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Don’t miss this chance to
Strengthen Our Communities and
Prioritise Child Safety and Well-Being
Be part of a vital conversation on safeguarding at the South Yorkshire Safeguarding Conference on March 25, 2025 at Redfearns Sports Ground Monk Bretton, Barnsley, S71 2JS. This event is dedicated to equipping professionals with innovative tools and strategies to protect and empower children in our communities.
Expert-Led Sessions You Can’t Afford to Miss!!
Chrissy Sykes – (My Body is My Body Foundation)
As founder and creator of the MBIMB Programme, Chrissy will share the a world-renowned, completely free safeguarding resource, which can be fully integrated into PSHE and Safeguarding lessons to make them more engaging for children using fun animated music videos and interactive resources. Used in over 60 countries and available in 30 languages, MBIMB has helped educate millions of children on body safety.
• Dr. Paul Stewart – (Safeguarding Fundamentals)
Paul Stewart – Director SGF (Safeguarding Fundamentals). Former England & Premier League footballer (Manchester City, Spurs, Liverpool). Paul bravely came forward about his own childhood experiences and now works to raise awareness and improve safeguarding policies in education and sports. His story highlights the critical role schools play in prevention and early intervention. Paul will be talking about tackling the complexities of child safeguarding in youth sports, including how power dynamics create vulnerabilities and the proactive steps needed to protect young athletes.
• Antonia Noble – (Safeguarding Fundamentals)
Antonia Noble is a barrister specialising in safeguarding (both UK and international) and the Director of Safeguarding Fundamentals. With extensive experience in child protection law and policy, she is dedicated to making safeguarding simpler, more effective, and easier to implement for professionals on the frontline.
Antonia will share her vision for streamlining safeguarding processes, ensuring that DSLs and safeguarding teams have the right tools and strategies to protect children while also supporting their own well-being. As the Head of DSLs Together, a platform designed to provide Designated Safeguarding Leads with everything they need to carry out their role effectively, Antonia is passionate about empowering professionals to create safer environments while also prioritising their own resilience and that of their teams.
• Caroline Flynn – (MAAPP)
With over 30 years of experience in Social Care and Management, including 8 years as a Child Protection Chairperson, Caroline Flynn has learned one fundamental truth—“Early Intervention is key to transforming lives.” At the Safe Spaces, Safe Futures Conference, Caroline will share trauma-informed practices that strengthen safeguarding leadership and learning, equipping professionals with the tools to create safer environments for children and families.
Passionate about improving outcomes for both families and practitioners, Caroline understands the challenges safeguarding professionals face. If you’re looking for practical solutions to streamline your work, access essential resources, and make a real impact, don’t miss this opportunity to learn from her expert insights.
• Douglas Blackwood – (Yorkshire Sport Foundation)
As Sport Welfare Officer for South Yorkshire, Douglas will be exploring the evolution of safeguarding in sports, Douglas will address past challenges, current progress, and future advancements to enhance protection for young athletes.
• Tracey Hughes (Healthwatch) – Providing practical advice on accessing resources and support to help families lead healthy, informed lives.
• Deborah J Crozier (A Positive Start)
Deborah is a Person-Centred Counsellor and the founder of A Positive Start CIC, a community interest company dedicated to supporting mental health and advocating for a trauma-informed society.
A Positive Start offers counselling, holistic therapy, and education, with a focus on trauma and emotional dysregulation. Deborah and her team run live and online workshops that empower individuals on their life journeys, teaching skills to regulate emotions and fostering resilience.
Why Attend?
• Gain Practical Insights – Learn directly from safeguarding experts with proven approaches and decades of experience.
• Network with Like-Minded Professionals – Connect with individuals committed to building safer, more resilient communities.
• Discover Innovative Tools –
Explore cutting-edge resources like the My Body Is My Body Programme, which makes child safeguarding simple, engaging, and impactful. Plus, learn about the MAAPP Link Index—an essential tool for streamlining and strengthening safeguarding practices.
This conference is more than an event—it’s a call to action to strengthen our safeguarding efforts and prioritise the well-being of every child.
Secure your place today and help build a safer future for our children!
See details on our speakers below:
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Chrissy Sykes – My Body is My Body Foundation
Learn, Engage, and Have Fun with the My Body Is My Body Programme!
Join Chrissy Sykes, founder of the My Body is My Body Programme, for an unforgettable session that combines learning and fun to make a profound impact on child safety in your community. With lively music, engaging animations, and a powerful, easy-to-follow approach, Chrissy will introduce this internationally acclaimed program that has already empowered over 2 million children worldwide. Discover firsthand how MBIMB’s unique resources help children recognize and respond to unsafe situations, and learn how to effortlessly integrate this life-changing program into your community settings—whether it’s schools, clubs, or after-school programs. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a lasting difference; come ready to be inspired and equipped with tools that protect and uplift children everywhere!
Dr. Paul Stewart – Safeguarding Fundamentals
Introducing Dr. Paul Stewart, a former Premiership footballer who played for some of England’s top clubs, including Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Liverpool. He was also capped three times for England during his career. In 2016, Paul courageously waived his anonymity to publicly speak about the physical and sexual abuse he endured at the hands of a youth coach when he was just 10 years old, growing up in Manchester.
At the MBIMB Conference on March 25, 2025, Dr. Stewart will address the critical issue of child safeguarding in sports. Drawing on his personal experiences and his in-depth knowledge of the subject, he will delve into the power dynamics in youth sports that can leave children vulnerable to abuse. His presentation will highlight the steps needed to protect young athletes and create safe environments where children can enjoy sports without fear.
Antonia Noble – Safeguarding Fundamentals
Introducing Antonia Noble, a barrister and safeguarding specialist with
extensive experience working both in the UK and internationally.
Antonia is the creator of the Safeguarding Fundamentals Course and
has dedicated her career to simplifying safeguarding processes to
make them accessible and effective for all.
At the MBIMB Conference on March 25, 2025, Antonia will join Dr.
Paul Stewart to speak on safeguarding in the community with a focus
on sports and other community activities.
Her presentation at the conference will bring together a group of local
safeguarding professionals to share insights and best practices that
can be applied in different community contexts, with a particular focus
on ensuring that all children are safe while engaging in sports and
recreational activities.
Caroline Flynne – Maapp LinkIndex
Caroline Flynn: Championing Accessible, Trauma-Informed Child Protection
With over three decades in social care—20 of which focused on child protection—Caroline Flynn brings unparalleled expertise and commitment to this critical field. Caroline’s leadership has not only shaped teams but has also driven forward essential learning and development, deeply rooted in trauma-informed practices.
Her work led to the development of the MAAPP LinkIndex key ring, an innovative tool designed to support practitioners and families alike. This groundbreaking resource fills a much-needed gap by helping professionals and caregivers connect with targeted services and support, mitigating harm and reducing isolation.
Caroline’s guiding belief, “we don’t know until we know,” underscores her dedication to increasing awareness and accessibility. Her commitment is to make essential resources universally available, empowering practitioners and families with vital knowledge and support networks that enhance their lives and protect children from harm.
Douglas Blackwood – Yorkshire Sports Foundation
Douglas Blackwood will take us through the evolution of safeguarding in sports, examining the past, present, and future with a focus on making sports safer for young participants. Reflecting on early challenges, such as limited awareness and underreporting, he’ll highlight today’s progress driven by heightened media attention and strengthened policies from National Governing Bodies. Looking to the future, Douglas envisions more standardized practices and technology-driven advancements in safeguarding. He’ll outline practical steps for safeguarding, sharing key questions for parents and professionals to ask at children’s clubs—such as the presence of clear policies, a designated welfare officer, and open channels for raising concerns—and information to look for, like coach certification and transparent reporting practices. Douglas will also cover ongoing initiatives within the sports sector, where partnerships between NGBs, clubs, and safeguarding organizations are creating a stronger support network for welfare officers and improving overall safety.
Tracy Hughes – Barnsley CVS and Healthwatch
When lives were challenged by Covid, Tracy’s career path changed, and she was very fortunate to move into the care sector to support the residents of Barnsley and ensure those she worked with were safeguarded. Since then, she has become a key member of the Barnsley Healthwatch team as the community specialist and advocate in Safeguarding. She is passionate about sharing information on where help is available for anyone, understanding that some things take time and bravery to act upon. Tracy wants everyone to know that help is available and aims to dismiss the belief of, “I thought I was on my own,” a statement she often hears when speaking to groups. Tracy doesn’t just talk the talk but walks the walk, ensuring that individuals and communities who are confused about what to do are guided through every step of the process.
Partnership working is fundamental in supporting safeguarding, as Tracy believes that “we’re stronger together” when it comes to offering that crucial support to someone.
Deborah J Crozier – A Positive Start
Deborah is a Person-Centred Counsellor and the founder of A Positive Start CIC, a community interest company dedicated to supporting mental health and advocating for a trauma-informed society.
A Positive Start offers counselling, holistic therapy, and education, with a focus on trauma and emotional dysregulation. Deborah and her team run live and online workshops that empower individuals on their life journeys, teaching skills to regulate emotions and fostering resilience.
At the heart of A Positive Start CIC is the Trauma-Informed TRUST framework, which underpins all their work, ensuring safe, supportive environments for healing and learning. Their workshops include Parents are Protectors, which equips parents and caregivers with the tools to recognize grooming behaviors and prevent abuse, and Reconnect & Regulate: A Trauma-Informed Path to Emotional Resilience, which guides participants in building emotional regulation skills and fostering resilience.
Currently, Deborah is studying a postgraduate MSc degree at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), further deepening her expertise in the field.
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