05/07/2024- Safeguarding/Welfare

BF SAFEGUARDING OFFICER LIZ BEHNKE RECOGNISED AT LIMELIGHT AWARDS

BF Lead Safeguarding Officer Liz Behnke receives the LimeLight Award for Outstanding Service for her work as British Rowing Safeguarding Board Lead.

The annual LimeCulture Safer Sport Knowledge and Network Conference brought together over a hundred safeguarding professionals from across the sport sector to share best practice in making sport safer, discuss successes and challenges and provide networking opportunities. New for this year, the LimeLight Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals dedicated to creating safer sport environments.

For the last six years, Liz has served on the British Rowing Board. She has been their Senior Independent Director for the last two years and chairs their Safeguarding Committee.

As BF’s Lead Safeguarding Officer, Liz has played an integral role in the introduction of BF’s new safeguarding training programme, SafeGuard, launched in June 2023. The programme served to overhaul the previous safeguarding offer, responding to community feedback with a more bespoke and flexible training designed specifically for fencing. SafeGuard aims to create an environment in which everyone in our community can “be safe, have fun, feel welcome”.

Since the launch, Liz has led countless SafeGuard training sessions, which have been well-received and popular with members of our community.

Upon receiving the LimeLight award, Liz said,

“I am very proud to have been given this award which is all the more special as it is given by people who share my passion in making sport as safe as we can. However, I am just one of an entire community across sport who can make our sport a safe, fun and welcome place to be.”

Georgina Usher, BF CEO, added,

“This award reflects Liz’s leadership and dedication to safeguarding in sport. Liz has been BFs Lead Safeguarding Officer for almost twelve years, and we are extremely grateful for all the experience she brings. Liz was the driving force behind BF’s new SafeGuard training for which we are receiving unprecedented positive feedback from the community. Congratulations, Liz!”

Liz was nominated for her “tireless efforts to improve standards in safeguarding”, as well as her “dedication to driving the agenda of safeguarding throughout the structure of [British Rowing], from Board to ground level”. She was also described as “inspiring, knowledgeable and approachable”.