New roles across the Country to support Club Welfare Officers

By GM Moving | 10 May 2024 | TAGS: Rachel Garbutt, Child Welfare Officers, Safeguarding

We're pleased to welcome Rachel Garbutt to the GM Moving team as our second Sport and Physical Activity Welfare Lead. Rachel will be working alongside Katie Thompson who joined us in February. 

Rachel joins GM Moving from Young Manchester where she led on youth-led approaches to grant making and supported the city's vibrant youth sector to offer opportunities to the most excluded young people. She’s passionate about youth and community voice, and how we can empower children, young people and adults to feel safe and supported. 

These 2 new roles form part of a national network of 63 Sport Welfare Officers employed across 43 Active Partnerships.  

By working closely with colleagues at National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and gathering insights from local clubs, we’ll develop a local approach to support Club Welfare Officers in creating safer environments and improved experiences for young people and adults across Greater Manchester. 

Rachel says, “I’m excited to work together with NGB's and clubs to champion a positive and inclusive safeguarding culture for people of all ages taking part in sports and physical activity.” 

Hayley Lever, Chief Executive Officer at GM Moving commented, “These roles are vital to all our work on GM Moving in Action and Uniting the Movement, because changing the culture of sport will help more people to find meaning, value and enjoyment in movement throughout their life.  Welfare in sport matters to all of us. Together we can create positive, welcoming, inclusive environments and opportunities where everyone can thrive.  We all have a role to play, and Welfare Officers will help us to understand what needs to change, how, and how we can all make a difference as volunteers, coaches, parents, teachers and leaders”.  

Get in touch

If you volunteer or work with sports clubs or groups in your local community, we’d love to hear about the work you're doing and any areas you feel that we could support. Email us at [email protected] or [email protected]. Call or text us on 07726902889.