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Your Voice – Strengthening Safeguarding in Powerchair Football

As part of Safeguarding Adults Week, The Wheelchair Football Association (WFA) is excited to launch Your Voice – a new initiative dedicated to enhancing safeguarding within Powerchair Football. At the heart of our sport lies a steadfast focus on ensuring that all players, coaches, and supporters are safe, supported, and valued.

Your Voice has been established to build and strengthen relationships between The WFA and Club Welfare Officers. This initiative provides a platform for Welfare Officers to share their experiences, challenges, and successes. By fostering open communication, The WFA aims to identify areas where support and guidance are needed and offer targeted assistance to those on the safeguarding frontlines.

Led by Chris Cook OBE and Cath Gouldsbrough, the initiative has already seen promising engagement. Two online sessions have been held, bringing together welfare officers from across the country. We are incredibly grateful for their engagement and insights, which are vital to the success of this initiative. These sessions create a space for discussion and collaboration, paving the way for future development.

Looking ahead, Your Voice will continue to grow, with follow-up sessions planned for March and July 2025. These sessions will further nurture the initiative, ensuring that safeguarding within Powerchair Football remains a top priority.

The Wheelchair Football Association is committed to strengthening safeguarding and well-being within our community. Earlier this year, The WFA was delighted to welcome Chris Cook OBE as a Trustee. Chris brings a wealth of experience to the role, working closely with fellow Trustee Cath Gouldsbrough to uphold the highest safeguarding standards.

Chris has an impressive background, having served in the Lincolnshire Police for 32 years, retiring as a senior officer. His expertise extends to:

  • Acting as the Independent Chair of the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership since 2009.

  • Serving as the Independent Chair for the Nottingham City, Derbyshire, and North East Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnerships.

  • Chairing the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel.

In addition, Chris was appointed Safeguarding Director of the Lincolnshire Football Association in January this year, further showcasing his dedication to creating safe spaces within football.

The WFA firmly believes that safeguarding is paramount in all aspects of football. Initiatives like Your Voice and the expertise of our safeguarding leaders ensure that our sport continues to thrive in an environment where well-being is prioritised. Through collaboration, education, and ongoing support, we are committed to safeguarding every individual who plays, coaches, or supports Powerchair Football.

As we celebrate Safeguarding Adults Week, we reaffirm our pledge to make Powerchair Football an inclusive and safe environment for all. Together, we are creating a stronger, safer community both on and off the pitch.

Dean Williams, Chairperson of The WFA, emphasised:

“Safeguarding is and always will be our first priority. Our three-season strategy outlined our ‘four core foundations’ – essentially our moral compass – the core foundations that should guide our focus, prioritisation, and decision-making within the sport. The first of these core foundations is entitled ‘Safety, first’ – ensuring we design, implement, and facilitate an environment that is safe for everybody.“

For further information or support regarding safeguarding, please reach out to: