UK Athletics Appoint Kyniska Advocacy for support services in safeguarding and disciplinary cases.

UK Athletics has announced a new partnership agreement with Kyniska Advocacy on a pilot support service for individuals involved in safeguarding and disciplinary cases. 

The agreement will see UKA support Kyniska to maintain and further develop its support service for individuals in Athletics, whilst having the opportunity to refer complainants and witnesses in safeguarding and disciplinary cases to Kyniska for support.  The pilot will last for a year and will be supported by regular reviews between two parties.

Kyniska Advocacy’s ‘Athlete Support Service’ will provide individuals with emotional and practical support through the reporting process and beyond. Kyniska Advocacy is an athlete and lived experience-led organisation, with a strong track record of being a trusted and effective support organisation for athletes across many sports. 

Mhairi Maclennan – UK Marathon Champion and fellow athlete Kate Seary, a Welsh Steeplechase record holder, founded Kyniska Advocacy in 2021 following a successful campaign to secure lifetime bans for convicted coaches. Outwith this agreement, Kyniska Advocacy will continue to work with other national and international organisations to develop and improve safeguarding and reporting systems. 

UK Athletics Chief Operating Officer Tom Solesbury said: “We are delighted to partner with Kyniska Advocacy on this pilot programme. UKA has invested heavily in safeguarding and disciplinary processes in recent years, and this is another positive step in ensuring individuals involved remain supported through what can be a difficult and challenging process. 

"We are pleased to be taking a lead in this space and also helping support the further development of Kyniska by investing in the very important work they do.”

Mhairi Maclennan said:

"Reporting safeguarding concerns can make a victim feel increasingly vulnerable at a time when they need as much support as possible, so we are delighted that UKA recognises the importance of what we do and invested in our work so we can continue to provide this crucial support to athletes in our sport”. 

Note to editors: 

Kyniska Advocacy is an athlete-led and survivor-led non-for-profit organisation set up in 2021, comprising policy specialists and activists working with UK sporting communities to influence welfare and well-being policy change for women athletes. The team understands sport today because they are sport today. Kyniska Advocacy was founded by two women athletes, Kate Seary and Mhairi Maclennan, who, following their own experiences of the way women are treated in sport, decided to do something about it.

Kyniska Advocacy has three key missions: 

Advocate: Ensure that sports communities foster a safe environment and their structures serve to protect athletes from harm and prevent abuse.

Support: Fill the current gap in the support system for survivors of abuse in sport

Educate: Ensure every athlete, coach, and parent understands the importance of athlete wellbeing and can spot the signs of abuse