Safeguarding Adults Week

Safeguarding doesn’t end at 18. This week marks Safeguarding Adults Week (17 - 21st November). This spotlights keeping everyone safe. Wesport’s Sport Welfare Officers, Bryher Freight and Matt Walker, are here to support clubs with a wide range of issues, including safeguarding adults.

Safeguarding Support

A local club, GEM Boccia, got in touch to ask for some support. Matt was more than happy to lend a hand so they could meet Boccia England's new minimum standards for clubs.

Since reaching out, support has been provided to GEM Boccia, such as:

• Writing a role description for their new Club Welfare Officer
• Signposting the Club Welfare Officer to the correct safeguarding training
• Making changes to their risk assessments
• Developing a new disciplinary policy and arranging an “easy read” translation.

Georgina Moore, founder of GEM Boccia club, said, “The support from Matt to help me set up my club’s minimum standards was invaluable. I had no idea where to start, and it was completely overwhelming. Matt made it seem so much more straightforward, and I couldn’t have done it without him. I’m super grateful!”

A photo of a GEM Boccia training session.

Matt went on to say, “Safeguarding can feel like a daunting thing to tackle that’s shrouded in complicated words and legislation, whereas at its core, simplicity is key. How can we look after everyone in our environment? And how can we have the correct things in place to support them if something goes wrong? That’s what the Sport Welfare Officer Network is here to do: keep it simple.”

Thoughts from Boccia England

George Bollands, Club and Group Development Officer at Boccia England, added, “For Boccia England, the Sport Welfare Officer network has been an invaluable source of support. As a small NGB, the network has provided additional safeguarding capacity at a local level, assisting our BE Member Clubs work towards a position of compliance with our new minimum operating standards, which we introduced nationally in October.

Their safeguarding expertise has enabled tailored support for BE Member Club Leads and Club Welfare Officers, including assistance with policies & procedures and signposting to local training opportunities, ensuring that clubs meet the requirements of our standards. Thanks to this important local-level support, more places across the country now offer inclusive, welcoming, and safe environments where everyone can enjoy playing boccia.”

How can you get support like this?

Are you looking for support to improve the safeguarding and welfare practices at your club? Are you unsure where to start, but you’d like to know more? 1-2-1 support from Bryher and Matt is FREE OF CHARGE, and they’d love to hear from you. To set up an initial chat at a time and place that suits you, please email bryher.freight@wesport.org.uk and matt.walker@wesport.org.uk