Welfare covers a range of issues such as safeguarding and protecting children, anti-bullying, poor practice in coaching and disciplinary matters. Welfare is essential to contribute to good practice within athletics, develop performance and to ensure the safety and enjoyment of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers.

You can be reassured that here at DCH&AC welfare is taken seriously.

UK Athletics (UKA) take the lead for safeguarding across the sports of both athletics and running in the UK. They set the policies, procedures and regulations for the sport – setting out minimum standards of expectations, such as codes of conduct, procedures to follow for dealing with child protection concerns, other welfare issues or complaints, and to ensure that England Athletics, clubs and associations meet their statutory responsibilities to safeguard and protect children and adults.

As part of England Athletics, DCH&AC hope that everyone in the sport has a positive experience.  Together we are committed to protecting everyone in the club so if you have any concerns about the safety of a coach, official, volunteer, athlete or runner please report your concerns to us.

Equality and Diversity

DCH&AC is committed to improving it’s inclusion and accessibility to enable opportunity for the widest range of people interested in taking part in running and athletics. At present we may struggle to accommodate certain individual’s needs/disabilities, for example wheelchair athletes. The scheduling and the availability of the track at Maiden Castle, and our coach athlete ratios are limiting factors. Where it is not possible to make genuine ‘reasonable adjustments’ we will of course look at these issues seriously through our committee and if the matter cannot be resolved we would happily sign post such athletes to alternative facilities/clubs.

We are committed to improving where possible our own track record and like the CEO of UKA Jack Buckner, acknowledge that ‘there is more to be done’.

There is however no room in our club for discrimination. If you feel in anyway discriminated against, please know that you can contact the welfare officer(s) in confidence and have your concerns taken seriously. Read the UKA Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

Is your coach or run leader qualified?

Yes, all coaches and run leaders are qualified under UKA regulations and provide this to the level that they have been assessed at. All have safeguarding training, and are DBS vetted, and have first aid training too.

Safeguarding – what to do if you have a concern

If you think a child, young person or vulnerable adult is at risk of significant harm or abuse, or require urgent protection, call the Police on 999 and/or your local Social Services.

If the matter is not immediate, please speak to the person on site responsible for safeguarding and welfare (if the welfare officer is not available and you would rather not speak to one of the coaches you can contact the England Athletics Welfare Team by calling 07464 522426).

In either circumstance, a Safeguarding Incident form should be completed, please see the welfare officer for details of this (Safeguarding Concern form is attached in section 5.2). 

Please note that UK Athletics will work with the complainant, the club or organisation, the respondent, and any statutory agency that is appropriate in order to manage or address the concern.

All safeguarding concerns are treated with confidentiality and information is only shared on a need-to-know basis.

Serious Misconduct

Serious Misconduct is unacceptable or improper behaviour, especially by a club member (athlete, runner, volunteer, coach, official or paid person).

Examples of serious misconduct include (without limitations) theft, doping violations, fraud, physical violence, safeguarding policy breach, serious breach of applicable health and safety, gambling and/or ticketing regulation or any act or omission of the respondent which in the opinion of England Athletics, acting reasonable, brings or is likely to bring the sport of athletics in disrepute.

To report serious misconduct, you should speak with the welfare officer and where possible email welfare@englandathletics.org copying in the welfare officer into the email.

Incident & Accident

DCH&AC is committed to being able to respond in a timely manner to such situations. Coaches and run leaders are first aid qualified, and will alert emergency services should this be needed.  UK Athletics provide a Health and Safety Helpline, supported by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. If you need support, you can call 0121 248 2235 or email athleticsafety@RoSPA.com

To report an accident, or an incident or near miss, please complete the appropriate Health & Safety Reporting Form see attached in section 5.2. Please send a copy of the form to the welfare officer.

How to Contact a Welfare Officer

Please ask any coach or official at the club and they will be happy to introduce you to the welfare officer(s) or pass on your message if appropriate to do so.

You can contact a Welfare Officer directly via the email address on our People page. 

Further Support

For advice and support regarding Club and Athlete Compliance and Wellbeing matters, contact England Athletics (welfare@englandathletics.org or call 07464 522426).

For advice and support regarding Safeguarding and/or Child Protection concerns, contact England Athletics directly (safeguarding@uka.org.uk).

Further information on abuse and neglect in relation to children is available from the NSPCC.

The Ann Craft Trust is a national organisation providing information and advice about adult safeguarding.