Safeguarding, Protection & Welfare

In East Lothian Orienteers we want everyone to stay safe, feel welcome and have fun while taking part in orienteering. We all have a shared responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe, enjoyable environments in orienteering whether as a participant, coach, club official, volunteer, parent or spectator.

If you have any safeguarding or welfare concerns we would encourage you to raise them or incidents you witness at the earliest opportunity to our Club Welfare Officer or Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer.

Our club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults and our Club Welfare Officer is always there if you need any support or would like any advice.

Further information is available on the Scottish Orienteering Safeguarding page.

Reporting a concern or incident

If you feel a child or vulnerable adult is at immediate danger or risk of harm you should contact the Police immediately.
If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of an individual, have been abused, or you have reason to believe that someone is being abused, you should report it immediately. All reports are taken seriously and dealt with in a sensitive manner. Should you wish to report a concern or incident, please contact one of the following:

This includes any concerns about safeguarding and welfare either within orienteering or outside of orienteering and any concern over behaviour related to the welfare of children or adults at risk, including those away from the sport that involves members or participants.

All reports will be logged in confidence with Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer who will also explain the processes which will be followed depending on each case.

Reporting Forms

Concerns can raised directly, with either the Club Welfare Officer or Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer, in whatever way you feel comfortable raising the concern. They would be happy to discuss any concern in person, or can be contacted by email, or there is a reporting form which you may find helpful.

Incident Reporting Form

If you complete the reporting form, it will then need to be emailed to either our Club Welfare Officer, (following it up by a call to him on 07949 140455), or Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer, as soon as possible. See above for their email addresses.

Safeguarding Policies

As a club, we support and follow Scottish Orienteering’s two safeguarding policies; these can be found via the links below:

For further information including resources and training opportunities, visit the Scottish Orienteering Safeguarding page or contact Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer.