Safeguarding Statement
12 November 2026
Following today’s guilty plea by former Athletics NI President Gerry Carson, our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected.
Safeguarding is an absolute priority for Athletics NI. We work closely with clubs providing them with policies, procedures, training and support to help them provide a safe environment for everyone involved in athletics. If your club requires support on any aspect of safeguarding, please contact the Athletics NI Safeguarding Lead declan.leung@athleticsni.org or UKA Safeguarding Safeguarding@uka.org.uk
Anyone affected by this matter, or by any safeguarding issue within athletics, who feels they would benefit from support is encouraged to reach out to independent support services, including:
- Victim Support NI: 028 9024 3133 – confidential support for victims and those affected by crime.
- NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 – advice and support for anyone concerned about the welfare of a child.
- Childline: 0800 1111 – free, confidential support for children and young people.
- Samaritans: 116 123 – free, confidential emotional support, available 24 hours a day.
- Lifeline NI: 0808 808 8000 – 24-hour crisis support.