RYA Welfare Officer Survey 2024

1.What is your organisations relationship with the RYA?

Both an RYA Affiliated organisation and an RYA Recognised Training Centre (RTC)

An RYA Affiliated organisation (club, association, Sailability group etc) - but not an RYA Recognised Training Centre

An RYA Affiliated Class Association

An RYA Recognised Training Centre that is not an Affiliated Organisation

Other (please specify)

3.Approximately how many children and young people participated in an activity at your organisation this year?

5.Does your organisation have a Code of Conduct?

Yes

No

Not sure

6.Who is your Code of Conduct aimed at? Please tick all that apply

Other (please specify)

7.Does your organisation have a process which enables children and young people to be consulted in a meaningful way, where their thoughts and views are considered?

Yes, via a youth forum / committee

Yes, via a youth representative on the main committee

No - but I would like some help in learning how we can better engage young people

No - we have no youth / junior members

Yes, another way, please describe below

Another way

8.How do you share your contact details as the organisation's Welfare Officer with members, participants, volunteers, staff, parents and or carers?

Other (please specify)

9.Were there any safeguarding / welfare / wellbeing concerns raised to you or another member of your organisation this year?

Yes

No

10.If yes, did you feel you had the right knowledge to be able to deal with the concerns raised independently?

Yes

No

N/A

11.If you have not received any safeguarding, welfare or wellbeing concerns this year, do you feel you would have the right knowledge to deal with any concerns confidently and appropriately which may arise in the future?

Yes

No

12.What would you consider to be your first point of contact for support and guidance should a concern arise?

Other (please specify)

15.If you have sought advice or guidance from the RYA Safeguarding Team directly, accessed the many resources on offer, or benefited from training, what if anything , have you implemented as a result?

18.Why did you become a Welfare Officer?

I volunteered / applied personally for the role

I was nominated by another member, but I was interested in the role

I was nominated by another member, but I was not interested in the role

I felt pressurised to take the role because of my previous experience within safeguarding

I felt pressurised to take the role due to my gender

Other (please specify)

19.Is your role as a Welfare Officer, a paid or voluntary role?

Paid

Voluntary

20.What is your criminal records disclosure check status (DBS/AccessNI/PVG)?

I undertook a criminal records disclosure check upon commencement to the role

I have in place a criminal records disclosure check from another role within my organisation

I have in place a criminal records disclosure check from another organisation whom I work or volunteer for

I do not have a criminal records disclosure check because my organisation does not carry out these checks as standard

I do not have a criminal records disclosure check and do not see the need in obtaining one for my role as Club Welfare officer

I do not have a criminal records disclosure check, but I would like to undertake one, do not know how

Other (please specify)

21.Are you aware of the upcoming changes to the RYA Affiliation process with regards to safeguarding?

Yes

No

22.In some circumstances as part of affiliation by 2025 some of the following requirements may apply to your organisation. Tick below your organisation already has in place

Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures

Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures

Registered and training Welfare Officer

Equality Policy

Criminal Records Disclosure Checks through the RYA

Criminal Records Disclosure Checks through another provider - if yes, please state the provider in the text box below

Criminal records disclosure provider

23.Do you consider that wellbeing and mental health are a consideration in your role as Welfare Officer?

Yes

No

Please use this space to describe why you came to your answer.

24.Do you feel that you get appropriate support from senior organisation officials and decision makers?

Yes

No

If you answered no, please can you provide some insight.

25.Welfare roles can be isolating and emotionally challenging, especially when concerns are reported. Do you feel that your mental health has been affected by your role?

Yes - it has been negatively affected

Yes it has been positively affected

No

26.You indicated that your mental health had been negatively affected due too your role as Welfare Officer, please any of the following which apply to you

I have reached out for support

I do not know where I can find the right support

I have researched organisations which could provide me with support

I am considering leaving my role due to the negative effects on my mental health

My club provide me with support

My workplace (outside of sailing) has an employee assistance programme available to me

27.Are there any areas where you feel that the RYA could provide more guidance or additional support to you in your role or to your organisation as a whole?

28.Please feel free to use the following text box to give any other feedback you feel appropriate to the Safeguarding Team

29.Prize draw

Thank you for completing this survey. As a token of our appreciation, you can now opt-in to enter our prize draw. There are two prizes available:

A dryrobe® and a Helly Hansen® medium duffel bag!

To enter the prize draw, simply complete the Contact Form.

Please note, the contact details from the form will not be linked to your Welfare Officer Survey submission. The winner will be selected at random after the survey closes.

If you have any difficulties accessing the prize draw Contact Form, please email the RYA Safeguarding team.