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Our weather is becoming more extreme, with the Met Office warning that higher temperatures are likely to become more common.

This raises an important question for clubs and community organisations: how can they protect participants and volunteers during outdoor activity in the summer months?

Many community clubs and organisations work hard to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces, where enjoyment and wellbeing sit at the heart of what they do. With a duty of care for their people, organisations have clear safeguarding and health and safety policies and practices in place.

The changing weather and more extreme summers mean that these care practices should extend to thinking about how to protect people against sun and heat exposure. 

Putting measures in place to protect participants, volunteers and staff from sunburn can be simple. In this blog we explore the work of the Melanoma Fund and the free support, advice and guidance they provide to help your organisation.

Sunguarding logo - a movement powered by the Melanoma Fund

Who's the Melanoma Fund?

The Melanoma Fund is a UK charity focused on the prevention and early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers.

It provides free education, training and practical resources to help organisations manage sun and heat risks for people taking part in outdoor activity.

Through its national Sunguarding® campaign, the Melanoma Fund supports schools, clubs and community organisations and outdoor workplaces to embed simple habits that reduce harmful ultraviolet (UV) exposure, while allowing people to enjoy being active outdoors.

Why is now the right moment to act?

  • Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK.
  • On average, there are around 17,600 new melanoma cases each year in the UK.
  • Melanoma cases are projected to reach around 26,500 each year between 2038 and 2040.
  • Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common cancers in the UK, with the majority linked to cumulative exposure to UV radiation.

(Statistics from Cancer Research UK)

Research from the Melanoma Fund shows that 72% of coaches, leaders and teachers have never received formal training on sun or heat protection, despite spending significant time delivering outdoor activity, with two thirds reporting they've experienced sun or heat-related incidents during the sessions they lead.

What support is available through the Melanoma Fund?

The Melanoma Fund’s Sunguarding® campaign provides training, guidance and practical support to help organisations better manage sun and heat exposure.

The campaign is designed to help organisations build simple, everyday habits that keep people safe by offering a wide range of resources, support and easy-to-implement actions, including:

  • Sunguarding® course – a free, one-hour, CIMSPA-accredited online course which highlights how to recognise and manage sun and heat risks during outdoor activity.
  • Sunguarding® Sport toolkit – free, downloadable resources to raise awareness of sun protection, including safety guidelines, top tips and promotional materials.
  • Sunguarding® UV safety stations – providing accessible sunscreen in outdoor settings and acting as visible prompts that encourage people to protect their skin when UV levels are high.
Advert for a Sunguarding Schools resource, featuring pages from a guide showing characters playing sport and a temperature chart.

What practical steps can clubs and community groups take?

Taking a proactive approach to improving your organisation's approach to sun and heat safety doesn’t need to be complicated, time-consuming or expensive.

There are several small actions that can be taken to help manage, prevent and raise awareness of the risks associated to sun and heat exposure:

  • 1. Education

    It’s important that those responsible for leading activities understand when UV levels reach 3 or above and how to respond appropriately.

    The guidance available through the Sunguarding® course can help you to do this and make a meaningful difference to the safety and wellbeing of your people. 

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  • 2. Raise awareness

    Placing posters, reminders and clear prompts around the facilities and spaces you use can help people make safer choices.

    The free Sunguarding® Sport toolkit includes resources and assets that you can use.

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  • 3. Provide access to sunscreen

    Sunguarding® UV safety stations offer a simple, permanent point where your people can access sunscreen.

    Each station includes guidance on when sunscreen should be applied and an easy-to-use refillable dispenser.

    While there’s a cost associated with purchasing these stations, where there’s a clear need, organisations can apply for funding through Sport England’s Movement Fund.

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  • 4. Build sun safety into planning

    Add sun and heat considerations into existing risk assessments, appropriate policy documents, event planning and welfare discussions.

    This helps embed sun and heat safety into your everyday operations.   

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Find out more

Melanoma Fund