Survivor-Centred Safeguarding Consultancy for Sports Organisations

I help sports clubs, gyms, federations and governing bodies build practical, robust safeguarding systems to protect athletes and create safer sporting cultures.

My work is rooted in a combination of lived experience, academic research, and international safeguarding standards, with a specialist focus on power dynamics, gender-based violence, and systemic safeguarding reform.

If you’re looking to develop safeguarding approaches with athlete wellbeing at the centre, you’re in the right place.

Book a free discovery call

WHAT I OFFER

CONSULTANCY

Helping sports coaches, gyms and organisations advance safeguarding through bespoke services and survivor-centred approaches.

ADVOCACY

Raising awareness of gender-based violence in sport through public speaking, writing and support.

EDUCATION

Providing training workshops to equip all stakeholders in the sporting environment with the tools and knowledge to create safer, more inclusive spaces.

Safeguarding Consultancy

For gyms, federations and organisations ready to formalise or strengthen their safeguarding frameworks

You’ll receive bespoke safeguarding systems tailored to your size, context and level of safeguarding maturity, aligned with international standards and grounded in survivor-centred practice.

I can create tailor-made:

Safeguarding policies
Codes of conduct
Reporting procedures
Case handling protocols
Risk assessments
Event safeguarding plans
Referral pathways and athlete support resources

I work collaboratively with you to ensure safeguarding is not only written into robust policies, but also embedded into your daily practices. You can expect clear, practical reporting pathways, increased staff confidence in handling concerns, and alignment with international safeguarding standards.

Survivor Advocacy

For conferences, gyms, federations and organisations seeking meaningful conversations about safeguarding and gender-based violence in sport.

Drawing from lived experience as a former fighter and survivor of sexual violence in Muay Thai, academic research in sport ethics and integrity and industry experience in safeguarding in sport, I deliver powerful, educational talks that challenge harmful norms and inform cultural change.

I provide talks on:

Sexual violence and gender discrimination in Muay Thai
Dismantling harmful power dynamics in sport
Gaps in safeguarding systems in combat sports
Debunking myths about sexual violence in sport
Appropriate and inappropriate responses to disclosures
Trauma-informed approaches to survivor engagement and advocacy

My talks go beyond one-off awareness raising and storytelling, and are designed for lasting impact.

Educational Workshops

For gyms requiring foundational safeguarding training, or sports organisations refining their approaches through a survivor-centred lens.

I deliver interactive, practical workshops that equip coaches, staff and leadership teams with tools and knowledge to build safer and more inclusive environments.

Topics include:

How to identify various types of safeguarding concerns and what steps to take
Strategies for LGBTQIA+ inclusion
How to make your gym more inclusive and accessible for marginalised groups
How to cultivate healthy sports cultures and environments
How to create survivor-centred and trauma-informed reporting mechanisms

Participants leave with confidence, tools and actionable steps.

WHO I WORK WITH

I provide sport-wide safeguarding services, specialising in Muay Thai and combat sports, from grassroots gyms to board-level leadership.

Clients and collaborators include:

Gym owners
Coaches
National and international federations
Sports governing bodies
NGOs and advocacy organisations
Women’s Muay Thai communities
Queer-led and inclusive Muay Thai gyms
Survivors seeking support and structural change

If you’re looking for support in building effective safeguarding systems and safer sporting cultures, I can help you. Whether you are a small gym or an international body, I scale safeguarding solutions to your context.

Check out my previous projects

WHY WORK WITH ME?

As a former Muay Thai fighter, I understand the dynamics, hierarchies, cultural norms and systemic gaps that influence combat sports environments. My services are informed by lived experience and academic studies in sports ethics & integrity, as well as industry-leading training as a safeguarding officer in sport.

My credentials include:

Master of Arts in Sports Ethics & Integrity
Safe sport researcher in sexual violence and safeguarding policy
Advanced Training for Safeguarding Leads in Sport
Current IOC Safeguarding Officer in Sport course cohort
Lived experience as a former fighter and survivor of sexual violence in Muay Thai.
10+ years of experience advocating for gender equality and the elimination of gender-based violence in Muay Thai
Trustee board member for safe sport and survivor support charities

Learn more about me

WHAT CLIENTS SAY

Super insightful session delivered very well by Emma. Her approach could be part of the future of safeguarding, specifically prevention of harm and abuse in the sporting and physical activity sector.

Webinar: Prevention of abuse in sport

“This was though-provoking, and a generous sharing of information valuable to all sporting federations; there is always something to learn, something to enhance the work we do. Emma – your messages were so important and help shape the work we do”.

Conference: Safeguarding for European Sport Federations

“Emma Thomas joined our webinar as an Impulse speaker, and we could not have asked for a better experience. From the first contact, she was responsive and professional, providing materials well within the timelines we set and making the organisational side of the collaboration effortless. Her presentation was thoughtfully structured, informative, and full of teaching points that resonated with our participants. She brought a clarity to the topic that made it accessible to a mixed audience while still offering depth for those already familiar with the subject. We would welcome the chance to work with her again and recommend her without hesitation.”

Webinar: Safeguarding in sport

“Emma’s contribution was truly meaningful, it helped participants grasp the shared responsibility the sport movement holds in safeguarding children and young people. Her story served as a powerful reminder and inspiration for all of us to work harder in preventing such experiences from ever happening again.”

Educational Workshop for Sport Safeguarding Officers: Survivor Story

IS THIS YOU?

You either don’t have a formal safeguarding policy, or want to take your existing safeguarding approaches to the next level
You’re unsure how to handle disclosures appropriately
You want to protect your athletes and gym members, but don’t know where to start
You want to make your gym more accessible to women, LGBTQIA+ athletes and marginalised communities
You’re ready to move from reactive safeguarding to proactive culture change
You want to challenge harmful sporting cultures

GET STARTED

LET’S MAKE SPORTS SAFER

If you’re ready to:

Protect your athletes and gym members more effectively
Strengthen trust within your community
Work to dismantle harmful sporting cultures
Embed survivor-centred safeguarding into your organisation

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how we can strengthen safeguarding in your gym or organisation.

There’s no obligation, just a focused conversation to understand your current position and explore possible solutions.