The Irish Sports Council Safe Sport app is based on the Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children's Sport. It is an information and guidance tool for everyone involved in sport for children and young people. The app is aimed at creating greater awareness and understanding about safeguarding and best practice principles in children's sport. There are four key areas of the app which can be accessed from the home screen:
- Leader/Coach
- Parent/Guardian
- Club/Organisation
- Child/ Young Person
Within each section information and guidance is provided on "fair play", "good practice", "a child centred approach" and "should or should not".The app addresses how to report child welfare concerns to TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency and poor practice to the Club Children's Officer or National Safeguarding Officer. One of the features of the App is a 'Travel Tracker' function. This allows parents and coaches who are driving someone else's child/children home, for example after a training session, to permit the child's parent or guardian to view and have oversight of their location for a specified period of time while they are travelling on a journey.
Video Messages
Users will also have access to exclusive video messages from Michael McKillop (Paralympian), Mary Davis (President & Managing Director, Special Olympics Europe Eurasia), Liam Sheedy (ISC Board Member & Sports Analyst) and Alan Brogan (St Oliver Plunketts GAA Club/Dublin GAA). There is also a references section for instant access to useful websites and policies. The app is presented in two formats and you can choose to read or listen to the information. It will also be available on IOS and Android platforms and will function on iPads and iPhones, Android tablets and smart phones. This cross platform approach will ensure the app is accessible to a wide range of users.