Table Tennis England tightens DBS checks for volunteers working with children

At the end of September 2026, table tennis clubs in England will join an online meeting that is not about technique or competition results. The topic is a legal change now in force, affecting thousands of volunteers who work with children. Table Tennis England is holding a webinar on September 29, 2026, from 6pm to 7pm UK time, to explain why DBS checks are no longer optional. The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has removed the 'supervision exemption' from the legal definition of regulated activity. Previously, volunteers and coaches working with children under the supervision of someone with a DBS certificate were not required to have their own check. That ended on September 1, 2026. Whether you coach alone or assist in a classroom with a lead teacher, if you come into contact with children, you need a valid DBS certificate. DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service, a UK government agency that checks criminal records for people working with children and vulnerable groups. In table tennis, DBS checks remove people who may pose a risk and give parents confidence that their children are in safe hands. The key change: being 'supervised' is no longer a reason to be exempt. Many clubs once thought that just having one DBS-checked adult in the room was enough. But no one can watch every minute in hallways, toilets, or when taking children home. The new law starts from a better assumption: anyone who works with children must pass a background check, regardless of supervision. The free webinar is hosted by Kyhl Daly, Table Tennis England's Designated Safeguarding Officer. During the hour, he will explain what has changed and how it affects clubs and local leagues. Participants will also learn about the DBS application process, how to check application status, and the welfare officer's role in maintaining compliance. Who should attend? According to the organisation, club welfare officers, committee members, and volunteers who regularly work with children should join. These are the people who handle records, update DBS lists and could face legal questions if something is missed. The webinar also stresses why DBS checks matter in the sport's safeguarding strategy. From a management perspective, the change raises questions about readiness among amateur clubs. English table tennis has a large network of clubs, and much of it relies on parents, students and retirees. If every volunteer must be checked, administrative costs will rise. But the cost of one check is far smaller than the long-term damage caused by an abused child. The new rules are not meant to burden clubs; they are meant to close a loophole predators could exploit. A counter-intuitive view: making DBS mandatory for supervised roles might push clubs to focus on paperwork rather than building a safety culture. But the two are not in conflict. Background checks do not replace training, behaviour codes, or a culture where children feel able to speak up. They simply make it harder for bad people to get through the door. A child protection system needs three layers: checks, supervision, and a culture of raising concerns. The webinar on September 29 will end, but the real story is just beginning. Every club should ask not 'Have we done DBS checks?' but 'Who in our club is still unchecked and why are they still around children?' Table Tennis England has chosen to act. Clubs that wait will have to face the consequences when an incident occurs – and by then, no list on paper will protect anyone.