New supplier announced for Sport Welfare Officer network

The Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) has appointed a new supplier to develop a club culture reflection approach. Following a comprehensive process, APNO has selected Sport Structures as its chosen supplier for this important project, part of its ongoing work leading the Sport Welfare Officers (SWO) network which is funded by Sport England through the National Lottery.

Sport Structures will now work closely with SWOs and key partners on this project, including Sport England, the Child Protection in Sport Unit, and the Ann Craft Trust, all of whom are part of the oversight group for the Sport Welfare Officers network, providing ongoing advice and support. Sport Structures will also work in collaboration with national governing bodies to ensure the approach is meaningful and meets the needs of their sports.

Laura Middleton, Strategic Lead for Welfare for the APNO, said: “We are very pleased to have selected Sport Structures for this important project. We were really impressed with the team’s submission and believe they have the right experience to ensure that the approach we develop helps sports clubs to create a safer and more inclusive culture and improves the experience for all club members.

“We are really looking forward to working with Sport Structures and hope that together we can build an approach which further develops the understanding of what effective welfare culture should look like for clubs.”

Simon Kirkland, Executive Chair for Sport Structures an award-winning education organisation which transforms sport and physical activity through empowering and inspiring people, said: “We are honoured to be asked to deliver this exciting project.

“Club culture and safeguarding is in our DNA. Having worked with some of the SWOs we have a feel for the need and are looking forward to working collaboratively to co-create a lasting tool to support the development of positive club experiences.”

Work on the project which will also see Sport Structures working with the SWO network’s evaluation partners, Ecorys and Professor Melanie Lang from Edgehill University, will include the development of a methodology, club reflection tool, and a range of practitioner resources.

The SWO network is a nationwide workforce employed through Active Partnerships across England, to support national governing bodies (NGBs) and local clubs. This workforce promotes good practice and safe sport for children, young people, and adults at a local level. You can find out more about the SWO network and the important work it does here.