Our Sport and Physical Activity Welfare Leads are here to support sports clubs and activity providers across Greater Manchester to create safe, inclusive environments for children, young people and adults. They are part of a national Sport Welfare Officers Network (funded by Sport England with National Lottery funding), who work closely with national governing bodies and local partners in every Greater Manchester borough.


Hear more from our Sport and Physical Activity Welfare Leads, Katie and Rachel:

Upcoming Safeguarding & Awareness Training

We’re committed to supporting safe, inclusive, and responsible sports environments. Explore our upcoming training sessions designed for coaches, volunteers, staff, and parents involved in youth and adult sport.

MIND: Youth Mental Health Awareness

🗓️ Thursday, 23 October, 2025 | 🕡 6:30 – 8:30 PM | 📍 Free, House of Sport, Manchester
Learn about the factors impacting young people's mental health and how to support.
Who should attend? Sports volunteers, coaches, and staff working in Greater Manchester.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-youth-mental-health-awareness-tickets-1427744124109


GM Moving: Greater Manchester Sports Club Conference 2025

🗓️ Sunday, 2 November, 2025 | 🕙 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | 📍 MMU Institute of Sport, Manchester
GM Moving invites you to join our Sports Club Conference — a day designed especially for clubs to connect, share, and grow together.
Cost: £5 per person
Who should attend: Anyone involved in running a grassroots sports club in Greater Manchester.  Maximum two people per club. This is to give as many clubs as possible the chance to join.


MIND: Mental Health – Spot, Support & Signpost

🗓️ Thursday, 13 November, 2025 | 🕖 7:00 – 8:00 PM | 💻 Free, Online
Gain confidence in spotting mental health issues and offering the right support.
Who should attend? Coaches, volunteers, and leaders in physical activity.
Register now: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mind-spot-support-signpost-in-sport-physical-activity-tickets-1570132110409 


WWPIS: Engage – Building Positive Relationships with Younger Athletes' Parent

🗓️ Monday, 17 November, 2025 | 🕕 6:15 – 7:45 PM | 💻 Free, Online
Explore how to engage parents of young athletes and build stronger, more supportive relationships.
Who should attend? Sport and physical activity coaches and other volunteers.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/engage-building-positive-relationships-with-your-young-athletes-parents-tickets-1401882390969


GM Moving: Introduction to Neurodiversity in Community Sport

🗓️ Monday, 1 December, 2025 | 🕡 6:30 – 7:30 PM | 💻 Free, Online
Explore what neurodiversity means and how to make your sport and physical activity offers more inclusive.
Who should attend? Volunteers, coaches, club committee members, and staff delivering sport and physical activity across Greater Manchester and the North West.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-neurodiversity-in-community-sport-access-sport-tickets-1828888487699 


GM Moving: Positive Experiences for All People (Buddle)

🗓️ Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 | 🕡 6:30 – 8:30 PM | 📍 Free, House of Sport, Manchester
Boost participant experience by exploring and planning what makes activities engaging and inclusive.
Who should attend? Volunteers, coaches, club committee members, and staff delivering sport and physical activity across Greater Manchester.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/positive-experiences-for-all-people-buddle-tickets-1829194412729


GM Moving: Active Bystander Training (NWG Network)

🗓️ Wednesday, 22 April, 2026 | 🕡 6:30 – 8:00 PM | 💻 Free, Online
Learn how and when to safely intervene to help keep sport a safer environment for all.
Who should attend? Volunteers and staff working with children and young people in sports across the North West.
Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/active-bystander-training-nwg-network-tickets-1828818578599

I work or volunteer in a club or group, how can you support me? 

Connect: We provide ways for you to connect with other club volunteers in Greater Manchester. 

Offer support: We offer 1-2-1 bespoke support and can work with you to reflect on your clubs' practices and create a safer and more inclusive culture. 

Raise awareness: We can attend events to raise awareness about welfare with parents, carers and participants. We can support you to share campaigns and best practice in your club. 

Enable: We can provide, or signpost you to training and learning, to help you create a safer, more inclusive club. 

You can contact us using the form below to keep updated about our offer or to request support with a particular issue.

Contact our Sports and Physical Activity Welfare Leads

Further details please contact

  • Rachel Garbutt and Katie Palmer
    Sport & Physical Activity Welfare Leads
  • [email protected]

I’m a professional, how can we work together? 

We'd love to connect with professionals across Greater Manchester who have roles in safeguarding children and adults, supporting the volunteer workforce, or who work across sports, physical activity and movement. 

It’s important our work is informed by and meets the needs of Greater Manchester, so please contact us for a chat. 

I have a welfare or safeguarding concern I’d like to report, who should I contact? 

We don't manage concerns directly, but we can help you to find the right place to report your concern. Email or call us and we’ll support you to find the relevant contact in your area or at your national governing body. 

  • If a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm call 999. 
  • If you are a member of the national governing body for your sport, follow the process for reporting to your welfare officer or safeguarding lead. 
  • If you’re worried about a child or adult, you can contact your local authority child or adult services. 
  • If you believe a professional or volunteer who works with children has acted in a way that has or may have harmed a child, you should report this to your Local Authority Designated Officer. 

You can find more detailed information on our Safeguarding page.

I work outside of Greater Manchester, can you help me? 

We’re part of a national network of Sport Welfare Officers, with colleagues in every county in England, you can find your local contact here.

Useful resources