Sport Welfare Officer Network

We want every person and community to experience the enjoyment and benefits that being active can bring and believe their needs, expectations and safety should come first in the design and delivery of activity.  That’s why we're working to support organisations and associations, including National Governing Bodies of Sport, to safeguard children and adults.

A new, national network of Sport Welfare Officers is being created across England to 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 e.g. 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. 

If you are interested in becoming a Sport Welfare Officer, Active Partnerships are keen to hear from you. Please keep an eye on the vacancy page and the UK Sport Jobs page for more details or contact your local Active Partnership.

 

National Job Roles - Applications now welcomed. 

Two national posts will help support, strengthen and connect the SWO network. For further details on these roles please click on the links below:

Relationships Partner, Sport Welfare Officer Network

You will be the strategic lead for the rollout and implementation of a new nationwide network of Sport Welfare Officers (SWO). You will build and develop trusted relationships across key stakeholders and act as an influential external advocate for the network.

National Programme Lead, Sport Welfare Officer Network

You will support the Relationship Partner (Sports Welfare Officer Network) in operationally delivering the day to day running of the new nationwide Sports Welfare Officer Network

if you have any queries about the national roles please email recruitment@activepartnerships.org