Richard Smallbone

Richard is an experienced safeguarding professional currently working as safeguarding coordinator for a co-ed boarding school but has also worked in state schools.

Prior to this, Richard was the national DSL for one of the UK’s largest charities which also involved international projects. Richard also held the equivalent role in sport at the Rugby Football Union with a broad remit, covering 2,000 clubs, approximately 100,000 volunteers and around 500,000 child participants.

During his career he has gained experience working in a variety of sectors including law enforcement, offender management and education (experience in schools and at local authority level). This professional experience is underpinned with an understanding of volunteering with further experience in the sport sector as a volunteer coach and committee member. He also sits as a volunteer panel member on the safeguarding committee of a sport National governing body.

He is committed to ensuring that safeguarding arrangements work for adults at risk, children and families as well as for practitioners. Richard has a proven track record in planning and delivering training in order to develop and share safeguarding skills, expertise, knowledge and learning.