Today, we’re celebrating the last year of sport welfare work. Wesport’s Sport Welfare team is here to provide free and bespoke advice and guidance to sports clubs on how you proactively safeguard your members' welfare. As part of a national network, we work with National Governing Bodies to provide clubs with local and accessible support.
From March 2025 to February 2026, we have:
- Offered 10 Sport Welfare events. Topics for these events have included;
- Neurodiversity,
- Race Equality,
- Women’s Safety,
- Men’s Mental Health,
- Bystander Awareness
- Online Safety.
- Supported local sports clubs with proactive safeguarding and welfare on 432 occasions across 36 different sports.
- Worked with 36 National Governing Bodies or local county associations/foundations.
- Managing challenging behaviour (40 occasions)
- Trauma-informed practice (36 occasions)
- Values, beliefs, and behaviours (32 occasions)
We’ve been working long-term with 12 clubs. This is to help them to make their spaces safer for everyone. You can read about the support that we’ve given to GEM Boccia and All Aboard Watersports by clicking the links below.
Volunteers and NGB staff have been kind enough to share a few words about how the support from our Sport Welfare Officers has benefited them.
Georgina Moore, from GEM Boccia Club, said, “The support from Matt to help me set up my club’s minimum standards was invaluable. I had no idea where to start, and it was completely overwhelming. Matt made it seem so much more straightforward, and I couldn’t have done it without him. I’m super grateful!”
Jude Handley, Head of Clubs and Membership at Archery GB, added, “Archery GB has found real, tangible value from the support, knowledge and guidance of the Sport Welfare Officers. Having that local, independent support, separate from the governing body but still able to visit clubs has been transformative. Clubs benefit from timely, expert advice; and a reassuring point of contact who can help them create safe, welcoming spaces for everyone involved.”
And finally, Vicki Gregg, Regional Safeguarding Officer for the South and South West at the LTA, said, “The support we’ve received from Wesport has been exceptional for our Tennis and Padel venues. Their guidance is reassuring, practical, and genuinely tailored to each club’s needs. I’d highly recommend that any club get in touch and make the most of their support.”
Wesport’s Sport Welfare team also lead on the delivery of No Hate, Just Sport. This multi-sport pilot aims to break the silence and nurture environments in sports clubs that are free from discrimination and hate, so that everyone can access the positive outcomes that sport provides. If you would like to read more about No Hate, Just Sport, please click the button below.
Thank you to all our partners, clubs, event speakers, and anyone who has helped make the work of our Sport Welfare team possible over the last 12 months.
Our support is free to access. If you work or volunteer in a sports club and you think you could benefit from the support of our Sport Welfare team, please get in touch to arrange a call at a time that suits you. Contact details and further information can be found on our new Sport Welfare webpage by clicking the link below.