BF AFFILIATED CLUBS COMPLIANCE

Is your Club compliant? If not your affiliation could be at risk. Don’t worry, we appreciate clubs are run by dedicated volunteers with varying levels of experience and time, we are here to help. Please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

At BF, our shared goal is simple: to ensure every fencer has a safe, supportive and professionally run environment in which to train and compete.
Club compliance is not about bureaucracy, it is about safeguarding, quality coaching, and protecting your members and volunteers.

What Does “Fully Compliant” Mean?

To meet compliance requirements, clubs must ensure the following standards are in place:

Every club must have a designated Welfare Officer who:

• Has completed SafeGuard Welfare Officer training
• Has completed SafeGuard Core training
• Holds a current DBS check
• Has a valid British Fencing membership

This role is essential in safeguarding your members and ensuring concerns are handled appropriately and confidently.

All coaches delivering activity within the club must:

• Have completed SafeGuard Core training
• Hold a valid DBS check
• Hold an appropriate, relevant coaching qualification
• Have a valid British Fencing membership

These requirements ensure coaches are trained, vetted and insured to deliver safe, high-quality sessions.

All participants within the club must:

• Have a valid British Fencing membership

This requirements ensure all participants are covered by the BF Personal Accident policy, and makes individuals (and the clubs) eligible to be covered by public liability insurance. There are limited situations where BF’s policy covers delivery of fencing to people in community affiliated clubs that are not members of BF. It also enables BF to support clubs in a number of areas such as safeguarding.

How to Become Fully Compliant

If your club is not currently meeting one or more of the above criteria, the process to become compliant is straightforward:

• Identify which requirement(s) are outstanding
• Book required individuals onto upcoming SafeGuard courses
• Renew expired memberships
• Apply for or renew DBS checks
• Appoint a new Welfare Officer if needed

Upcoming courses and workshops can be found on the British Fencing website. If you need to add your Welfare Officer or coaches onto courses, please refer to the courses section online.

If you are unsure where to start, contact us we are here to help you create a clear and achievable plan.

Why Compliance Is So Important

Compliance protects:

Your Fencers
They deserve the best team around them qualified coaches and a trained Welfare Officer who can support them.

Your Club
Non-compliant clubs may not be covered by insurance. This is a serious risk for everyone involved.

Your Affiliation Status
Remaining compliant ensures your club maintains its affiliation and that your fencers can compete representing your club without issue.

Compliance is not optional, it is fundamental to running a safe and recognised fencing club.

What Happens If a Club Is Not Compliant?

We understand that sometimes qualifications expire or roles change. Our approach is structured, transparent and supportive.

All communication will be sent via email to your Club Admin.

First Letter
You will receive a notification outlining:
• Where your club is not meeting compliance criteria
• What action is required
You will have one month to respond with a plan to become fully compliant (for example: booking individuals onto courses, renewing DBS checks, appointing a new Welfare Officer).

Second Letter
If we do not receive a response, a second letter will be issued.
You will have a further one month to respond with your compliance plan.

Third Letter
If no response or sufficient action has been taken:
• A third letter will be issued
• You will be given one week to respond
• The letter will outline next steps if no action is taken

The most serious outcome may be un-affiliation from British Fencing, meaning:
• Your club would no longer be recognised
• Your fencers may attend competitions without club affiliation
• Insurance implications may apply
We want to avoid this outcome wherever possible.

Our Commitment to You

Our intention is never to penalise clubs unnecessarily. The compliance process exists to:

• Safeguard participants
• Maintain high standards
• Protect clubs
• Strengthen our fencing community

If you receive a letter, please engage with us early. Even if you cannot immediately meet all requirements, submitting a clear plan within the timeframe makes a significant difference.

We are here to support you in becoming fully compliant and staying compliant.
If you have any questions or need guidance, please contact the team. Let’s work together to ensure every club provides the safest and strongest environment possible for our fencers.

View the Club Compliance checklist here.