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Safeguarding and Welfare

Safeguarding and Welfare at KFO: Keeping Orienteering Safe and Welcoming

At Kingdom of Fife Orienteers, we want everyone to feel safe, welcome and able to enjoy taking part in orienteering.

Safeguarding and welfare are important parts of creating a positive club environment. Whether you are a participant, coach, volunteer, club official, parent or spectator, we all share responsibility for making orienteering safe, enjoyable and supportive for everyone.

Our club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults. If you ever need support, advice or want to raise a concern, help is available.

Who to contact

If you have any safeguarding or welfare concerns, or if you witness something that does not feel right, we encourage you to raise it at the earliest opportunity.

You can contact:

If you feel a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, you should contact the Police immediately.

Reporting a concern

If you have a concern about the safety or welfare of an individual, have been abused, or have reason to believe that someone is being abused, you should report it as soon as possible.

All reports are taken seriously and handled sensitively. Concerns can relate to safeguarding and welfare within orienteering or outside of orienteering, including any behaviour involving members or participants that may affect the welfare of children or adults at risk.

Reports will be logged in confidence with Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer, who will also explain the process that will be followed depending on the situation.

How concerns can be raised

You can raise a concern in whichever way feels most comfortable to you.

This may include:

  • Speaking directly to the Club Welfare Officer
  • Emailing the Club Welfare Officer
  • Contacting Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer
  • Using an incident reporting form if you find that helpful

If you complete an incident reporting form, it should be emailed to either the Club Welfare Officer or Scottish Orienteering’s Lead Welfare Officer as soon as possible.

How we help keep events safe

When you come orienteering, we take welfare and safety seriously. At events and activities, organisers and volunteers work to create a safe environment for everyone taking part.

This includes:

  • Carrying out risk assessments for events and activities
  • Using procedures for managing safety in public places
  • Planning courses with different levels of challenge to suit different needs
  • Keeping track of participants so everyone is accounted for
  • Explaining the physical and navigational skills needed for each course
  • Providing support for individual needs where possible
  • Having procedures for lost participants and first aid

Choosing the right course

We want everyone to enjoy orienteering at a level that is suitable for them.

At events, we will explain the level of challenge involved in the courses offered. We expect participants, parents and guardians to follow guidance about which course is appropriate.

To meet our safeguarding and insurance responsibilities, we may refuse to let someone take part in a course if we believe it would involve undue risk.

Support and accessibility

If you are attending a coached activity and tell us about any special needs or additional support requirements, we will explain what adaptations may be possible to make the activity more accessible.

Our aim is to help people take part safely, confidently and enjoyably wherever we can.

Safeguarding policies

As a club, we support and follow Scottish Orienteering’s safeguarding policies, including:

  • Scottish Orienteering Child Safeguarding and Welfare Policy
  • Scottish Orienteering Adult Safeguarding Policy

Further information, including resources and training opportunities, is available through Scottish Orienteering’s safeguarding information.

Safeguarding helps make orienteering a safer, friendlier and more supportive sport for everyone. If something does not feel right, please speak up. You will be listened to, supported and treated with respect.

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