We are recruiting for a new, national network of Sport Welfare Officers to support organisations and associations keep children and adults safe in sport.
We want every person and community to experience the enjoyment and benefits that being active can bring. We believe their needs, expectations and safety should come first in the design and delivery of activity.
The network will support National Governing Bodies (NGB) and their local clubs to promote good practice and safe sport for children, young people and adults on a local level. The officers will help support clubs move from welfare compliance to develop effective welfare and inclusive cultures.
The officers will add capacity and expertise to the existing safeguarding work of NGBs and Active Partnerships. They will help further understand safeguarding in local clubs, such as how policies and procedures are cascaded and help share good practice, bringing those from different sports together. They will work closely with other Sport Welfare Officers, National Governing Bodies and wider organisations; to connect people working on welfare and safeguarding, both inside and outside sport.
Sport England’s policy response to The Whyte Review, published with UK Sport in January 2023, included the proposal to fund this professional network of Sport Welfare Officers using National Lottery grants. Read full response.
In this project, Sport Welfare Officers will be employed by, and based in, Active Partnerships. Recruitment will start from October 2023 with a phased approach. In addition, two national officers will be employed within the Active Partnerships national team to help support and connect the work at a national and local level. The Active Partnerships national team will also support central resources and training, and manage an evaluation study. The officers will work until March 2027
A national steering group led by Sport England involves Active Partnerships, NGBs, NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit and Ann Craft Trust has been co-designing and developing the work of the officers.
Applications for these roles close 9am on Monday 13 November 2023