The athlete-led organisation will be supported by UKA to further develop its athlete support service
A new relationship between UK Athletics and Kyniska Advocacy has been announced, with the aim of launching a prototype support service for people involved in disciplinary and safeguarding issues.
Founded by athletes Mhairi Maclennan and Kate Seary in 2021, Kyniska Advocacy was created to shine light on the longer-term impacts of mistreatment and how individuals need greater support in being able to move on from traumatic experiences.
UKA
The agreement will see UKA support Kyniska to maintain and further develop its support service for individuals in athletics. The pilot will last for a year and will be supported by regular reviews between both parties.
UKA will have the opportunity to refer complainants and witnesses in safeguarding and disciplinary cases to Kyniska Advocacy’s ‘Athlete Support Service.’ The service will provide emotional and practical support through the reporting process and beyond.
UK Athletics Chief Operating Officer Tom Solesbury said: “We are delighted to partner with Kyniska Advocacy on this pilot programme.
“UKA has invested heavily in safeguarding and disciplinary processes in recent years, and this is another positive step in ensuring individuals involved remain supported through what can be a difficult and challenging process.
“We are pleased to be taking a lead in this space and also helping support the further development of Kyniska by investing in the very important work they do.”
After facing the harsh realities of how women can be treated in sport, Maclennan and Seary took decisive action in 2021 to improve the welfare and wellbeing of female athletes.
Mhairi Maclennan (London Marathon Events)
Despite the challenges she has faced, Maclennan has continued to excel in her career, most notably finishing 11th in the 2024 London Marathon with a time of 2:29:15, the top British woman in the elite field.
Maclennan and Seary, Welsh steeplechase record holder, are focused on three key missions: advocate, support and educate.
“Reporting safeguarding concerns can make a victim feel increasingly vulnerable at a time when they need as much support as possible, so we are delighted that UKA recognises the importance of what we do and invested in our work so we can continue to provide this crucial support to athletes in our sport,” said Maclennan.
A Vision for Safe Sport
Kyniska Advocacy’s manifesto envisions a sporting community where the protection and welfare of women are paramount. Despite efforts over the past decade, progress has been slow.
And the current system has failed to meet the needs of female athletes, with 1 in 5 women globally having suffered sexual abuse in a sporting environment during childhood.
In the UK, women are 160% more likely than men to cite a lack of safe places to exercise as a barrier to sport.
Key Recommendations
1. Establish an Independent Body for Duty of Care and Safeguarding in Sport: Tackle all forms of abuse and ensure consistently high levels of duty of care across the sports sector.
Eliminate conflicts of interest and restore trust by removing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) from adjudicating safeguarding cases.
2. Mandatory Reporting of Abuse and Misconduct: ○ Introduce statutory requirements for sports personnel to report known or suspected abuse to local authorities or the police, aligning the UK with international standards.
3. Age-Appropriate Inclusive Relationship and Sex Education in Schools: Ensure children and young people understand consent and healthy relationships to spot signs of mistreatment.
4. Ring-Fence Funding for Safeguarding and Athlete Welfare: Require sports councils to allocate dedicated funding for safeguarding and welfare, promoting long-term planning and proactive solutions.
5. UK-Wide National Coaches Licensing Scheme and Register: Expand the pilot national registration scheme for sports coaches to prevent abusive coaches from moving between sports or countries.
6. Expand Protections for Young Adults in Sport: Extend the Duty of Care protections to athletes up to age 25 and mandate disclosure of coach-athlete romantic relationships.
Supporting Survivors
The manifesto emphasises the need for proper support systems for those who have experienced abuse. An independent safeguarding body would ensure consistent and trusted support, reducing the trauma of reporting abuse and preventing further harm.
Preventing Future Abuse
Education and proactive measures are crucial in preventing abuse. The manifesto calls for comprehensive Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools, mirroring successful models in other regions.
It also advocates for a robust funding mechanism to support safeguarding officers, advisory boards, and mental health resources.
Building Trust and Accountability
Kyniska Advocacy stresses that safeguarding must be treated separately from other integrity issues, such as anti-doping, to address the unique needs of abuse survivors.
The proposed independent body would draw from existing successful models like the Sports Ground Safety Authority and UK Anti-Doping.
Kate Seary, Co-Founder and Director, Kyniska Advocacy said “It is frustrating to have to make these calls again for a government to protect and support survivors of abuse, and implement crucial services to stop abuse in its tracks.
We hope that a new government will be a fresh opportunity to reimagine what safe sport looks like in the future, and how we can work together to create a safe environment in sport for all women and girls, everywhere, no matter the sport they choose to play”
About Kyniska Advocacy: Kyniska Advocacy is a survivor and athlete-led organisation dedicated to promoting the welfare and protection of female athletes.
Through advocacy, research, and education, the organisation aims to create a safe and equitable sporting environment for all. Kyniska Advocacy released their new strategy for 2024-2025 in February this year.
