Sport Welfare

About the Sport Welfare Network

We want every person and community to experience the enjoyment and benefits that being active can bring and believe their needs, expectations, and safety should come first in the design and delivery of activity. As such, all Active Partnerships are delivering the new Sport Welfare Officer (SWO) Network programme.

After the Whyte Review in 2022, Sport England and UK Sport committed to a number of actions in UK Sport and Sport England's Responses to the Whyte Report including the embedding of the Sport Welfare Network. With this, we are excited to welcome Emily to the team as Sport Welfare Lead for Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

The role of the Sport Welfare Network is to add capacity and expertise to the existing safeguarding work of the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Active Partnerships, whilst supporting in any areas where knowledge could be improved.

The role is in place to fully support clubs in promoting good welfare and safe sport whilst moving from being compliant in their work, to actively embedding an effective culture to their club which is actively supported by Child Protection in Sport Trust (CPSU) and Ann Craft Trust (ACT).

The Sport Welfare Network contributes towards the Uniting the Movement strategy that was put in place in 2021.

Support Provided by the Network

The Sport Welfare Role is to:

Support

  • Provide additional, local support for club welfare officers
  • Signpost clubs to the right advice and guidance
  • Work with club welfare officers to create a safer culture within their organisation
  • Facilitate local training opportunities and events
  • Create networks so that volunteers and staff feel better connected and informed
  • Recognise, share and develop best practice
  • Help raise awareness of safeguarding and welfare for young people and adults at local events

Connect

  • People working on welfare within and across sport
  • Welfare to outside sport eg statutory services
  • With other officers in the national network
  • NGBs – to provide insight

Raise Awareness

  • With parents/carers/participants
  • National/local campaigns

Share Learning

  • Sharing of best practice with other officers

The Sport Welfare Role is not to:

  • Advise on or manage concerns – all concerns must be referred without delay in accordance with NGB/Club Safeguarding Policy

Resources

This Sport Welfare Resource Bank is here to act as a regular aid for you and those you work with, with specific information that can help you in your role and raise awareness of safeguarding and welfare in sport. Either read through the flipbook, or access the link below to download the PDF document to save.

If there is any information you feel like we could share or anything you would like more of, please complete the form to help us help you.

If you require support and guidance relating to safeguarding and protecting children in sports settings, please visit our Safeguarding page.

We actively promote various learning opportunities, via our Courses and Workshops page. Please take a look at the latest news and courses we have to offer.

Emily Griffiths

Emily Griffiths

Sports Welfare Lead

  • Promote good practice of safe sport for children, young people and adults at a local level
  • Supporting Club Welfare Officers to further safeguarding and welfare understanding
  • Provide knowledge and understanding to clubs/groups to enhance policies and procedures
  • Provide appropriate advice, guidance, learning and networking opportunities for new and existing Club Welfare Officers.
Mobile
07826 993 378
Website
https://www.activehw.co.uk/sport-welfare