Welfare Officers and Safeguarding

🔒 Safeguarding at Avon Tennis

Creating a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for everyone.

At Avon Tennis, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all players, parents, families, and supporters — wherever tennis is played across the county.

🛡️ Welfare Officer Requirements

In line with the LTA’s Minimum Registration Standards, we strongly encourage all registered clubs to:

• Appoint a Welfare Officer
• Ensure their contact details are clearly visible at the club and on the club website
• Ensure Welfare Officers have: A valid DBS check & completed safeguarding training (renewed every 3 years)
• Before booking any safeguarding course, please ensure it is approved by the LTA.

✅ Accepted Safeguarding Courses:

One of the following must be completed by the Welfare Officer:

• LTA Safeguarding and Protection in Tennis Course (SPT)
• UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children Course
• Local Authority Safeguarding Course
• Other (subject to LTA Approval

🎓 Coach Accreditation

As of 1 October 2022, all LTA-registered clubs/venues using Level 2 (or higher) coaches must ensure these coaches are LTA Accredited.

This means coaches are:

• DBS Checked
• First-aid trained
• Safeguarding trained
• Committed to ongoing professional development

Coach accreditation is monitored by the LTA to ensure ongoing compliance.

🌐 Safe to Play

Visit Safe to Play — a dedicated website which aims to highlight the role that parents, players, coaches, and volunteers can play in protecting our children and young people; raising awareness of safeguarding to ensure everyone talking part in sport and physical activity has a positive experience.

📄 Avon Tennis Policies & Contacts

Avon Tennis adheres to the LTA's safeguarding policies and procedures which are available via the LTA safeguarding website.

From this website it is easy to navigate topics like:

• Safeguarding training
• DBS Checks
• Practical tips
• reporting a concern
• Young Person's Welfare Ambassador (YPWA)
• Plus lots of other resources

Avon Tennis' Safeguarding Policy is available via the following link: Avon Tennis - Safeguarding Policy - January 2020

Avon Tennis' County Safeguarding Officers are

• Ian Alexander
• Claire Callaghan

We are available to offer advice and guidance when required. Just contact either of us via contact us

🚨 Reporting a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern — however small — please take action immediately:

• Report Online - LTA Safeguarding Reporting Form
• Call the NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
• If someone is in immediate danger: Call the police - 999

Please remember at all times, that doing nothing is NOT an option: report all concerns and disclosures as soon as possible.