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Steps to Becoming a Club Welfare Officer

Page Updated: 1st October 2026

Guidance for clubs on appointing and supporting a Club Welfare Officer (CWO), including training requirements, safeguarding responsibilities, registration processes and key resources.

Every club, regardless of its type, must appoint a Welfare Officer.

Information about becoming a Welfare Officer is available on the Club Welfare Officer guidance page. This guidance is intended to help clubs understand their responsibilities and the steps required to appoint and support a CWO.

School & University Clubs

If your club operates exclusively for students within a school, college or university, your Welfare Officer may be the institution’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

No additional safeguarding training is required, as fencing activity will fall within the welfare and safeguarding framework of the educational institution. However, clubs must still update their registration on the BF Membership Platform so that the DSL’s contact details are recorded.

Community Clubs

Community clubs must appoint a named Club Welfare Officer.

Smaller clubs may share a CWO and can use the welfare officer register, Area Safeguarding Officer (ASO)  network or Home Nation Safeguarding Lead to identify suitable local support. An ASO may also act as a Club Welfare Officer.   This must only be with their permission.

Regardless of the arrangement, clubs remain responsible for maintaining their own welfare policies and procedures and ensuring anyone acting as a CWO understands and follows them.

Training & Transitional Arrangements

BF recognises that becoming a fully qualified CWO can take several months.

A transitional “CWO in training” period is permitted while training is completed. Before an individual can take on this role, they must have:

  • A valid criminal record check.
  • The relevant Home Nation safeguarding qualification (ie SafeGuard Core or Home Nation equivalent), .

The training completion period must not exceed six months.

The full CWO training pathway typically:

  • Costs approximately £100.
  • Requires around six hours of learning initially
  • Depends on course availability and the club’s existing welfare framework.
  • Includes elements that must be renewed every three years.

Further information is available on the CWO training requirements page.

Independence of the Role

The Club Welfare Officer should not be a coach working within the club or someone personally connected to a coach, such as a family member or partner.

This helps protect both the Welfare Officer and anyone raising a concern by reducing the risk of actual or perceived conflicts of interest.

Welfare Contact Details

Where possible, clubs are encouraged to create a generic welfare email address, such as welfare@yourclub.org.uk.

Using a dedicated welfare address:

  • Avoids publishing personal email addresses.
  • Provides continuity if the Welfare Officer changes.
  • Makes it easier for members and parents to identify the correct safeguarding contact.

The email address should be published on the club website and displayed on welfare and safeguarding notices within the club.

Summary: Appointing a Club Welfare Officer

  1. Identify a suitable person willing to take on the role. The individual should be independent of the club’s coaching structure.
  2. Ensure they hold valid BF membership.
  3. Arrange a criminal record check. Clubs in England and Wales can access checks through BF.
  4. Ensure they have completed the required safeguarding and welfare training, or book them onto the necessary courses.
  5. Once the criminal record check is complete, the required training course(s) are been completed or booked, update the club’s CWO details on the BF Membership Platform. Contact BF if assistance is required.
  6. Update the Welfare Officer details on your club website.
  7. The nominated individual should upload evidence of their criminal record check and any completed training certificates to the BF Membership Platform. All required training and certification must be completed within six months.
  8. Ensure the club has up-to-date welfare policies and procedures and provide an appropriate induction for the new CWO. Where policies require development, templates and guidance can be found within the Club Zone.
  9. Check that the individual’s details are correctly listed on the BF Club Welfare Officer Register.

For more detailed information, visit the Club Welfare Officer guidance page.

Questions can be sent to workforce@britishfencing.com.

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Last updated 1 Dec 2022