SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) enhanced its approach to online safeguarding and human welfare education.
In a further push to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone working in the industry, an e-learning module has now been made available to complete on Racing2Learn.
The module was developed through the organisation’s Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy – first published in December 2023 with the aim of embedding a ‘universal culture of respect’ across the industry.
Matt Mancini, BHA Head of Safeguarding and Human Welfare, said: “The publication of refreshed online training is an important milestone in our efforts to ensure a safe, supportive and respectful working environment for everyone involved in British horseracing.
“Identified as a key priority in our Safeguarding and Human Welfare strategy, the new online learning has been developed in close consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure it provides practical guidance around legal requirements, good working practices and how to identify and report any issues of concern.”
In detail, the refreshed education – Safeguarding and Human Welfare: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Sport – replaces and builds on the existing online training, first introduced in 2018 and now a mandatory requirement for anyone licensed by the BHA.
It also aims to complement the face-to-face education provided for licensed personnel and others through the various workforce development courses.
Delivered across three online modules, the updated training continues to cover essential safeguarding responsibilities, setting out the legal and regulatory requirements in place to protect younger and more vulnerable individuals from the risk of abuse or harm.
But it has also been expanded to incorporate wider aspects of human welfare, recognising the importance of ensuring a safe and secure environment for everyone working in British racing and breeding.
“We fully recognise that excellent levels of care and support already exist, with many employers taking their responsibilities extremely seriously and putting the necessary protections in place to support people across our sport,” added Mancini.
“But we also know about the challenges and the need for us all to do more to embed consistently high standards of behaviour. This is evidenced by the reports made to the BHA, particularly around bullying and sexual harassment, as well as independent research into the experiences of women in our sport.
Meanwhile, as mentioned previously, new modules have been introduced that cover areas such as sexual harassment and bullying, as well as behavioural standards and reporting mechanisms, helping everyone play a part in creating an increasingly inclusive sport.
The BHA emphasised that the enhanced training will continue to be a licensing requirement for trainers, jockeys, valets and agents, with all licence holders asked to complete the new online module at the earliest opportunity and by no later than 1 April 2025.
The e-learning has also been made available for free to anyone working in British racing and breeding as part of the group’s efforts to ensure that “everyone in the sport feels safe, protected and able to fulfil their potential”.
Mancini concluded: “Safeguarding and the wellbeing of our people is everyone’s responsibility; we all have an important role to play in promoting good behaviours, acting where conduct falls short of our high standards, and contributing to a universal culture of respect. This is critical to the long-term success of our sport.”
