Combat Club Collaboration – Working Together in Safeguarding
December 08, 2025
As part of the Combat Club initiative, British Judo, British Fencing and British Wrestling have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a framework for collaboration to develop a more resilient, efficient, and best practice approach to safeguarding.
The focus of this collaboration is on the joint work of each organisation’s Lead Safeguarding Officer (LSO), with the aim of improving safeguarding practice and outcomes across all three organisations.
The MoU sets out how the parties agree to work together in the spirit of openness, trust, and mutual support, recognising the importance of safeguarding in protecting children, young people, and adults at risk. Each organisation remains individually accountable for meeting its own statutory and regulatory safeguarding responsibilities.
Areas of cooperation will include development and sharing of best practice, education and training, case management (offering panel expertise and challenge), peer review, emergency cover and knowledge sharing/cross-sport familiarisation.
Whilst the MoU does not establish any financial commitment between the parties, it does acknowledge that sensitive information may be shared in the course of this collaboration, with full consideration for confidentiality, data protection, legislation and guidance.
Andrew Scoular, CEO of British Judo said, “British Judo is proud to stand alongside our colleagues in wrestling and fencing in endorsing this safeguarding memorandum. Protecting the welfare of every participant is a shared responsibility across all combat and contact sports, and this agreement strengthens our collective commitment to the highest standards of safety, integrity, and care. By working together, we ensure that athletes, coaches, and volunteers can thrive in environments built on respect, trust, and safeguarding excellence.”
Craig Anthony, CEO at British Wrestling said, “This collaboration with British Fencing and British Judo is a practical step towards strengthening the support structure behind our safeguarding processes. By pooling our resources and sharing our collective expertise, we can ensure our welfare teams have access to a broader range of tools and knowledge. This partnership is about building a more resilient system where we can learn from one another to maintain effective, high-quality safeguarding standards for our sport.”
Liz Behnke, British Fencing Lead Safeguarding Officer said, “The Lead Safeguarding Officers across many National Governing Bodies of sport frequently work collaboratively and share information with the aim of creating consistency and creating best practice in safeguarding. We are fortunate to have a very experienced Case Management Group which includes significant representation from the LSO community who share their experience to benefit our sport. This new MOU with British Wrestling, British Judo and British Fencing takes this sharing to a new level which will serve once again to make our sport as safe as we can. We look forward to working with them going forwards.”
Combat Club is a cross NGB coach development initiative which brings together performance coaches for learning and development opportunities. Alongside these opportunities, the Combat Club CEOs meet regularly to share learnings and discuss current and future collaborations across all areas of National Governing Body work.
