The Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) have identified a partnership Wesport are involved in as good practice!
All-Aboard Water Sports – Strengthening Safeguarding Through Partnership
All-Aboard Water Sports (AAW) is a multisport venue delivering a range of on-water activities in Bristol.
The partnership started in January 2025 with a Wesport Sport Welfare Officer (SWO) meeting with the Centre Manager to review AAW's existing safeguarding processes.
AAW already had a structured system in place so the focus of the engagement was therefore not to create systems from scratch, but to build on this strong foundation and support the organisation in embedding a more proactive and preventative safeguarding culture.
During the following months, communication mainly took place via email due to the centre’s busy peak season. Throughout this time, the SWO provided advice on safeguarding matters when required, including guidance around updating DBS checks and signposting support relating to mental health. The SWO also acted as a safeguarding sounding board when the centre developed new changing room facilities. This included discussing appropriate layouts and the proximity of adult and children’s changing areas to ensure safeguarding considerations were built into the design from the outset.
Since then, engagement has continued and the Lead Safeguarding Officer has attended several online welfare and safeguarding sessions delivered by Wesport, strengthening their knowledge and confidence. This increased engagement has helped the centre explore new ways to support participant wellbeing. One example is AAW’s interest in collaborating with Andy's Man Club to introduce a Talk Club at the centre. The initiative aims to combine on-water activity with peer support sessions to promote men’s mental health, with Wesport supporting the centre as it explores this partnership. The centre has also begun connecting with local support services and attending sport welfare events, demonstrating a strong commitment to embedding safeguarding and wellbeing across its activities.
Through its engagement with the Sport Welfare Officer Network, AAW has gained consistent, sector-specific guidance to support the development of safeguarding and welfare practices. The partnership has helped the centre maintain a strong focus on safeguarding while also expanding its work in areas such as mental health and community support, ensuring a safer and more supportive environment for participants.
If your club or organisation would like to discuss the possibilities of support and collaboration, please get in touch with Wesport Safeguarding Team on - safeguarding@wesport.org.uk