NEW CERTIFIED WELFARE HELPER ROLE FOR COMMUNITY CLUBS IN ENGLAND

New role backed by free training to support community clubs as they reopen in England.

As community clubs reopen, COVID restrictions mean that parents are not always able to stay for club sessions. This puts the full duty of care onto club officials for those sessions.

The current BF guidelines state:

“All affiliated clubs delivering community activities to children must (unless parents/guardians are present) have a welfare officer or equivalent present (this should not be the coach)”.

Our community clubs, particularly the smaller ones, have highlighted the burden that this puts on the club Welfare Officer who may not be available to attend all the sessions.

To respond to this challenge, BF is creating a Welfare Helper role. A Welfare Helper operates under the guidance of an existing club Welfare Officer and can attend club sessions when the Welfare Officer is not available. We recognise that this situation is likely to be temporary as restrictions lift and parents can be welcomed back into community club environments.

To be a Welfare Helper you are required to attend a free* 2 hr welfare helper training session. This training will be delivered online by BF’s Lead Safeguarding Officer.

A pre-requisite for attending Welfare Helper Training is

1. Valid Safeguarding & Protecting Children certificate, OR
2. Currently working in a profession where safeguarding training and knowledge is a pre-requisite – e.g. teacher, health professional, police, social worker etc

*Terms & Conditions

• Offer available for a limited period and limited numbers of free spaces.
• Maximum one free training session per club (£22.50 for every subsequent).
• Clubs must have an existing Welfare Officer and be planning to run community sessions prior to 1st September