Sport Welfare Officer Network strengthened by new recruits

The new national Sport Welfare Officer (SWO) network, which has been created to support National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and their local clubs to promote good practice and safer sport for all, has recently been strengthened, with the lead officers now taking up their positions and new officers from across England being confirmed into roles.

Working with Sport England, the Active Partnerships National Organisation (APNO) is leading on keeping the SWO network connected, and Laura Middleton as Strategic Lead for Welfare and Katy Thompson as Programme Manager have now joined the APNO team to support the 63 officers that will be employed across the country.

Laura joined the Active Partnerships National Organisation in January 2024, with primary responsibility for the strategic management of the SWO Network. Bringing a wealth of experience to her new role, Laura previously worked as the Safeguarding and Integrity Senior Manager for Basketball England, acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and managing the service and workstreams, promoting safe, fair, and inclusive culture and practice.

Katy joined APNO in early February and, alongside being responsible for the operational delivery of the SWO Network, is the main contact for supporting the SWO's based within Active Partnerships. Katy was previously the Partnership Manager within an Active Partnership, and is experienced in working collaboratively with partners across the system to tackle inequalities in physical activity.

Of the 63 officers that will make up the SWO network, more than half are already in post because of swift recruitment from Active Partnerships across the country and thanks to the National Lottery funding that Sport Englandhas invested and the support it has provided.

These officers are already adding capacity and expertise to the existing safeguarding work of NGBs and Active Partnerships. They have started to connect with local safeguarding partners inside and outside of sport and are gathering insight about what is needed locally, having conversations with clubs about their welfare arrangements and sharing best practice across different sports.

Andy Taylor, Chief Executive Officer for the Active Partnerships National Organisation, said: "We are really pleased to see this excellent progress with the Sport Welfare Officer Network, and we are delighted to have Laura and Katy on board, supporting this crucial initiative. This network is helping to ensure safer sport for children, young people and adults in clubs up and down the country.

"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.

Source & Image: Active Partnerships