Throughout February and March, over 200 coaches across the UK have been undertaking tutor led Safeguarding courses. In total, 16 sold out courses, have been held.

The initiative is part of the latest update to the coaching license where from June 2021, all coaches, depending on who they coach, children or adults, will need to have a safeguarding qualification on their record to ensure their license with British Orienteering remains valid.

Peter Brooke, Lead Safeguarding Officer said “It’s been excellent to see the engagement of our coaches with these courses. Everyone involved within the sport has a responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe and enjoyable environments. Coaches will often be working very closely with others and this training will help support best practice and provide coaches with the knowledge to spot potential concerns.”

To highlight British Orienteering s commitment to Safeguarding, all the workshops up to the end of March, have been funded centrally.

The funded courses may have now concluded, however there are still opportunities to take the relevant course. If a coach works with children and young people, they will need to take a tutor led safeguarding course. If a coach only works with adults, then they need to take an online safeguarding workshop. Within Scotland, coaches would need to take a Sport Scotland Safeguarding course.

British Orienteering’s new Introduction to Safeguarding eLearning course would count for adult only coaches (excluding Scotland).

British Orienteering can accept training with other providers on proof of completion, as long as it has been completed within the last three years and meets the above criteria. Evidence and queries can be sent to Peter Brooke on pbrooke@britishorienteering.org.uk.