Our new Sport Welfare Officers Lucy Doyle and Emma Das join a new national workforce of 63 officers, recruited across the country to support National Governing Bodies and their local clubs to promote good practice and safer sport for all.
Lucy Doyle and Emma Das join a new national workforce of 63 officers, recruited across the country to work with Sport England and the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO). The Sport Welfare Officer (SWO) network has been created to support National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and their local clubs to promote good practice and safer sport for all.
Lucy and Emma will add capacity and expertise to the existing safeguarding work of National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) and Active Partnerships, better known locally as Active Surrey. They will be connecting with local safeguarding partners inside and outside of sport and gathering insight about what is needed locally, having conversations with clubs about their welfare arrangements and sharing best practice across different sports.
Lucy has an extensive background in safeguarding and welfare, having worked previously for British Gymnastics and Swim England, supporting Club Welfare Officers on a national level. Lucy is now keen to bring her experience and expertise to local community settings and knows just how daunting the role of a Club Welfare Officer can be and why there is a need for this additional support.
Emma brings extensive local community knowledge to the role, gathered over 20 years spent working in both the sport, leisure and housing sectors, and the Police. Having previously led on the delivery of the Surrey Youth Games at Active Surrey, Emma has firsthand experience working with NGBs, and local clubs and coaches, and knows what is involved in the provision of safe and inclusive environments.
Wendy Newton, Head of Children & Young People at Active Surrey, said: “We are delighted to have Lucy and Emma on board as our new Sport Welfare Officers. Active Surrey recognise the need to ensure safer sport for children, young people and adults in Surrey clubs and our SWO Team will provide vital support to Club Welfare Officers around the county.”
“The role that these new Sport Welfare Officers will play is a really important addition to the landscape that comes at a crucial time,” said Sport England Chief Executive, Tim Hollingsworth.
“The project will directly support our ambition to champion the life-changing impact of being active and our mission to tackle deep-rooted inequalities and unlock the advantages of sport and physical activity for everyone.
“Ensuring a safe, inclusive environment is vital in improving our children and young people's experience of sport in particular, and we know from the evidence presented – not least in the Whyte Review of Gymnastics – that this is not always the case.
“These roles will directly support this – helping to create the right blend of action, at both a national and local level, that’s needed to help promote a consistent approach in clubs to support their own welfare officers.
“By introducing this new partnership, we aim to increase welfare capacity and expertise at local and national level and improve best practice to help prevent concerns and make sport safe for everyone.”
The SWO network has been co-designed and is being supported by a national steering group which includes representatives from Sport England, Active Partnerships and the Active Partnerships National Organisation, NGBs, the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit and the Ann Craft Trust.
To get in touch with our Sport Welfare Officer Team, please email active.surrey@surreycc.gov.uk or visit Active Surrey.