Welfare – looking after your safety and wellbeing

Your welfare

Lonely Goat Running Club is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive and safe space for runners to connect with each other online, in a moderated group setting.

Whist ensuring that member welfare is everyone’s responsibility, through acceptance of club rules, the club also has a dedicated Welfare Officer, whose role is to ensure the club promotes and secures the wellbeing and safety of all its members.

We have adopted the UK Athletics Club Safeguarding Code of Conduct and the associated policies and guidance to ensure any issues or concerns that arise are handled appropriately and fairly.

If a member is uncomfortable or concerned about something associated with the club, either online or when meeting in person, they can send an email to our dedicated welfare email address welfare@lonelygoat.co.uk

Introducing our Welfare Officer

Hi, I’m Nicola Jenkinson (in the picture above), Club Welfare Officer and one of our Group Moderators. 

Alongside other moderators I maintain an overview of the Lonely Goat Running Club Facebook chat group to help ensure the group maintains a positive and inclusive running community.  

If you have any concerns regarding a post, please report this using the “report post” function (tap on the three dots in the corner of a post to find this option in the menu) and one of the team of moderators will review it.

If you receive unsolicited contact through messaging, which you feel is inappropriate or otherwise unhelpful, please let the Lonely Goat Running Club team know, so it can be addressed. You can do this by emailing welfare@lonelygoat.com. You may find it helpful to maintain a record of any such contact to support your concerns.

Safety and Welfare out and about

If you’re out and about as a Lonely Goat, we have some hints and tips to promote your running safety. Consider some of the following:

• Having a mobile phone with you
• Wearing high vis / bright colours, so you’re visible to traffic and at night wear something reflective and a running light
• Use relevant safety features on any tech you have with you
• Consider What3Words as a location app, this is now being used by increasing numbers of emergency services and can be used to locate you with a high degree of accuracy

If you need help or support

As an online club of ‘Lonely Goats’ we recognise that our runners are part of an online community for a whole range of reasons; shift working, time constraints, family or work commitments, or a preference to run alone or in informal groups. As a result, members have no regular formal club meet up that they can attend and may have few running contacts outside the links made online.  

Recognising that running and physical activity can be a key part of individuals’ mental as well as physical health management and motivation, we understand that when life is difficult or overwhelming it can be hard knowing where to find support. If you’re in need of mental or emotional wellbeing help, here are links to organisations and services that may be able to support you.

Mind

• A safe space to talk about your mental health. Advisors are trained to listen and help you find specialist support if you need it.
• www.mind.org.uk 
• Call 0300 102 1234, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm.

Samaritans

• For anyone who wants to talk.
• Call 116 123 (free), for 24/7 support.
• Welsh language: call 0808 164 0123, from 7pm to 11 pm, everyday.

National Suicide Prevention helpline UK

• A supportive listening services, for anyone with thoughts of suicide.
• Call 0800 689 5652.

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

• If you’re affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts.
• Call 0800 58 58 58, from 5pm to midnight, everyday.
• Also offer a web chat service.

Shout

• Use the text helpline, if you want to access immediate crisis support, but don’t want to talk. 
• Text SHOUT to 85258, for 24/7 text service support.

Papyrus HOPELINE UK

• For Under 35s: if you’re struggling with suicidal feelings, or are concerned about a young person who may be struggling.
• Call 0800 068 4141, for 24/7 support.