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Last week I made a visit to Middleton and Wirksworth Wrestling Club to meet Tony Phillips and Dean Brown, Lead Coach.
My visit involved discussions around safeguarding and how the sport of wrestling keeps members safe and how they make their clubs inclusive to all. Dean is very passionate about Wrestling and making the sport accessible, he would like to see more people engaging in clubs across the county. Having previously attended the Battle of the Midlands competition, I saw how diverse the sport was, it was fabulous to see so many communities coming together as one. Dean also spoke about how the sport can be adapted for members with physical disabilities too.
The Club was founded by Frank Morley who has since passed, he started the club in 1958, some 66 years ago and it is still going. Dean himself trained there as a child and has successfully continued in the sport taking lead roles as a GB Coach and Lead coach for the Midland region, developing club athletes towards the performance pathway in wrestling.
With regard to keeping their club safe, Dean is a mental health first aider and has a good understanding of safeguarding, he works closely with the Club Welfare Officer, who equally has a strong understanding of safeguarding and welfare, she works professionally in Mental Health Services. They work hard to develop a safe and inclusive culture at the club and praise themselves on having good relationships with their members that ensures a listening and hearing culture. It was particularly good to hear how they follow up any absence from the club to ensure members are ok and safe and also how they are always striving to do more. Safeguarding is clearly a key feature in this club.
We have agreed to explore safer approaches to communication to help safeguarding personal information and consider a 360 review to hear the views of its members, coaches, parents/carers etc, it is hoped that some of that sharing will help make the club an even safer and more inclusive environment than it already is. WELL DONE MIDDLETON AND WIRKSWORTH WRESTLING CLUB for keeping the conversation about safeguarding real and ongoing.
