How Your Club Welfare Officer(s) Can Help You
Club Welfare Officers play a key role in ensuring that that members have a safe and positive experience at their club. Welfare Officers are a focal point for members to speak to if they have a wellbeing, safeguarding, discipline or conduct concern. They are also key to managing lower-level club issues and disputes, and/or flagging concerns for early intervention to prevent escalation and behaviours which prevent enjoyment of the sport. Welfare Officers also form part of the club committee and perform a key role in implementing good safeguarding governance at the club. We are only able to respond to issues if they are reported. The club social media channels include a significant volume of messages and our volunteers cannot always monitor these are respond in a timely fashion. If you have a welfare concern, please report it directly.
The Club’s Lead Welfare Officer is Kate Marshall.
If you need additional support or need to report a safeguarding, health and safety, disciplinary or have a welfare concern please speak to Kate at training or email welfare at welfare@granthamrunningclub.co.uk
If you have a safeguarding concern about a Welfare Officer please report this to the Chair at chair@granthamrunningclub.co.uk.
Health and Safety Policy
Health and Safety Policy (pending Committee approval)
Risk Assessments
Road Training Risk Assessment
Off Road Training Risk Assessment
Report an incident, accident or fatality
In order to enable to club to monitor the health and safety of members, it is important that accidents which take place during organised club training or events are reported. This will enable the club to review to see if improvements are needed to practice or Risk Assessment safeguard runners.
To access the Club’s Accident Reporting Form, please click the link below:
Local defibrillator locations
You can some local locations here.
Staying Cool in Hot Weather
When the weather is hot, extra care should be taken to train and run safely.
Useful information can be found here.
Other Sources of Help and Support
As well as talking to a Welfare Officer, there is also plenty of other support and information available. Some useful resources include:
Mind provides confidential mental health information services. With support and understanding, Mind enables people to make informed choices. The infoline gives information on types of mental distress, where to get help, drug treatments, alternative therapies and advocacy. Mind has around 140 local Minds providing local mental health services.
Side by Side is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. We all know what it’s like to struggle sometimes, and this is a safe place to listen, share and be heard. Our ‘Being active’ theme helps community members easily share and find content about being active, to motivate, inspire and support each other.
Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those that could lead to suicide.
Rethink Mental Illness advice line
Provides expert advice and information to people with mental health problems and those who care for them.
Saneline is a national mental health helpline providing information and support to people with mental health problems and those who support them.
Provides support for people with eating orders. They also support family and friends, equipping them with essential skills and advice, so they can help their loved ones recover whilst also looking after their own mental health.
Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Provides a helpline and support to help victims of domestic abuse.
Health and Safety
Medical Information
Members are responsible for informing coaches if they have special needs or injuries which will impact on their ability to train. Please advise your Coach/Run Leader of any potential medical issues at the start of the session. Please in particular advise if you are carrying medication for use in an emergency. Please also ensure that your emergency contact information is kept up to date on RunTogether and MyAthletics Portal.
Warming Up and Cooling Down
Warming up ahead of running helps to prevent injury and improve performance. The RAMP principles of “Raise, Activate, Mobilise and Potentiate” will prepare your body to run. Dynamic stretches are particularly useful ahead of running. An example of a quick and easy routine for everyday running which you can follow before heading out to train by yourself can be found here.
Another example of a warm up, as well as useful information about cooling down can be found here.
We often get asked about how runners can include strength training and yoga within their exercise programme. We aren’t specialists in these areas and would always recommend seeking a suitably qualified instructor or personal trainer if you wish to include these in your training. You can find out more about yoga for runners here.
