Longford Striders Welfare and Group Conduct Policy

Group Conduct and Welfare Policy

1. Statement of Commitment

Longford Striders Coventry is a RunTogether group supported by England Athletics. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming and positive environment for all participants.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. This policy sets out how Longford Striders promotes appropriate conduct and supports the welfare of children, young people and adults participating in our activities.

We are equally committed to ensuring that sessions are delivered safely, consistently and within the scope of relevant England Athletics qualifications. Run Leaders and Coaches must operate within the requirements of their qualification, licence and insurance.

This policy should be read alongside current England Athletics, UK Athletics and RunTogether policies, procedures and Codes of Conduct. Where applicable governing-body safeguarding requirements are updated or differ from this document, the current governing-body requirements and procedures will take precedence.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• all Run Leaders, Coaches, Group Helpers and volunteers associated with Longford Striders Coventry;
• all participants aged 12 and above attending Longford Striders sessions;
• parents and guardians of participants under 18;
• Longford Striders-organised activities and events; and
• Longford Striders-managed online groups, social media and communication channels.

Personal online activity may also fall within the scope of this policy where there is a clear and direct connection with Longford Striders, its activities or its participants.

3. Minimum Age and Consent

The minimum age to participate in Longford Striders Coventry sessions is 12 years old.

Participants under the age of 18 are children for safeguarding purposes and must have appropriate parental or guardian consent to participate.

Participants aged 12–15 must have parental or guardian consent and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian aged 18 or over. They remain the responsibility of that adult throughout the session.

Participants aged 16–17 must have parental or guardian consent. They may also be asked to confirm their own understanding of relevant participation and consent information.

All participants under 18 are covered by applicable England Athletics and UK Athletics child safeguarding requirements.

4. Leadership Structure

Longford Striders sessions are delivered within the England Athletics RunTogether framework.

Run Leaders and Coaches must maintain the qualifications, licence, appropriate DBS check and mandatory safeguarding and first aid training required by England Athletics for their role and the participants with whom they work.

Run Leaders and Coaches are responsible for promoting safe practice, maintaining appropriate standards of conduct and raising safeguarding or welfare concerns through the appropriate procedures.

Group Leader

The Group Leader is responsible for the overall coordination of Longford Striders Coventry and for promoting appropriate standards of safety, welfare and conduct.

Responsibilities include:

• ensuring activities are delivered safely and inclusively;
• ensuring Run Leaders and Coaches delivering sessions hold appropriate and current England Athletics qualifications and licences;
• overseeing appropriate risk assessment and emergency arrangements;
• supporting Run Leaders, Coaches and Group Helpers;
• acting as the primary group contact for welfare and safeguarding concerns; and
• referring safeguarding matters to England Athletics, UK Athletics or other appropriate authorities where required.

Coach in Running Fitness (CiRF)

A Coach in Running Fitness is qualified to independently coach runners aged 12 and above within the scope of their England Athletics qualification.

Coaches may plan and deliver structured and progressive training, support running technique and performance development, observe and analyse movement, and adapt training according to the needs, abilities and goals of participants.

Coaching should be athlete-centred, evidence-informed, inclusive and appropriate to the individual or group.

Coaches must work within the scope of their current qualifications, licence and insurance.

Leadership in Running Fitness (LiRF)

Run Leaders holding the Leadership in Running Fitness qualification are qualified to plan and lead safe, enjoyable and inclusive running sessions for mixed-ability groups aged 12 and above.

This may include appropriate warm-ups, cool-downs, running activities and structured group running sessions within the scope of the LiRF qualification.

Run Leaders should support participants to progress appropriately while maintaining an emphasis on safety, enjoyment and inclusion.

Group Helpers

Group Helpers are experienced participants who volunteer their time to support sessions under the direction of a qualified Run Leader or Coach.

They may assist with group management, participant support, motivation and safety but must not independently undertake responsibilities requiring a Run Leader or coaching qualification.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

Run Leaders and Coaches must follow applicable England Athletics and UK Athletics Codes of Conduct, safeguarding requirements and the boundaries of their qualification and licence.

Group Helpers should follow the instructions of the Run Leader or Coach responsible for the session and contribute to maintaining a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

Parents and guardians are responsible for providing accurate consent, emergency, medical and contact information relating to participants under 18 and for complying with the supervision requirements within this policy.

Participants are expected to behave respectfully, follow reasonable safety instructions and contribute positively to the group environment.

6. Welcoming and Inclusive Environment

Longford Striders Coventry welcomes runners from different backgrounds, beliefs, abilities and walks of life.

We are committed to maintaining an environment where people can participate without discrimination, bullying, harassment or intimidation.

Our group is centred around running, health, wellbeing and community. Participants may hold a wide range of personal political, religious and ideological views and beliefs. Longford Striders is not intended to be a platform for political campaigning, religious promotion, ideological advocacy or divisive debate.

Participants are expected to interact respectfully, support fellow runners and contribute positively to the atmosphere of the group, both in person and within Longford Striders-managed online spaces.

7. Participant Conduct and Expectations

All participants taking part in Longford Striders activities are expected to uphold the values of respect, inclusion and safety.

Participants should:

• treat Run Leaders, Coaches, Group Helpers, volunteers and fellow participants with respect and consideration;
• follow reasonable safety instructions provided by the Run Leader or Coach;
• participate within their own ability and inform a Run Leader or Coach if they become unwell, injured or unable to continue safely;
• refrain from bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, threatening or abusive behaviour;
• respect the privacy, dignity and personal boundaries of others;
• behave appropriately towards members of the public while participating in group activities; and
• contribute to a supportive and welcoming environment.

Concerns about participant behaviour will normally be discussed with the individual concerned. Serious or repeated concerns may result in a participant being asked not to attend Longford Striders activities while the matter is considered.

Safeguarding matters may be referred directly through the appropriate safeguarding procedures.

8. Social Media and Online Communication

Longford Striders uses social media and online communication to share information, promote activities, celebrate participation and help runners stay connected. This may include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Strava and other online platforms used by the group.

The same standards of respect, inclusion and appropriate behaviour expected during Longford Striders activities apply within online spaces managed by the group.

Participants, Run Leaders, Coaches, Group Helpers and volunteers must not use Longford Striders-managed platforms to bully, harass, intimidate or discriminate against another person; post threatening or abusive material; disclose confidential or private information without an appropriate reason or permission; or post material that creates a safeguarding concern.

In line with Section 6, Longford Striders-managed online spaces are primarily intended for running, health, wellbeing, group activities and community communication. Content involving political campaigning, religious promotion, ideological advocacy or prolonged divisive debate may be moderated or removed where it is unrelated to the purpose of the group or is likely to cause unnecessary conflict within that space.

This does not prevent participants from expressing their own political, religious or other personal views through their personal social media accounts.

Longford Striders recognises that participants have their own personal lives, opinions and social media accounts. Participation in Longford Striders does not give the group general authority over personal online activity that has no reasonable connection with the group.

Personal online activity may become a conduct or welfare matter where there is a clear and direct connection with Longford Striders or its participants. This may include:

• bullying, harassment or intimidation directed at another participant in connection with the group;
• discriminatory, threatening or abusive behaviour involving participants or volunteers;
• disclosure of confidential information obtained through involvement with Longford Striders;
• serious safeguarding concerns;
• falsely claiming or creating the reasonable impression of speaking on behalf of Longford Striders; or
• online behaviour directly connected with a Longford Striders activity that could reasonably cause significant harm to another participant or the group.

Legitimate disagreement, reasonable criticism or expression of a personal opinion will not, by itself, constitute a breach of this policy.

Run Leaders, Coaches, Group Helpers and volunteers must maintain appropriate professional and safeguarding boundaries when communicating online, particularly when communicating with participants under 18.

A safeguarding disclosure or concern received through social media or online messaging must be treated in the same way as a concern raised in person and referred through the appropriate safeguarding procedures.

Those responsible for Longford Striders-managed online channels may moderate or remove content that breaches this policy. Minor concerns will normally be addressed informally. Serious or repeated concerns may be referred to the Group Leader.

Participants are encouraged to raise personal grievances or concerns privately with the Group Leader rather than conducting disputes through Longford Striders-managed social media channels. Nothing in this section prevents a participant from raising a legitimate concern, making reasonable criticism or reporting a safeguarding matter.

9. Participant Medical Information and Safety

Participants are responsible for considering whether they are fit and well enough to take part in the planned activity and for informing a Run Leader or Coach of relevant medical information, injuries or other circumstances that may affect their safe participation.

Participants should ensure that their emergency contact and relevant medical information held through RunTogether is accurate and up to date.

Relevant information may include conditions such as asthma, diabetes, serious allergies, cardiovascular conditions or injuries that could affect safe participation.

Participants requiring medication such as an inhaler or adrenaline auto-injector should bring it to the session and, where appropriate, inform the Run Leader or Coach of its location.

Participants are responsible for arriving appropriately prepared for the session, including suitable clothing, footwear, hydration and any medication they may require.

Participants should take part within their own ability and inform a Run Leader or Coach if they become unwell, injured or unable to continue safely.

Where a healthcare professional has advised a participant not to undertake physical activity, they should not participate until it is appropriate for them to resume.

Nothing within this section removes or reduces the responsibility of Longford Striders, its Run Leaders or Coaches to take reasonable steps to provide appropriately planned and safely delivered activities within the scope of their roles.

10. Photography and Media

Longford Striders may occasionally take photographs or short videos during sessions, group runs or activities to celebrate participation and promote the group through its communication and social media channels.

Parental or guardian consent is required before identifiable promotional photographs or videos of participants under 18 are used.

Adults who do not wish to appear in photographs, videos or promotional material should inform a Run Leader or Coach. Reasonable steps will be taken to respect these preferences.

Participants should respect the wishes, dignity and privacy of others when taking, posting or sharing photographs and videos.

Posting a photograph or video within a private Longford Striders online group does not automatically give Longford Striders permission to republish that content through its public social media accounts.

Where participant-supplied photographs or videos are to be reused publicly by Longford Striders, appropriate permission should be obtained.

11. Reporting Welfare, Safeguarding and Conduct Concerns

Concerns about behaviour, welfare or safeguarding should normally be raised with the Group Leader.

Concerns will be considered appropriately and, where necessary, referred in accordance with current England Athletics or UK Athletics policies and safeguarding procedures.

Participants, parents, guardians and volunteers should not attempt to investigate safeguarding concerns themselves or use social media to publicly identify or discuss individuals involved in a safeguarding matter.

Anyone may also report an appropriate welfare or safeguarding concern directly to England Athletics or UK Athletics through their current reporting procedures.

Where a child or adult is believed to be at immediate risk of harm, the emergency services should be contacted by dialling 999.

12. Responding to Conduct Concerns

Where a concern relates to behaviour rather than an immediate safeguarding issue, Longford Striders will aim to respond fairly, consistently and proportionately.

Minor concerns will normally be addressed informally through a conversation with the participant concerned.

Where behaviour is serious, or concerns continue after they have been raised, further action may be appropriate. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• requesting the removal of inappropriate content from a Longford Striders-managed online space;
• restricting or removing access to a Longford Striders-managed online group;
• temporarily restricting attendance at Longford Striders activities while a concern is considered; or
• asking a participant to cease attending Longford Striders activities where continued participation is considered inappropriate.

Where appropriate, the participant should be informed of the concern and given a reasonable opportunity to explain their position before a decision is made.

Decisions will take account of the nature and seriousness of the behaviour, any relevant safeguarding considerations, previous concerns where applicable and current England Athletics or UK Athletics requirements.

Serious safeguarding matters may be referred immediately to England Athletics, UK Athletics, the police, social services or another appropriate authority without first being dealt with informally.

Nothing in this section prevents Longford Striders from taking immediate reasonable action where this is necessary to protect the safety or welfare of participants.

13. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner where necessary following changes to England Athletics guidance, UK Athletics safeguarding requirements, RunTogether requirements or the operation of Longford Striders Coventry.

Last updated: August 2026