The RYA aims to foster environments where people can thrive on the water, and so encourages all of its affiliated organisations to consider the welfare of their members - and importantly how they would respond if they received a concern related to welfare.

What constitutes a welfare concern?

A welfare concern may arise as a result of:

• A person showing signs of emotional distress or behavioural change
• Instances of bullying, discrimination, or harassment · Signs of physical injury or neglect
• A person suffering from a long term illness of physical condition

Concerns may be raised in a number of ways, including via official channels from peers, parents, coaches, or volunteers, or more informally – for example members, simply noticing that a peer appears under the weather.

We urge all affiliated organisations to both foster an open culture where individuals feel confident to speak up and seek help without fear of judgement, and to have in place routes for concerns to be easily raised.

How to respond

Being forced to think on the spot rarely leads to considered decisions, and so we encourage our affiliates to consider potential scenarios in advance and document how you would deal with them.

Immediate safety first: If safety is at risk, ensure the individual is protected from further harm and appropriate emergency procedures (e.g. a 999 call) are followed.

• Consider next steps: Consider who will have oversight of the issue, for example if you need a Welfare Officer. Consider if you need external advice, and remember that the RYA can offer guidance if difficult situations.
• Prompt referral: It might be appropriate to refer the matter to an external agency. Having a clear procedure to follow, setting out when and who should be contacted will make it easier to respond to even the most serious of concerns.
• Facility adaptation: Consider if you can or should adapt your facilities to accommodate any change in ability of its members
• Record and review: However good your process, there is always a risk that someone may take the view that you could have responded differently. Documenting any concerns received, and the thought process applied when responding to those concerns will enable the affiliate, or indeed others with an interest in the matter, such as the relevant authorities, or potentially the courts to understand the process followed and the reasons for your decisions, and will allow lessons to be learned for the future

The role we play

Other than in respect of RYA qualified coaches and instructors, the RYA does not act as a complaints body and will not manage welfare concerns on behalf of our affiliates. We support affiliated organisations by offering:

• Training: Regular safeguarding and welfare training for volunteers, instructors and coaches, tailored to different roles
• Policy templates and toolkits: resources to help you navigate welfare considerations
• Access to experts: Direct contact with our legal or safeguarding teams for advice and guidance
• Ongoing learning: Webinars, workshops, and case studies to keep our community informed and empowered