Safeguarding & Welfare

We elect a dedicated Welfare Officer to our team each year, it is their primary role to ensure the safety of members at events we host, working closely with dropzones, the committee and you to enforce the code of conduct and provide safe spaces at our events. The Welfare Officer is also able to provide additional signposting and help for more general concerns, for the wider world of skydiving or just in life - we are here to support you.

Concerns about you, others, or an event

To contact our safeguarding officer, we have an isolated email address which is buswelfareofficer@gmail.com however if you feel more comfortable contacting a different committee member we encourage you do that.

We endeavour to keep you anonymous, however if there are safety concerns associated with your issue then this anonymity may have to be breached and escalated to the relevant authorities, including but not limited to the emergency services or the British Skydiving Welfare Team.

Should your issue be to do with an event or another BUS member, this may be discussed with the Chair, or the whole committee, but we will keep your name and personal details separate from any investigation and actions that occur from the issue you raised.

The BUS Welfare Officer is anonymously contactable at buswelfareofficer@gmail.com, but you are also very welcome to contact us through the normal channels including our social media - be aware this is staffed by other committee members and you will not be able to protect you anonymity through these channels.

How we deal with your concern

Upon receiving a concern, our Welfare Officer follows the welfare plan and escalation decision tree, you may be contacted again to elaborate on your concerns. The investigation will be led by the Welfare Officer who will lead the response. For issues involving members outcomes may include a verbal chat, warning, strike, event ban, or escalation to British Skydiving. For committee member concerns report to the Chair and/or Welfare Sec/or an uninvolved committee member —possible actions include a warning, strike, removal from position, or further escalation. Issues with dropzone staff, or non BUS members may be reported directly to the dropzone’s safeguarding lead, British Skydiving, or the emergency services.

If your concern involves how an event is run, or is otherwise not specific to one person then this will be discussed by the organisers or the wider committee, with a written action plan put in place - we always aim to make our events a safe space for all our members and want to do everything we can to make you feel welcome and excited to come back again.

Other ways of getting support

We always encourage you to speak to someone for any reason big or small - if we are not a channel you feel comfortable using then we hope the following are useful and reputable signposts.

If your concern involves immediate danger to yourself or others please contact 999 immediately