11 July 2018

All clubs want to provide a safe and secure environment for their members. To support them in doing this, new resources have been developed by UKA Welfare Team in partnership with EduCare Ltd to help volunteers and staff develop their skills and awareness in the areas of Mental Well-being in Sport & Physical Activity and Preventing Bullying in Sport.

These resources are in addition to those already available to people involved in athletics, who can access them at reduced costs. 

Jane Fylan commented, “We acknowledge how important it is to clubs that they provide a safe and secure environment for everyone involved in the sport.

“Providing appropriate training and support, especially for the volunteers involved in clubs, is an essential part of the work carried out by clubs, taking responsibility for the welfare and wellbeing of the wider club membership seriously.

“We know that Mental Wellbeing and Preventing Bully are very important topics for clubs and have therefore worked with EduCare to create new resources in these areas.

“Increasing the knowledge, skills and awareness of topics related to welfare and wellbeing increases an individual’s confidence and ability to deliver activities in the club and makes for a safer club environment.”

There are a range of resources available to the sport. These can be viewed here. 

The new resources are as follows:

Preventing Bullying In Sport

Whether participating in a sport, coaching or volunteering everyone should be aware of what bullying is and how it can be prevented. At EduCare we ensure that all of our courses are written and endorsed by experts. This course has been produced in partnership with UK Athletics, the governing body for the sport of athletics in the United Kingdom.

The course is targeted at all staff coaches and volunteers working in sports and includes content around the following:

•What bullying is

•Prevalence of bullying in sport

•Why it is important to respond to bullying

•Bullying behaviour

•The effects of bullying

•How to respond to bullying

•Responding to a bullying disclosure

•Promoting positive behaviour

Cost £7 – see here for details.

A leaflet with information can be downloaded by clicking here. 

Mental Well-being in Sport and Physical Activity

This course was written in partnership with Jane Fylan, UK Athletics Duty of Care Lead and is endorsed by Double Olympic Gold Medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes MBE’s ‘The Running Mind’ initiative. It is aimed at those who participate in sport and their support networks such as coaches, family and medical support staff.

The course includes content to enable you to develop the following:

•A greater awareness of common mental health disorders and their prevalence among sports people

•Ability to recognise some of the warning signs of common mental health disorders

•An increased understanding of how the pressures of sport can impact on mental health

•Understanding of the health benefits of participating in sport and physical activity

•Knowledge of what to do if you are concerned about someone

•Knowledge of how to promote mental wellbeing in sport

Cost £9.50. See here for details.

A leaflet with information can be downloaded by clicking here.