We’re celebrating 25 years of safeguarding children in sport, with a name change to ‘NSPCC Sport'.
For 25 years as the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), we’ve supported organisations to create environments where young players and athletes are safe, well, and able to thrive.
Our mission hasn’t changed — children’s welfare in sport will always be at the heart of everything we do. We’re creating a clearer, more recognisable identity that reflects who we are.
NSPCC Professional Learning Services Director Christian McMullen said: “Our new brand reflects the breadth of our work, in alignment with the NSPCC mission, and a more modern look and feel, evolving like the sporting sector.”
Where it all started
The Child Protection in Sport Unit was set up in 2001 following a series of high-profile cases of abuse of young athletes.
Back then, we were a team of just four members of staff, working with Sport England and Sport NI to raise the profile of child protection among sport governing bodies, bring in child protection policies and commission research into abuse within sport.
What we do now
Fast forward to 2026 and we have 28 staff, working across three nations with:
- 150+ national governing bodies
- 42 Active Partnerships
- 400+ sport, physical activity and leisure organisations
- 50+ volunteers attending sport events and talking to sports parents across the country
We work to keep young players and athletes safe with major partners including the Olympics, Paralympics, Rugby World Cup, School Games, the FA and the Premier League.
Christian continued: “Following a number of reviews into safeguarding in sport in recent years, there has been a time of reflection and learning across the sporting sector, and this includes CPSU.
“Our work has grown over the last 25 years, to span many activities including assurance, training and development, consultancy and awareness raising – our name no longer reflects the work we undertake on behalf of children. We need a brand that speaks to what we do, how we do it and where we want to be now, and in the future.”
Our new brand gives us a clearer connection to the wide range of NSPCC services that that directly support children, including Childline, the NSPCC Helpline, Schools Service and a host of vital preventative and post-abuse recovery services.