Ensuring our sport remains a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone to take part in is forefront of everyone’s minds at all levels. 

To support this and ensure we are listening to our members, British Orienteering has conducted research during 2023 which involved speaking directly to junior members within the club environment and conducting an adult survey in July. In addition, we also listened to feedback from Club Welfare Officers in the Safeguarding Webinar in February. This research and feedback allowed us to understand the levels of awareness of safeguarding and identify areas for ongoing improvement. 

There were some clear areas that was raised from both juniors and seniors. Here’s what they told us: 

Junior forum feedback 

• It is important for clubs to make sure that their juniors are aware of who the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is. 

• It would be useful to understand what poor practice is in the eyes of other juniors. Could examples be provided so juniors could learn what is acceptable and not. 

• Produce a poster with QR code which clubs could use and display at events. This would allow members to access safeguarding information and reporting documents quickly. 

• Increase the awareness of the policies and procedures British Orienteering has in place. 

• Don’t be afraid to increase promotion of safeguarding and welfare on social media channels. 

• Raising awareness that a junior could make a report to their club or British Orienteering regarding a concern or incident that is not related to Orienteering. 

Adult survey key findings 

• Most were aware of a Child safeguarding policy in place but, about 1/3 of respondents didn’t know there was an Adults at risk policy, so increasing awareness of the adult’s policy is required here. 

• There were many examples of what poor practice was to those who responded. These examples have been included in the new website page to provide first hand examples. 

• Most respondents said they were happy and confident to report concerns to their CWO or British Orienteering’s Lead Safeguarding Officer (LSO).  

• If was noted that some members felt that they didn’t have the knowledge to be confident to make a report, fearing they could be wrong or if the individual was well respected.  

• Ensure BOF continues to communicate the appropriate channels to report concerns/ incidents. 

• Provide short videos to engage members of the importance of safeguarding. 

• Provide safeguarding training for club committee members. 

Actions being taken 

Directly from this feedback British Orienteering is doing the following: 

A new website page title ‘Understanding Safeguarding’ is now live on the BOF website. British Orienteering this can currently be accessed through logging onto the BOF website under Club Zone. This page provides advice about what poor practice may look like using examples provided directly from our members. It also provides links to important information from the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and the Ann Craft Trust (ACT) who covers adult safeguarding. 

This page aims to provide an informative view of safeguarding to help you identify the signs to look out for. 

Club events QR code. We are creating a QR code poster which clubs would be able to display at events. This will allow members to easily access the safeguarding pages of the British Orienteering website. 

Safeguarding and welfare awareness. We’ll be working as a team to increase the visibility of safeguarding and welfare across our social media channels and other communications to members and clubs.  

This will include a variety of messages such as: 

• Raising the profile of the polices in place,  

• What poor practice could look like, 

• How we can support each other at our clubs, 

• Supporting members to feel confident in making reports, 

• Producing and sharing short videos to aid learning,  

Providing a club website safeguarding template. Early in the year, following feedback from clubs, we provided a template for what a good safeguarding page on a club website could look like. In the absence of club houses, orienteering club websites is the main point of contact for members so having accurate information and contact details on there is crucial.  

It’s pleasing to report that since the template was provided, 56% of clubs and associations now have up to date and accurate safeguarding information on their websites. This is from an initial 16% prior to any guidance being provided by British Orienteering. 

Further training. We are working with agencies such as the CPSU to provide training in specific areas which can be provided to clubs and committees.