Ashford Striders Running Club takes the welfare and wellbeing of its members very seriously. It is our responsibility, through our affiliation to England Athletics and UK Athletics, to implement the policies and procedures that have been adopted and published.
Welfare Officers – we’re here to listen
The Welfare Officers will listen confidentially* to any issue that may arise, and endeavour to support your individual needs and wellbeing. If you have any queries or concerns, we encourage you to contact one of the Welfare Officers below and discuss your concern directly with them.
Email: welfare@ashfordstriders.uk
Ian Watson
Tamsin Ritchie
Welfare – what it means
The Club aims to create an environment where you feel safe to participate in club events without being subject to any form of harassment, bullying, verbal or physical abuse or excessive pressure.
Welfare covers a wide range of issues such as safeguarding, anti-bullying, equality, poor practice in coaching and disciplinary and grievance matters. The Club’s Code of Conduct and procedures for dealing with welfare issues or grievances are provided in the documents in the links below. We have adopted the UKA Adult Safeguarding Policy as a basis for our Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct should be read by all new members as part of their induction, and all current members at least once per year.
Please click on the following link to read our Code of Conduct – click here
There is also a section in our Club Rules & Constitution on Disciplinary Matters which can be read by clicking here.
Welfare – what we expect from our members
We’re a running community, yes, but we’re also friends, perhaps some might think of Ashford Striders as their family.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all those who participate in club events. Please look out for and actively show care for each other. If you haven’t seen someone for a while, send them a message. If you know someone’s physically injured or suffering with mental ill health, perhaps offer to meet up for a coffee. Do the stuff that good friends and good families do.
Vulnerable Adults
Any person with information of a disclosure, allegation or concern about the welfare of a vulnerable adult must immediately report to one of the Welfare Officers who will refer the matter to UKA’s CPLO or Home Country lead welfare officer, as appropriate. These concerns may involve:
- an individual disclosing that they are being abused.
- the behaviour of an adult towards a vulnerable adult.
- any number of indicators observed in a vulnerable adult over a period of time.
* To provide the support for your needs and wellbeing, the information shared with a Welfare Officer may be shared with other Welfare Officers and/or the Committee and in some cases England Athletics, but only on a need-to-know basis. Exceptions are also made, for example if you may present a danger of violence to others; or if there is a reasonable suspicion that you are likely to harm yourself unless protective measures are taken.