Safeguarding & Welfare

Welfare

Note, Lymm Runners is affiliated to England Athletics (EA) which is part of UK Athletics (UKA), and we adopt their policies.

Our aim is to provide all our members, guests and officials with the best possible experience and opportunities in sport within a safe and supportive environment. Our safeguarding policies are in place to prevent harm from occurring from neglect, exploitation or abuse, and acceptance of our Code of Conduct is a requirement of club membership.

All our Run Leaders are licenced by England Athletics (EA), and safeguarding is a vital component of Run Leader training. In addition, a criminal records (DBS) check is carried out before a leader licence is granted. Both the DBS check and safeguarding training is repeated every 3 years.

Safeguarding

Many types of behaviour could give rise to a safeguarding concern including physical, sexual, psychological abuse, discrimination, and neglect. Exploitation and abuse of power are common themes.

The Ann Craft Trust can provide advice and information to people at risk, and those who want to know how best to support them.

In the event of a runner having a safeguarding or disciplinary issues with any official or fellow runner within Lymm Runners, please contact the club

Welfare Officer who will direct you to the England Athletics complaints procedures.

Lymm Runners Welfare Officers

Our brilliant Welfare Officers have completed EA-approved training in Safeguarding and will help ensure that best practice in reporting is followed.

The Club Welfare Officers page provides more information about the welfare officer role.

EA or UK Athletics Welfare Team

For the latest advice on reporting a safeguarding concern please go to the EA Reporting a Concern webpage.

If you need assistance

The following advice is taken from the UKA Adult Safeguarding Procedures, which can be downloaded here.

To raise a safeguarding concern about yourself, please contact one of our Club Welfare Officers. If you would like help in doing this, please just ask any Run Leader or club committee member for support.

Alternatively, you can report a safeguarding concern about yourself directly to the UKA Safeguarding Team by submitting the Online Safeguarding Concern Form available on the UKA website, or by emailing the team on safeguarding@uka.org.uk.

If you are in immediate danger, contact the emergency services (call 999).

You can also contact the Police, Social Services, your doctor, or other organisations to request help and support.

If you are concerned about someone else

If you are concerned that another person is at risk it is important to report it.

You don’t have to be certain that harm or abuse is taking place (or has taken place in the past) – but we all have a responsibility to respond to and report any concerns we have.

The UKA Adult Safeguarding Procedures describes best practice for responding to concerns, recording and reporting them.

The Reporting Process

A flow-chart diagram published by UKA summarises the reporting process. It is available as a PDF download from: the Reporting Safeguarding Concerns webpage. All safeguarding concerns will be responded to, and followed up in accordance with Safeguarding policies and statutory guidelines.

Reporting concerns to your Local Authority

You may prefer to report safeguarding issues to your local Social Services safeguarding team – or contact them to discuss a concern and obtain advice.

Lymm village is located close to the boundary between 3 different authorities (Warrington, Trafford and Cheshire East) and You will need to contact the one that is closest to you.