Report a safeguarding concern
If you have any out-of-hours concerns, or if you believe someone is at immediate risk of harm then you should dial 999 or contact your local authority safeguarding contact.
If you want to report a concern in a sports club environment, contact the safeguarding contact of the relevant affiliated National Governing Body.
Our Sport Welfare Officers are available to assist and support club welfare officers, to create safer club environments and improved experiences for young people and adults.
Sarah Baylis is the Sport Welfare Officer for North of Tyne, across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland.
Richard Steele is Sport Welfare Officer for South of Tyne, covering South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead.
Sarah and Richard can:
Connect Club Welfare Officers with appropriate services for safeguarding concerns or queries, and supporting you to embed a safe, welcoming and inclusive culture at your club.
Support 1:1 in safeguarding and welfare practice for your club (helping you achieve the minimum standards required by your sport, or if an unaffiliated club, helping you develop up to date safeguarding policies and practices).
Raise awareness of safeguarding and welfare practices with free training from industry experts and a chance to network with other club welfare officers from across sports in the North East at our monthly sport welfare forums.
Enable sharing best practice from clubs across sports.
About the Sports Welfare Officer network
The national network of Sport Welfare Officers contributes towards the Uniting the Movement strategy and is one of Sport England’s commitments in the policy response to the Whyte Review, published by Sport England and UK Sport.
We are working with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and key partners, such as the NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit and Ann Craft Trust, to develop a new local approach to assisting and supporting club welfare officers, to create safer club environments and improved experiences for young people and adults.
We are working with local sports clubs and activity providers to assist volunteers to share best practice to help prevent concerns, making sport and activity safe for everyone.
Please note: it is not our role to advise on or manage safeguarding concerns – all concerns must be referred without delay in accordance with NGB or club safeguarding policy.
