Wellbeing and Protection Officer and Event Welfare Officer - Information and Guidance
WELLBEING AND PROTECTION OFFICERS
(The Wellbeing and Protection Officer was formally referred to as either the Child Protection Officer or the Welfare Officer)
The wellbeing of our affiliated club members is hugely important to us and we aim to work with clubs to ensure they offer an environment that is safe and welcoming to all.
If you do not currently have a Wellbeing and Protection Officer, you are required to appoint one and submit their name to the Scottish Cycling Wellbeing and Protection Team
The following provides advice about your Wellbeing and Protection Officer:
- All clubs that have either declared members or British Cycling members who are under 18 must have a Wellbeing and Protection Officer.
- Once appointed the club WPO must sign a Secondary Organisation Contract with us so that we are able to process PVG scheme records on the clubs behalf.
- The club WPO must have attended or plan to attend CWPS and CWPO training within the last 3 years. Both these course need to be renewed every 3 years. Scottish Cycling can provide advice and support to access the training. See details of courses below.
- The club WPO should be a committee position and not hold any other key position in the club such as coach, this allows them to be independent and avoid conflicts of interest.
- A role description for the club WPO and other useful guidance documents and forms can be downloaded here.
WPO Getting Started Document
Useful guidance documents and forms can be downloaded here.
FAQs about Club Wellbeing and Protection Officers
Why is it important for my club to have a Wellbeing and Protection Officer?
The main purpose of a Wellbeing and Protection Officer is to assist with the safeguarding and protection of children and young people within a club, and to promote the club’s policies and procedures on this. They also act as the main point of contact to deal with any concerns around safeguarding within your club. As a Scottish Cycling club, we recommend that the Wellbeing and Protection Officer does not also hold the position of club coach, so that there is someone who is independent should there be an issue with delivery of coaching sessions.
Where clubs are struggling to achieve these conditions they should contact the Scottish Cycling Wellbeing and Protection Team for advice.
What knowledge, skills and training should a club welfare officer have?
A Wellbeing and Protection Officer should be friendly, approachable and confident enough to deal with sensitive and confidential matters discreetly and tactfully. They should also be good listeners and effective communicators.
It is essential that Wellbeing and Protection Officers in Scottish Cycling clubs attend:
- Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport (CWPS)
- Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer Training (CWPO)
These courses will enable them to understand welfare issues in a sport specific context, learn how to handle situations if they have any concerns, know where to go for extra support and signpost appropriately to other services. Find out more about the required safeguarding courses here.
Upon completion of safeguarding training, Wellbeing and Protection Officers should forward a copy of their course certificate to the Scottish Cycling Wellbeing and Protection Team, to help us to ensure that appropriately qualified volunteers are operating in clubs and so we can keep our records up-to-date.
All Wellbeing and Protection Officers will also need to have a PVG check. Find out more about the PVG Scheme here.
How can a club promote the role of the Wellbeing and Protection Officers?
It is important for Wellbeing and Protection Officers to make themselves known at club coaching sessions, races and events. Clubs could display a photo and basic contact details of the Wellbeing and Protection Officer on their website, notice boards and in the welcome pack for new members, to ensure that all members are aware of who to contact should they need someone to confide in. It is also a good idea for Wellbeing and Protection Officers to be on the club committee, to ensure that safeguarding is fully embedded within the club.
EVENT WELFARE OFFICERS
Any sporting event should provide participants, volunteers and spectators with an opportunity to enjoy themselves, have fun and make great memories in a safe and positive environment.
Event Welfare Officers play a key role in maintaining British Cycling's high standards. Promoting appropriate safeguarding measures and responding to any safeguarding or welfare concerns.
The documents below will guide your event to employ Event Welfare Officers develop good Safeguarding practice at your events:
- Event Welfare Officer Role Descriptor
