Welfare at Fitmums and Friends
Posted 22nd October 2025
At Fitmums and Friends, the welfare of our members, volunteers and staff is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for everyone who takes part in our activities.
The Role of the OWL
We have a dedicated role called the Overarching Welfare Lead (OWL). OWLs are experienced volunteers who provide expert advice to support the management of any welfare issue that may arise. They also play a key role in reviewing and updating our welfare policies, ensuring our approach remains current and robust.
Our OWLs are available to give advice and support to volunteers and members within clubs and across our many programmes. They are always happy to help, share guidance, and provide reassurance to those delivering activities in our communities.
Meet Our OWLs
We are proud to have three dedicated OWLs, each bringing valuable skills and experience to the role:
Wendy Williams – A Beverley member, Wendy is also a run leader and the Nordic Walking coordinator. With professional experience in the NHS, she combines her knowledge with her passion for supporting Fitmums and Friends.
Ruth Oberg – A long-standing member also with professional experience in the NHS, Ruth has been deeply involved in the charity for many years. She helps organise the intergenerational choir and brings her professional mental health background and safeguarding to her role as OWL.
Tracy Holwell – Also a Beverley member, Tracy is the newest addition to the OWL team. With a background in counselling and safeguarding, she is excited to use her skills and enthusiasm to support the welfare of our community.
Together, our OWLs ensure that anyone raising a concern can feel confident that it will be handled with care, sensitivity and professionalism.
Reporting Welfare Issues
We want everyone to feel confident in raising any concern, big or small. Whether it’s a slip, trip or fall, or a welfare/safeguarding concern, issues can be reported quickly and easily through our online reporting system here.
Once submitted:
• A member of our central team reviews the report.
• If the matter requires more attention, it is referred to one of our OWLs for specialist support.
• Every report is followed up to ensure it is dealt with appropriately.
Reviewing and Monitoring
To make sure no concern is overlooked:
• All reports are reviewed quarterly to check that each one has received a response and been resolved.
• We look for any trends or recurring issues, which helps us strengthen our approach and prevent problems in the future.
• Every year, we commission an external review of our safeguarding processes, giving us independent feedback and assurance.
Safeguarding Leadership
Two of our trustees, Sue Lee and Hannah Horth, take on the specific role of Safeguarding Trustees. They provide additional oversight and ensure that welfare and safeguarding remain a central focus at every level of the charity.
Our Commitment
We take welfare and safeguarding very seriously. Our full suite of welfare and safeguarding policies can be found on our website, and we encourage all members, volunteers and staff to familiarise themselves with them.
At Fitmums and Friends, we truly care about the wellbeing of everyone involved in our charity. By working together and maintaining strong processes, we can make sure that our activities remain safe, supportive and enjoyable for all.
Policies available here
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