National Collaboration Event Strengthens Support for Club Welfare Officers

Last week (11 February 2025), safeguarding leads from National Governing Bodies (NGBs) met with Sport Welfare Officers from Active Partnerships at the NSPCC Training Centre in Leicester, for a collaboration event aimed at strengthening support for club welfare officers (CWOs).

This event was organised by the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU), the Ann Craft Trust (ACT), and the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO), all involved in the founding of the Sport Welfare Officer network. The event aimed to further enhance the strong working relationships between these organisations and provide a platform to highlight examples of best practice, collaboration, and explore options to further improve support for CWOs.

Jeremy Lemarchand, Head of Welfare and Safeguarding at Sport England, set the context for the day by explaining how Uniting the Movement encourages cross-sector innovation and spotlights safeguarding. Steve Boocock CEO of Wiltshire and Swindon Sport, and former Head of Safeguarding at the CPSU, shared a personal reflection on his experiences as a swim coach, urging organisations to share compelling stories with grassroots clubs to emphasise the importance of safeguarding, moving from co-existence to co-ownership.

The event provided an opportunity for reflection, with colleagues in the safeguarding in sport community learning of the passing of Nicola Dean. Nicola was the first safeguarding manager for ACT, who had championed adult safeguarding in sport over many years. Many organisations fondly recalled Nicola’s emphasis on people, conversations, and relationships in safeguarding, which also helped to highlight the current important opportunity to impact welfare culture in sport through partnerships. .

Sport Welfare Officers from the East Midlands highlighted how the Sport Welfare Officer Network’s Universal Offer provides local, needs-led support, complementing and enhancing the work of NGBs. Swim England and the Bowls Development Alliance then shared their reflections on the changes they notice within their sports through working with Active Partnerships.

The afternoon featured lively table conversations led by NGBs and Active Partnerships, where attendees collectively considered how best practices across the sector could be used by their own organisations, and examined the opportunities to collaborate on key areas of work. Participants also engaged in focused discussions on topics such as consultation and engaging with participants, visibility of the club welfare officer role, and club standards.

Liza Ware, Senior Consultant from the CPSU, said, “This event was a brilliant opportunity to harness the power of collaborative working. We should encourage each other to be brave, to tell a compelling story to help explain why safeguarding is important and remember that culture change happens through people. Success happens when people work outside of their comfort zone and share a common purpose to create safe and inclusive environments, meaning everyone can have fun and thrive in sport and physical activity.”

Laura Middleton, Strategic Lead for Welfare at the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said, “The Sport Welfare Officer Network is dedicated to supporting club welfare officers across the country to build safer clubs. This collaboration event demonstrates our commitment to creating safer club environments and improved experiences for everyone involved in sport.

“By bringing together Active Partnerships, the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit, the Ann Craft Trust, and National Governing Bodies, we are fostering a stronger network to support club welfare officers and promote best practice in safeguarding and welfare. This event has helped to ensure that everyone involved feels more connected and informed, ultimately leading to safer sport for all.”

Ann Craft Trust CEO Stuart Sale added: “This event was another example of good partnership working, which is key in all aspects of sport and particularly in safeguarding. Hearing about people’s fond memories of Nicola and her pioneering role for adult safeguarding has been comforting to the whole team at the Ann Craft Trust.

“I’m sure Nicola would have been as pleased as myself and ACT safeguarding in sport team to see the collaboration of different partners, who, although they may have different perspectives and priorities, were able to come together to learn, discuss, challenge and reflect in a safe space.  This is how we create safer sport for everyone to enjoy.”

For more information about the Sport Welfare Officer Network, visit the APNO website here.

To find out more about the CPSU, visit their website here, and for the Ann Craft Trust, click here.