Table Tennis England Updates DBS Requirements from September 2026: Key Information for Volunteers

Table Tennis England will host an online webinar on September 29 to explain important changes in Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) requirements for those working with children in table tennis. The webinar will be led by Mr. Kyhl Daly, the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) of Table Tennis England. The event takes place on Tuesday, September 29, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM GMT, free of charge and open to registration for all interested parties. The target audience includes club welfare officers, members of club or league committees, and those who regularly volunteer with children. These are the people who need to master the upcoming regulatory changes. The webinar's focus centers on the Crime and Policing Act 2026, effective from September 1, 2026. Under this Act, the 'supervision exemption' will be removed from the legal definition of Regulated Activity. Previously, some volunteers and coaches working with children under supervision did not need a DBS check, but this regulation will no longer apply. From now on, supervised roles will be treated the same as unsupervised roles. This is accurate information from the credible source of Table Tennis England, the national sports organization responsible for developing and managing table tennis in England. Kyhl Daly, as DSO, is the person leading the implementation of safeguarding regulations within this organization. From a professional perspective, the removal of the supervision exemption represents a significant step forward in child protection policy in England. Previously, this policy created a legal loophole that allowed some volunteers working with children under supervision to bypass background checks. The new regulation ensures that all individuals who interact with children in table tennis activities are rigorously screened. This carries profound implications for table tennis organizations. All roles involving children, from coaches and administrative staff to volunteers, must undergo DBS checks. In practical terms, clubs need to build stricter recruitment processes, while volunteers need to prepare for a rigorous but fairer DBS registration process. One notable point is that this regulation reflects an international trend toward strengthening child protection in sports. For the Vietnamese table tennis community, England's model can be a useful reference lesson. Although specific regulations vary by country, the general principle of protecting children in sports environments is consistent. Vietnamese clubs should also consider building background check procedures for volunteers working with children. The online webinar hosted by Table Tennis England will help clubs, organizations, and volunteers understand what they need to do to ensure compliance. Detailed information about the regulatory changes can be found on Table Tennis England's official website. This is an opportunity for the table tennis community to best prepare for the new era of child protection in sports. The event takes place on September 29, completely free of charge, with registration directly on the Table Tennis England website.