Hi, my name is Kyhl Daly and I joined Table Tennis England (TTE) in January 2026 as your new Designated Safeguarding Lead and I have to say, it has been a brilliant few months to find my feet in.
Table tennis is a sport I’ve developed a real passion for. The range of people who play it, from juniors just picking up a bat for the first time to seasoned club members who have been competing for decades, is extraordinary. It is that diversity that makes safeguarding so vital.
When a sport brings together people of every age, background and ability, the responsibility to keep everyone safe is not something that belongs to one person in an office. It belongs to all of us.
I am stepping into this role following a period of brilliant work by my predecessor, who led safeguarding within the organisation for several years building an extraordinary legacy in the process. My goal is to build on those foundations to strengthen our safeguarding culture, deepen our connections with clubs and members, and make sure that every person involved in table tennis in England feels safe, valued and heard.
What you can expect from me
Over the coming year I will be working across TTE to deliver a structured safeguarding communications and training programme that includes:
• Webinar series for Club Welfare Officers
• A blog series throughout the year on themes from DBS checks and safer recruitment, to inclusion, anti-bullying, adult safeguarding and more
• Dedicated training sessions for clubs and leagues, the performance coaching team, chaperones and parents
• Clearer guidance to help clubs understand what to handle locally and when to escalate to TTE
This first blog is a chance to introduce myself but also to raise something practical that every club needs to have in order right now: DBS checks.
DBS checks – what they are and why they matter
A DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is a background check that helps organisations make safer recruitment decisions. For anyone working or volunteering in a role that involves regular contact with children or adults at risk, a DBS check is not optional it is a safeguarding essential.
At Table Tennis England, we require appropriate DBS checks for anyone working in a regulated activity with under 18s or adults at risk, including coaches, junior session leads and Chaperones at junior events.
DBS checks are not a one time box to tick. They should be kept up to date, and we strongly recommend applicants also use the DBS Update Service. Registration is free for volunteers and keeps the check current. If someone at your club has an outdated DBS check or if you are not sure whether a role requires one, please get in touch with us
Important update: changes to DBS supervision rules
The Government has recently announced that the supervision exemption from regulated activity is being removed. Previously, someone working with children under supervision might not have required a DBS check. Under the new rules, supervised roles are now treated the same as unsupervised roles, meaning many more people involved at your club, including volunteer helpers and anyone regularly supporting sessions may now be eligible for an enhanced DBS check. If you are unsure, please get in contact with us at [email protected]
Does your club have a named Welfare Officer?
Every affiliated table tennis club should have a named Club Welfare Officer (CWO), someone who is the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns and knows how to escalate an issue to TTE if needed.
If your club does not currently have a Welfare Officer, or your existing Welfare Officer is stepping down, please contact us and we can help you find and support someone to take on the role. Our first Welfare Officer webinar is a great starting point for anyone new to the position.
Three things to do right now
• Check that every person in a regulated activity role at your club has a current, valid DBS check
• Sign up for the DBS Update Service if you have not already – it is free for volunteers and keeps checks current: www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
• Register for our first Club Welfare Officers webinar – details coming soon
I am really looking forward to getting to know more of you over the coming months at webinars, at events, and through this blog series. Safeguarding works best when it is a genuine conversation between the people who care most about this sport and I hope to have many of those conversations with you.
In the meantime, if you have a question, a concern, or just want to introduce yourself – my inbox is always open – [email protected].
Kyhl
