reform ‘25
On Tuesday 18th October 2022 British Gymnastics released their strategic response to the Whyte Review; Reform ‘25. Read our initial response to the document in the articles below.
OUR RESPONse.
Reform ‘25 represents a welcome first step towards change within the culture of British Gymnastics. Sarah Powell in particular has proved herself to be a very different proposition from the former CEO of British Gymnastics Jane Allen. As a result Gymnasts for Change recognise that we are beginning to see the green shoots of change at every level of the organisation. However, British Gymnastics have always been good at saying what they think UK Sport want to hear - and their policies often critiqued for being performative and not substantive. Confidence within the British Gymnastics community remains low and we’ve yet to see evidence of the kind of wholesale change that will restore confidence in parents, coaches and gymnasts. Read our initial response to Reform ‘25 here.
“THE REFORM 25 DOCUMENT IS A WELCOME FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING THE PERVASIVE ABUSE EXPERIENCED BY GYMNASTS In the British Gymnastics system FOR DECADES. BUT reform CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT THE RESOLUTION OF THE EXISTING 37 LEGAL ACTIONS WHICH HAVE SUFFERED FROM A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND SLUGGISH PACE FROM BRITISH GYMNASTICS”
Is Zero tolerance enough?
Following the publication of Reform ‘25 two main policies caught the attention of the press. “Banned coaches to be named” & “BG to take ‘zero tolerance’ on abuse”. Scratch beneath the veneer of the positive headlines and one quickly hits some disappointing empty promises. Read more about the truth behind the hollow headlines and why a ‘zero tolerance policy’ is not enough.
what needs to change?
INVESTIGATIONS ARE BACK LOGGED
300 cases remain back logged in the British Gymnastics safe guarding system. Despite taking on 8 new safe guarding officers - the team remain overwhelmed and inundated with complaints. Lack of capacity means catastrophic safeguarding failings continue.
2. functionality of the advisory panels remains poor
Three advisory panels have been set up by British Gymnastics to help steer future policy and to provide a direct line to the board from gymnasts, coaches & clubs. The functionality of these panels is currently poor and more work must be done to make them fit for purpose.
3. survivors must be placed meaningfully at the heart of reform
To date, no meaningful attempt at restorative justice or survivor reconciliation has been made by British Gymnastics. A categorical acknowledgement that BG understand the full scope of their failings, not just from 2008 - present day but over a 40 year period must be made followed by a dialogue with complainants to ask what restorative justice might look like for them.
4. Frustrated redress
British Gymnastics must resolve the 37 outstanding legal cases & commit resources to ensure claimants can obtain full physiological and psychological assessments from relevant experts. Without scientific reports, BG will not gain a full understanding of the dangers of participating in gymnastics for women and girls.
5. coaches must be sanctioned
100 coaches were named as abusive to the Whyte Review, but to date, none have been banned. British Gymnastics must find a way to remove and sanction abusive coaches from the sport. Parents and gymnasts want to have informed choice over the coaches and clubs they work with. We therefore need to see a register of banned, suspended and sanctioned coaches.
6. Greater oversight
British Gymnastics can not be left to mark their own homework. And it can not be left to pressure groups like Gymnasts for Change to hold British Gymnastics to account. The government needs to act on Tanni Grey-Thompsons 2016 Duty of Care in Sport report to create an Independent Ombudsman to ensure British Gymnastics enacts the changes laid out in Reform ‘25.