the range of professional expertise available when reviewing complex cases, helping ensure decisions are fair, consistent and timely. (LinkedIn)
- Independent Oversight: A larger, more diverse CMG improves transparency and confidence that cases — including decisions on interim restrictions or managed orders — are being considered without undue internal influence. (Talents by StudySmarter)
- Stronger Safeguarding Practice: This aligns with UK Athletics’ zero-tolerance approach outlined in its safeguarding regulations, where independent case review is key to protecting participants and preserving trust in the sport. (UK Athletics)
How Cases Are Handled
Under UK Athletics’ Safeguarding Regulations, all concerns first go to the Lead Safeguarding Officer. Many may be resolved via summary procedures if straightforward; more serious or risk-related concerns are escalated to the CMG or referred on to a Safeguarding Panel. (UK Athletics)
- The CMG can review interim orders, evaluate risk, modify or issue orders such as suspensions, and advise on appropriate next steps. (UK Athletics)
- Panels seek to ensure both participant safety and procedural fairness, with structured decision-making that takes into account legal, welfare and risk assessment factors. (UK Athletics)
Case Study 2 — How the CMG Fits Into UK Athletics’ Safeguarding System
Background: Independent Safeguarding Review
UK Athletics’ current approach stems from an independent safeguarding review (published in 2021), which recommended establishing a case management group, an independent panel of safeguarding experts, and an appeal panel to ensure robust, consistent oversight. (UK Athletics)
Real-World Function
- The CMG is not just advisory: it has formal decision-making powers that can affect an individual’s eligibility to participate — making the panel a critical governance mechanism. (UK Athletics)
- Independent experts on the group — sometimes drawn from social work, legal, education, welfare and sport backgrounds — bring practical safeguarding experience to case reviews. (Talents by StudySmarter)
This membership growth helps UK Athletics navigate increasingly complex safeguarding landscapes, where cases may involve legal scrutiny, police involvement, or sensitive welfare concerns. (englandathletics.org)
Expert and Governance Commentary
Governance Experts
Governance specialists observe that independent oversight is crucial in safeguarding frameworks within sport — not only to handle complaints efficiently but to build trust among athletes, families, volunteers and officials that issues will be addressed impartially and thoroughly. Independent panels like the CMG help achieve that trust by separating decision-making from day-to-day staff influences. (Bird & Bird)
Sector Trend Observations
There’s a broader move across UK sport toward standardised, robust safeguarding systems — with reports from bodies like UK Sport advocating clear procedures and independent decision-making to reduce fragmentation and improve outcomes for complainants and respondents alike. (Bird & Bird)
Key Takeaways
Expanded Oversight Means:
- More expert voices in safeguarding decisions, increasing confidence in outcomes. (LinkedIn)
- Greater capacity to handle volume and complexity of cases fairly and consistently. (LinkedIn)
- Closer alignment with governance best practices in sport — emphasizing impartial review, transparency and participant safety. (Bird & Bird)
Alignment With UK Athletics’ Safeguarding Vision
The CMG expansion is not a standalone change but part of a systematic safeguarding structure that includes:
- Lead safeguarding officers,
- Independent case review and panel functions,
- Clear decision pathways under published regulations. (UK Athletics)
Why This Matters to Athletes and the Sport
A stronger, better-resourced Case Management Group helps ensure:
- Faster and fairer decisions in sensitive cases,
- Clearer accountability when harm or risk is identified,
- Greater participant trust in the sport’s ability to protect everyone involved.
These improvements strengthen UK Athletics’ safeguarding framework and contribute to a safer, more inclusive environment — essential for sport at all levels. (englandathletics.org)