The 4 R’s

Recognise – you have a concern, notice a problem or receive a direct disclosure. 

Respond – reassure the individual, get their views, and tell them what you’re going to do. 

Refer – contact the LWPO, a WPO or the Team Welfare Officer as soon as possible. 

Record – who, what, where, when. Don’t let recording delay the referral. 

Always refer if: 

• An athlete has been hurt, accidentally or otherwise. 

• An athlete seems distressed in any way. 

• Someone makes a direct disclosure to you. 

• An athlete needs to be physically restrained. 

• You have any concerns at all, even if they seem unclear. 

You are not expected to investigate or assess a concern yourself – simply report it to a member of the welfare team. 

If you have a concern about yourself or anyone else: 

• Contact the LWPO, a WPO or the Team Welfare Officer as soon as you can. 

• Alternatively, speak to any staff member you trust, who will pass the concern on. 

• At a competition venue you can also raise a concern immediately with venue staff or the Glasgow 2026 safeguarding team, who work alongside the Team Scotland welfare team throughout the Games.  

• Games-wide concerns can also be reported to Commonwealth Sport at safeguarding@commonwealthsport.com or via the safeguarding section of the Glasgow 2026 app. 

• Share what you know – what happened, when, and who was involved – but don’t worry if you only have part of the picture. 

If someone discloses something to you, listen calmly, take them seriously, reassure them they were right to speak up, and do not promise to keep it secret – explain that you may need to pass it on to keep them safe. Make a note of what was said as soon as you can, and report it. 

Concerns are handled sensitively and shared only with those who need to know in order to keep people safe. The LWPO and the welfare team will assess the situation and decide on the right next steps – which may range from no further action through to onward referral to statutory agencies, depending on the nature of the concern. Wherever possible you will be kept informed and involved in decisions about next steps. Raising a concern in good faith will never count against you. 

For concerns about an adult: the team follows the principle of Making Safeguarding Personal – you will be at the centre of the process, with your views taken into account, and your consent will be sought before any referral to external agencies wherever possible. 

The welfare team is in place to support every team member, but Sport Team Managers are primarily responsible for the athletes in their sport for the duration of the Games. If you are unsure who to speak to first, your Sport Team Manager is always a good starting point, and they will work with the welfare team as needed. 

As well as the team’s own welfare team, you can contact independent organisations directly at any time.

• Police Scotland – 999 in an emergency, or 101 for non-emergencies. 

• Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS) service (the sportscotland and Children 1st safeguarding partnership) – call 0141 419 1156 or email cwps@children1st.org.uk, Monday to Friday 9am–5pm. Outside these hours, Children 1st Parentline on 08000 28 22 33.

• Commonwealth Games Scotland / Commonwealth Sport safeguarding and integrity reporting route – email safeguarding@commonwealthsport.com, or use the safeguarding section of the official Glasgow 2026 app. 
• NSPCC Helpline – advice if you’re worried about a child’s safety. Call 0808 800 5000 (currently 10am–4pm Monday to Friday) or email help@nspcc.org.uk any time; you can remain anonymous. If a child is at immediate risk of harm, call the police on 999. 

• Accreditation: wear your accreditation pass visibly at all times in the Games and Team Scotland hotels and at venues. Only people with the right accreditation can access secure areas. 

• Visitors and unaccredited people: anyone accessing the accommodation must be accompanied at all times by a fully accredited team member. 

• Leaving the hotel or venue: athletes should not leave the Games Hotels or competition venues without the agreement of their Sport Team Manager. 

• Shared spaces: respect others’ privacy, rest and personal space. 

• Consent: don’t take or share images of others without their consent. 

• Under-18s: never share images of any under-18 team members without the appropriate permissions. 

• Changing rooms: no photography or video in changing rooms – including phones – at any time. 

• Photo sessions: no unsupervised access to competitors and no one-to-one photo sessions; no unsupervised photo sessions outside of sports competition. 

• Media: all media requests – interviews, photos, quotes – go through the Team Scotland media team; please direct any approach to them. 

• Online abuse and cyberabuse: if you experience or witness online abuse, cyberbullying or harassment, the team’s Social Protect service provides dedicated support – see the Social Protect section of this guide – and you can also raise it with the welfare team. 

• Under 18s: no one under 18 may smoke or drink alcohol at any time as part of the Team Scotland delegation – before, during or after competition. 

• Staff with under-18 athletes: Sport Team Managers and Team staff working with young athletes should not drink alcohol while exercising responsibility for their welfare. 

• Everyone: follow the team’s expectations on alcohol, look out for team-mates, and never put anyone under pressure. 

• Sexual conduct: sexual activity between under-18 team members is prohibited at all Commonwealth Sport sanctioned events, including the Games. Everyone should be aware of the law and follow their sport’s code of conduct. 

• Boundaries and relationships: keep professional relationships professional, particularly between staff and athletes. 

• Respect: treat everyone with dignity, in line with Team Scotland Respect. 

You will be briefed on emergency procedures when you arrive at your hotel and at each venue. If a fire alarm sounds, evacuate immediately, follow the direction of your Sport Team Manager, team staff or venue staff, and make your way to the nominated assembly point. At the assembly point, each Sport Team Manager will complete a roll call – stay with your group so they can account for everyone. 

A small number of athletes may be under 18 at these Games. Where any team members are under 18, additional safeguards apply: 

• Under-18 athletes must be accompanied by an adult at all times when outside the Games or Team Scotland hotels. 

• Appropriate parental or guardian consents are in place for travel, accommodation and care. 

• Clear expectations apply to contact between adults and young people, including changing facilities, transport, and shared spaces. 
• Sport Team Managers will confirm specific arrangements with their under-18 athletes and their parents/carers in advance. 

Welfare and safeguarding work hand in hand with the Mental Health and Wellbeing support set out in the Medical section.