Midday Matters: A New National Safeguarding Standard for Extracurricular Activities
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Safeguarding should never be optional. Yet across the UK, thousands of children and vulnerable adults take part in extracurricular activities every day in environments where safeguarding standards can be inconsistent, unclear, or in some cases completely absent.
That is why the British DanceSport Association (BDSA) is launching Midday Matters, a CEO-led webinar series designed to address urgent safeguarding concerns and drive practical change across the extracurricular sector.
Our next Midday Matters session introduces something the UK has been missing for far too long: a clear, structured, and UK-wide safeguarding framework specifically designed for extracurricular activities.
Introducing the National Safeguarding Framework (NSF)
On Tuesday, 24th February 2026, the BDSA will host a live Zoom webinar exploring the National Safeguarding Framework (NSF), a UK-wide safeguarding framework created to support organisations working with children and vulnerable adults outside of the formal education system.
From dance schools and sports clubs to tuition centres, theatre groups, youth organisations, community activities, and private training providers, extracurricular settings often operate without the same safeguarding oversight as schools or regulated institutions. The NSF has been developed to close that gap.
This session is designed to explain what the framework is, why it matters, and how it can be applied proportionately across a wide range of organisations, regardless of size, budget, or structure.
Why Midday Matters
Extracurricular providers play a major role in children’s development, confidence, and well-being. Parents trust organisations to keep their children safe, and participants deserve environments that are professional, accountable, and properly protected.
However, many safeguarding failures in extracurricular settings stem from the same root issues:
Lack of safeguarding training and understanding
No consistent reporting processes
Poor staff vetting and unclear roles
Mismanaged concerns or incidents
Absence of safeguarding policies that meet UK expectations
Confusion about what safeguarding actually requires in practice
The National Safeguarding Framework for Extracurricular Activities exists because these issues cannot be left unspoken. Safeguarding is not simply a policy. It is an organisational responsibility and a moral duty.
What Attendees Will Learn
This one-hour webinar will provide a clear and practical introduction to the NSF, including:
The safeguarding gap across UK extracurricular environments
The purpose and structure of the National Safeguarding Framework
Key safeguarding responsibilities for organisations and leadership teams
Common safeguarding risks and failures seen in extracurricular settings
What “effective safeguarding” looks like in real practice
How to implement safeguarding proportionately based on your organisation’s size and capacity
Guidance on aligning with UK safeguarding expectations
The session is designed to be accessible, informative, and relevant across multiple sectors.
Hosted by CEO Neil Harrison
The webinar is led by Neil Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of the British DanceSport Association, bringing strategic leadership and real-world safeguarding insight to a topic that is too often mishandled or ignored.
The session will also include time for questions and discussion, allowing attendees to explore practical concerns and gain clarity on how safeguarding responsibilities apply to their setting.
Event Details
Midday Matters with the BDSA National Safeguarding Framework (NSF) for Extracurricular Activities📅 Tuesday 24th February 2026🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (GMT)
📍 Zoom Webinar
🎟 Non-member ticket: £50
Membership Offer: Members receive up to 100% off this event at checkout. Please make sure you are logged into your account when getting your ticket.
Who Should Attend?
This webinar is relevant to anyone involved in extracurricular provision, including:
Activity providers and club owners
Coaches, teachers, instructors and volunteers
Charity leaders and community organisers
Education and youth support professionals
Safeguarding leads and welfare officers
Parents and advocates who are concerned about safeguarding standards
If your organisation works with children or vulnerable adults, this session is for you.
Join the Conversation. Help Raise the Standard.
Safeguarding is not a box to tick. It is a culture that must be embedded, understood, and taken seriously.
Midday Matters is more than a webinar. It is a call to action for the entire extracurricular sector.
We invite you to join us on 24th February and be part of the movement to establish consistent safeguarding standards across the UK.
Because safeguarding matters. Every day. And especially at midday.
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