A new poll has found almost one in five parents in the South West are not confident they could spot the signs if their child was suffering abuse at a sports club.

The NSPCC has now launched a sports safety campaign backed by Swindon Town FC, after the survey revealed almost a fifth of parents (17 per cent) surveyed in the region are not confident they could spot the signs if their child was suffering sexual, physical or emotional abuse at their local sports club.

The research carried out by YouGov on behalf of the children’s charity also found that more than one in eight (12 per cent) parents surveyed in the South West were not confident they knew how to raise concerns with their child’s sports club about their child’s safety.

New data has also revealed the number of contacts to the NSPCC Helpline from adults from across the UK with safeguarding questions or concerns about children in a sports setting has almost doubled in the last five years.

An adult who experienced abuse as a child in sports told an NSPCC Helpline practitioner: “The gymnastics club I went to as a child was obsessed with diets and the weight of the gymnasts. The gymnasts were weighed twice a week. If they were considered overweight or fat, their weights were written on a whiteboard for everyone to read, the gymnasts were shouted at and humiliated by the coaches. As a result of their cruelty, I developed an eating disorder.”

Over the years the NSPCC Helpline has opened dedicated phonelines numbers for different sports to help support those impacted by abuse in sport. Currently a free dedicated NSPCC helpline commissioned by British Cycling has been set up in response to a number of individuals speaking out about non-recent abuse, including former professional cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins CBE, who revealed earlier this year he had been groomed by a former coach.

Sir Bradley said: “We must make sport safe for children, and make it easier for parents, and indeed all people in sport, to recognise and understand how they themselves can support a safer sports environment.”

Rob Angus, CEO of Swindon Town, said: “We are proud to support the NSPCC’s Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Week.

“Safeguarding our children and those more vulnerable is incredibly important and something we really focus on at STFC.

“We encourage everyone to play their part to ensure every child and young person gets to enjoy sport in a safe environment.”