Table Tennis England webinar: Key DBS changes from 1 September 2026

Table Tennis England will host a webinar on changes to DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) requirements for people working with children. The event takes place on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, from 18:00 to 19:00 and will be led by Kyhl Daly, the association's Designated Safeguarding Officer. During the one-hour session, organisers will provide details on how to comply with the new rules, especially for clubs and volunteers in the English table tennis system. From 1 September 2026, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removes the 'supervision exemption' from the legal definition of 'Regulated Activity' in England. Previously, some volunteers or coaches working under direct supervision of a responsible person might not need a DBS check. The new rule treats supervised roles the same as unsupervised ones, meaning that anyone involved in coaching or caring for minors in table tennis must go through a rigorous background-check process. According to the announcement, audience members should include club welfare officers, club committee members, league officials, and volunteers who regularly work with children. They will be told how the change affects them and colleagues who help run grassroots activities. In addition, the webinar will explain Table Tennis England's DBS checking process and the importance of the check in safeguarding children in the sport. The change is part of a wider trend in European sport to strengthen child protection after several high-profile cases in England and Wales. The association's safeguarding unit regards the DBS update not only as a legal duty but also as an opportunity to rethink the human-development philosophy of sport. If Vietnamese clubs have connections with the Vietnamese community in the UK, understanding the rule will help avoid legal barriers in cooperation and athlete exchanges. From my years of observing sport, child-protection regulations usually follow an incident. Table Tennis England, however, is taking a proactive approach by organising a public webinar. It shows that developing a generation of athletes is not just about professional skills. In any sports system, data about people and risk-management processes are what create a sustainable foundation. If you run a community table tennis club or plan to become a coach for children in England, this webinar is a useful starting point. Register so you do not miss the new timeline: from 1 September 2026 every role requires a check. The rules increase administrative work, but the cost of one case of child abuse in sport is far higher.