The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has today published enhanced online safeguarding and human welfare education as part of ongoing efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment for everyone working in the industry.
Available to complete now on Racing2Learn, the e-learning module has been developed through the BHA’s Safeguarding and Human Welfare Strategy, which was published in December 2023 with the aim of embedding a universal culture of respect across the industry.
The refreshed education – Safeguarding and Human Welfare: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Sport – replaces and builds on the existing online training, first introduced in 2018 and now a mandatory requirement for anyone licensed by the BHA. It also complements the face-to-face education provided for licensed personnel and others through the various workforce development courses.
Delivered across three online modules, the updated training continues to cover essential safeguarding responsibilities, setting out the legal and regulatory requirements in place to protect younger and more vulnerable individuals from the risk of abuse or harm.
But it has also been expanded to incorporate wider aspects of human welfare, recognising the importance of ensuring a safe and secure environment for everyone working in British racing and breeding.
New modules have been introduced that cover areas such as sexual harassment and bullying – identified as priority areas in the BHA’s broader strategy – as well as behavioural standards and reporting mechanisms, helping everyone play a part in creating an increasingly more inclusive sport.
The enhanced training will continue to be a BHA licensing requirement for trainers, jockeys, valets and agents, with all licence holders asked to complete the new online module at the earliest opportunity and by no later than 1 April 2025.
The e-learning has also been made available free-of-charge to anyone working in British racing and breeding as part of wider efforts to ensure that everyone in the sport feels safe, protected and able to fulfil their potential. It is particularly relevant and recommended for those in management or supervisory roles.
The learning sits alongside wider work the BHA has been doing to support employers and industry people with changes to the law, which place a legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to protect employees from sexual harassment in the workplace.
This guidance includes a toolkit and explanatory webinar, available now on Racing2Learn, which have been developed to help ensure everyone in British racing enjoys a safe and respectful working environment and support employers to comply with the law.
BHA Head of Safeguarding and Human Welfare, Matt Mancini, said:
“The publication of refreshed online training is an important milestone in our efforts to ensure a safe, supportive and respectful working environment for everyone involved in British horseracing.
“Identified as a key priority in our Safeguarding and Human Welfare strategy, the new online learning has been developed in close consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure it provides practical guidance around legal requirements, good working practices and how to identify and report any issues of concern.
“We fully recognise that excellent levels of care and support already exist, with many employers taking their responsibilities extremely seriously and putting the necessary protections in place to support people across our sport.
“But we also know about the challenges and the need for us all to do more to embed consistently high standards of behaviour. This is evidenced by the reports made to the BHA, particularly around bullying and sexual harassment, as well as independent research into the experiences of women in our sport.
“Safeguarding and the wellbeing of our people is everyone’s responsibility; we all have an important role to play in promoting good behaviours, acting where conduct falls short of our high standards, and contributing to a universal culture of respect. This is critical to the long-term success of our sport.”
The online learning, Safeguarding and Human Welfare – Creating a Safe and Inclusive Sport, is available to complete now on Racing2Learn.
The course is free to access for anyone employed in the British horseracing and breeding industry and comprises three modules:
- Module 1: Safeguarding and Human Welfare
- Module 2: Anti-Sexual Harassment and Misogyny
- Module 3: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Sport
BHA licensed individuals (i.e. trainers, jockeys, valets and agents) will be contacted directly via email with more information, including the relevant deadlines for completion. Once you have finished the three modules, please remember to download and save the certificate as evidence of completion.
For any guidance or assistance in accessing your Racing2Learn account please contact the helpline on 020 7152 0021.
