Trigger Warning – The article below contains sensitive themes related to sexual abuse. Please only read if you feel able. If you need to talk to someone or wish to report an issue, please reach out to any of the charities listed below.
In a recent Instagram poll from the account Henley Love, respondents were asked “Do you think enough is being done to protect women in rowing from abuse?” 1045 people, (76%) of the poll said no. Many athletes and supporters donned white ribbons and wore custom lycra at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta to show solidarity for those affected by sexual abuse (“SA”). Are we finally – albeit too late – at the point where conversation can activate positive change?
Conversations have been accelerated since many wore the white ribbon but what needs to be done to actually initiate change? Henley Love also asked “What can clubs and athletes do to help women?” and published a list of 85 responses.
Common suggestions included:
- BR should enforce that all clubs have a Safeguarding policy that includes a clear process for reporting sexual assault and violence,
- Ensuring that clubs have a welfare officer,
- Host obligatory SA and safe culture workshops that people have to attend to be members of a club,
- Make sure that past behaviour is reported when a coach/rower moves from club to club, such as a BR reporting register,
- Not value an athlete’s performance over female safety,
- Not let offenders into clubs.
Overall, it is clear that at least some part of the rowing community feels not enough is being done to protect women and girls from sexual violence and, sadly, this is a broader issue that is deeply engrained into society, not just the sport of rowing. If there is anything that can be learnt from the failings within our sport, we should be responsible for putting them right and setting an example for others to follow.
Estimates published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicate that about 30% of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. During this summer’s Euros, Women’s Aid launched their ‘He’s coming home campaign’ to shine a light on the darker side of major football championships, which could lead to an increase in domestic abuse. Research conducted by Lancaster University showed cases of domestic abuse increased by 38% when the England men’s team lost a match and by 26% when they won or drew.* In the World Players Association census of Athlete Rights Experiences, it was reported that 21% of female respondents compared with 11% of males experienced one form of sexual abuse at least once as a child in sport*. It is clear that this is a societal issue and British Rowing has an opportunity here to set an example for other sports to follow.
Currently, British Rowing rightly states that all clubs are required to have a club welfare officer in order to hold affiliation with British Rowing. Clubs are encouraged to have their own codes of conduct and must also follow British Rowing’s safeguarding policies and procedures. JRN asked British Rowing if they were looking at creating training resources to help educate club members on consent, but they did not comment. To this end, beyond policy, the practical solutions to dealing with offences still appear to be absent, leaving clubs and individuals confused about how to take action.
Moreover, the fact that British Rowing encourages clubs to adopt their safeguarding policy while allowing them to have their own codes of conduct can – unsurprisingly – lead to even more confusion when they are met with a real-life case. There remains no clear, universal way by which clubs need to deal with offences.
British Rowing provided the following statements in relation to questions around the policy:
British Rowing is in the process of reviewing the training and development offering for all stakeholders as part of its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. This applies to all types of abuse and neglect. There are a range of measures that British Rowing is reviewing to ensure that clubs and the NGB support members. Club members should also seek support from their Club Welfare Officers
To turn the page for good, and for rowing to set an example for other sports and wider society, clubs and British Rowing need to pledge to end violence against women and girls that includes deliverables that can be rolled out in the next year.
Deliverables could include:
- Update British Rowing welfare policies that explain the process from safeguarding to disciplinary action.
- Have one policy set by BR that all clubs follow when / if a complaint is made. This should be a national standard.
- Ensure that these welfare policies are fully rolled out into affiliated clubs and deny affiliation if clubs do not have them in place.
- Clubs can implement a code of conduct that all athletes sign up for when joining the club. Anyone who falls short of these expectations is invited to an independent panel and could ultimately be asked to leave.
- BR to deliver training to welfare officers so that they are best equipped to support their clubs. If the welfare officer doesn’t attend then the club is denied affiliation.
- Like the anti-doping workshop, athletes must attend a consent workshop to be educated on consent and culture within the training environment.
So what can your club do to help?
- Talk to your committee and ensure that your club has a strict welfare policy that covers sexual assault and the reporting process.
- Make sure that members are aware of the policy when they join the club and include training on consent and culture.
- Become a White Ribbon supporter to raise awareness of ending violence against women and girls and to raise money for charity.
- Write to British Rowing and continue to lobby them for further positive change in policy across the country.
What can British Rowing do?
Stronger enforcement of welfare officers and club policies would be the first step to initiating positive change. British Rowing needs to show that they are committed to ending violence against women and girls and they have the opportunity here to be the sport that could lead the way. They should also increase the visibility of their process when it comes to dealing with sexual abuse cases (if this is possible within the wider stance of commenting on individual cases), and take a stricter line on punishing those that commit offences. While this may be easier said than done, any action in solidarity with victims will be a positive force for change.
British Rowing have published a statement on this topic that can be found below:
British Rowing firmly believes that there is no place for any form of abuse in our sport. We will support anyone who comes forward to speak out against any abuse within rowing and thoroughly investigate every reported incident according to our Governance practices. If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please email us at safeguarding@britishrowing.org.
If you have been affected by SA please reach out to any of the below charities:
Safeline – https://safeline.org.uk/
The Survivors trust – https://thesurvivorstrust.org/
Women’s Aid – https://www.womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-directory/
References:
Henley Love – https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ksg8YvqIbfp10eSz_kzisMKNYXB0nuNxtWj6X4DU-fI/mobilebasic
White Ribbon – https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/ https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/workplace-programmes
British Rowing Safeguarding policy – https://www.britishrowing.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Safeguarding-Adults-at-Risk-March-2020.pdf
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