On 4th December 2025, the kick-off meeting of the Safe Playground project was held in Gießen (Germany), hosted by the project coordinator Athletes Inspire Children NGO association (Germany). The project is co-funded by the European Union – Erasmus+ Programme and brings together a consortium of partners from four European countries: Mithra Legal Advisors (Spain), CUS Palermo (Italy), Tennis Club Favorite (Bulgaria) and us [Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC)].
The overall objective of Safe Playground is to create safer, more inclusive, and supportive environments in sports, where athletes of all ages can thrive-both physically and mentally. By strengthening mental health awareness, structured governance, and access to support systems, the project equips sports organizations across Europe with the tools they need to protect and empower athletes.
Through improved mental health policies, digital communication solutions, specialized training programs, certification frameworks, and international collaboration, Safe Playground ensures that safeguarding in sports is not just a concept, but an active practice embedded in everyday sports culture.
During the kick-off meeting, we discussed work packages, timelines, communication strategies, and dissemination activities, setting the stage for a productive and inspiring collaboration.
Together, we aim to develop high-quality educational materials, interactive MOOC courses, and in-depth training sessions, ensuring that clubs and professionals are equipped to uphold the highest standards of safety in sports.
