If you believe that an incident relating to the welfare of a member or visitor has taken place

  • Contact the Safeguarding/Welfare Officer (SWO) as immediately.
  • If she is unavailable, try to reach the committee (via exmouthgigclub@gmail.com).
  • If this fails also, then if urgent you can go straight to the British Rowing Lead Safeguarding Officer in London on 020 8237 6700. 
  • Please do not try to sort the matter out yourself.

To help ensure the welfare of members, especially those under 18, we ask for and record relevant details, including information on medical conditions. These records are kept secure by the committee and are only made available to other officers and coaches as necessary. GDPR provisions apply, of course.

Club members who have regular formal contact as junior crew facilitators or coxes with junior crews are required by the club to seek Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. The SWO maintains records of such checks and ensures they are up to date.

You can find more information on the “Junior Rowing and Safeguarding” page, including contacts and procedures for recording and reporting incidents. These are also posted on the welfare section within the members area of the website.

The club also has a Grievance and Disciplinary procedure to ensure that anyone who has a complaint or feels they have been treated unfairly can be confident that their concerns will be addressed – contact the committee for details.

Advice for those wishing to report an incident directly involving them

If you have concerns about the behaviour of another person towards you:

  • Inform your cox or other person in charge of the session, or if unavailable or not appropriate, find another member of the committee
  • Tell them what the cause of your concern is without going into too much detail
  • Give them your name and contact details (your parents or guardian if a junior)
  • Ask them to report the matter to the SWO as soon as possible
  • If you think it needs immediate action, say so

Advice for those wishing to report an incident involving another person

If you have concerns about the behaviour of another person but not directed at you:

  • Inform the cox or other person supervising the session (if applicable)
  • If you cannot pass the concern on immediately to a cox or supervisor, report the matter to the SWO as soon as possible 
  • If you think this may take some time, write down what you have seen straight away
  • Pass on facts not opinion
  • If you think it needs very immediate action, then contact the British Rowing Child Protection Officer or the police (See Welfare Contacts)

Advice for junior crew facilitators, coxes of junior crews or others receiving a report

If someone comes to you about inappropriate behaviour of any sort:

  • Receive the concern and the information given
  • Say you are taking the report seriously and will pass it on to the right person
  • Record in writing what is said to you but do not seek to question the person at length and do not add your personal opinions to what you record
  • Take just enough contact details for someone to get back to the person (or parent / guardian if a junior) 
  • Report the matter to the SWO or if unavailable another committee member.
  • If you think it needs very immediate action, then contact the British Rowing Child Protection Officer or the police directly.