A series of workshops to make sure young people taking part in sport are safe from all types of abuse has begun in Bath this month.

The Child Safe initiative aims to make safer places of every sporting or social club, youth organisation or church group that caters for young people.

The practical two-hour seminars in Bath, Keynsham and Radstock will explain the signs and symptoms of abuse, how to help children if they want to talk and how to be confident when recruiting new volunteers or staff to the club.

Bath and North East Somerset Council's group manager for children's services, Trina Shane, said: "Child Safe is a modern, practical and pro-active approach to the sometimes difficult and sensitive subject of child protection.

"We want to make sure that organisers of children's activities are better informed about protecting children from abuse or fear of abuse. It's like road safety - we are all aware of it and take care. Protecting children from abuse is about being aware of the possibilities and what to do or who to contact if you need help."

David Niven (pictured) is Bath and North East Somerset team manager for disabled children's services and a partner in the national Child Safe scheme.

He said: "This is a hugely important initiative and the pack will be extremely useful to clubs and groups.

"We cannot say for certain how many children the scheme will protect but it will almost certainly be some.

"My message to organisations is to come along to the workshops if at all possible."

The workshops will also include a video of a person who was abused as a child explaining what they would have liked to have seen happen when they managed to talk to someone.

Clubs or groups that attend a seminar will also be offered free checks on people so parents can have greater confidence in the club.

A free Child Safe pack will be given to the first 1,000 clubs that attend the seminars.

It offers advice on how to keep children safe from systematic abuse, as well as information on bullying, health and safety issues and insurance for organisers and parents.

Seminars will be held at Riverside in Keynsham on next Monday and Norton Radstock Family Centre on Monday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 4. They run from 7-9pm.

The Child Safe scheme is an extension of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary's internationally recognised Child Safe scheme.

The police, the council's youth and social services, Barnardo's, Avon Area health authority, Bath University and Action on Child Exploitation have joined forces to extend and promote the scheme.

Anyone wanting to book a place on the seminars or find out more about the Child Safe scheme should telephone 0800 3897695, or visit the Child Safe website.

Used courtesy of the Bath Chronicle