Welfare Officers: Rachel Nothard & Shaun Clarkson

While safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone within the club (led by the whole committee), having a club welfare officer (or officers) ensures the club has a dedicated person with the primary responsibility for managing and reporting concerns about children or adults at risk.

Club Welfare Officers play an essential role in ensuring that club members have a safe and positive experience at the club. Welfare Officers are key to all members knowing what to do and who to speak to if they have a safeguarding, discipline or conduct concern.

They are also a link to managing lower-level club issues and disputes, and/or flagging concerns for early intervention to prevent escalation and behaviours which can prevent enjoyment of the sport. Welfare Officers form part of the club committee and support the implementation of good safeguarding governance.

By completing training provided by England Athletics and understanding the policies and procedures set out by UK Athletics, clubs can be confident that their welfare officers have the right level of knowledge for the role. This includes how to raise a concern and who to speak to within the sport.