Full Network Coverage of Sport Welfare Officers

Following a recent recruitment drive, the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) is pleased to announce that the Sport Welfare Officer (SWO) network now covers every region and major city in England, marking a significant milestone in a programme which seeks to increase welfare capacity and expertise at a local, regional, and national level.

The recruitment process, which began in October 2023, was conducted using a phased approach, and has now resulted in SWOs being fully operational in every region of the country, supporting National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and their local clubs to promote good practice and safer sport for all.

This initiative, set up following the commitments made by Sport England and UK Sport in response to the Whyte Review, has been funded by Sport England through the National Lottery.

The SWOs are employed by Active Partnerships across England and are adding capacity and expertise to the existing safeguarding work of NGBs and Active Partnerships.  They are connecting those working on welfare and safeguarding locally and promoting good welfare practice and safe sport at a local level, with the aim of creating safer club environments and improved experiences for children, young people, and adults.

As the SWO network continues to establish itself, the work of these officers is expected to greatly enhance the understanding of safeguarding policies and procedures within local clubs and facilitate the sharing of good practices across different sports.

Laura Middleton, APNO Strategic Lead for Welfare, said: “Achieving full coverage across every region and major city in England is a significant milestone for us. It ensures that sports clubs and organisations, no matter where they are located, have access to the professional support of the Sport Welfare Officers.

“We know from the feedback that we have received so far that this network of officers is already starting to have a positive impact on sporting communities and are contributing towards a raised awareness about sports welfare at a local level.  We extend our thanks to all partners involved in this project, including Sport England, the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, the Ann Craft Trust, and National Governing Bodies. Their collaboration and support have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.”

For more information on the Sport Welfare Officer Network, or to find your local SWO, please visit the Active Partnerships website