Beyond the Activity: Your Duty to Care
In this recording of a Time2Learn session, UK Coaching’s Heather Douglas and Kelly Rodrigues explore the enhanced Duty to Care Hub and Digital Badge

The session explored the enhanced Duty to Care Hub and Digital Badge, providing valuable insight into the six pillars of Duty to Care:
- Diversity.
- Inclusion.
- Mental Health and Well-being.
- Physical Well-being.
- Safeguarding.
- Safe to Practice.
Discover how a host of resources can help you put Duty to Care at the heart of your coaching practice.
Digital Badge
- Pass all six Duty to Care knowledge checks to earn the Digital Badge.
- Created in partnership with industry-leading experts.
- Endorsed by CIMSPA.
- Achieving the badge will earn learners 3 CIMSPA CPD points and demonstrate knowledge against relevant industry competencies.
To support you to gain the knowledge you’ll need to pass the knowledge checks and earn the digital badge we have developed a raft of learning and development resources and practical tips:
- The free level of the Duty to Care Hub includes virtual Q&A experiences and comprehensive guides for each pillar.
- The UK Coaching Club Premium Membership level includes bite-size eLearning which includes CIMSPA CPD points, guided reflections, and a deeper dive into content from industry experts.
Duty to Care
At [09:09] in the recording, Heather provides a reminder about why UK Coaching developed the Duty to Care Hub.
The Duty of Care in Sport report 2017 provided a catalyst for change in terms of participant welfare from playground to podium.
The most important element in sport is the people involved, whether they are taking part, volunteering, coaching or paid employment…sport relies on putting people their safety, well-being and welfare at the centre of what sport does.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson Duty of Care in Sport Report 2017
Following the report, UK Coaching developed the Duty to Care Hub to support coaches to implement the recommendations in the report and take personal responsibility for change.
Duty to Care scenarios

Jess has joined the community dance group; this is her third session. She is very enthusiastic, however cannot seem to grasp the left and right commands in front of the mirror. Jess is trying really hard, however she keeps on banging into other dancers in the group. Ten minutes into the session, the dance coach pulls Jess to one side and asks her to just watch for the rest of the session.

Arun is an assistant coach to Ted; Ted has been really pleased with the support Arun has given him and the players over the period of his first season. Ted always comments on how Arun has a great rapport with the players every week. Recently Arun has seemed disengaged and not his enthusiastic self. Ted sets up the session for the day and as usual, will keep a watching eye on the other sessions around him. Suddenly he notices Arun raising his voice repeatedly to the players, this is very unusual. Eventually, Arun loses it and walks away from the session with no explanation.

Sarah and Shruti have been coaching together for some time now and often co-design the sessions together and with the input of the participants. It works well and there is a great buzz around the club. One day Shruti sees Sarah trying something with the participants that they have not discussed, this seems fine as Shruti wants to see Sarah bring her own style to the club.
Shruti then notices that one of the participants is not happy with what they are being asked to do, there is an exchange of words and Sarah insists that they try this particular play. Shruti watches this happening and notices that what Sarah has asked the participant to do could put them and the other participants in danger. Shruti approaches Sarah and asks her what she is doing, Sarah replies: "I’ve seen this on YouTube…all the elite players are doing this."


Which category would you place each scenario in: acceptable, lower level of concern, or unacceptable?
What could the impact and consequences be for the people involved?

How might you respond in similar situations?
Who can you go to for support in similar situations?
Related Resources

Duty to Care
Return to our dedicated Duty to Care page to learn more about how you can promote diversity and equality, discover more about Duty to Care, or read our guides on the other pillars.
GO TO THE DUTY TO CARE PAGE
Earn Your Digital Badge
Learn about the importance of Duty to Care with our newly-enhanced Toolkit and demonstrate your commitment to looking after the people you coach by earning our Sport England-funded Digital Badge.
EARN THE BADGE (link tba)
Guide to Inclusion
Learn how to apply the principles of inclusion to your coaching, and discover its importance to participants, coaches, and coaching practice through key messages, practical tips, videos, and downloads.
READ THE GUIDE TO INCLUSION