New County Welfare Officer for Wiltshire Cricket
In recent years, Wiltshire Cricket Limited has been without a County Welfare Officer and instead this role has been managed by Pete Sykes in the Cricket Board office. However, it is with great pleasure that we are delighted to inform you that we have now successfully appointed Iestyn Lewis to this role. Iestyn’s contact details will be as follows:
An introduction to Iestyn
Iestyn spent most of his childhood on either rugby, football or cricket pitches, being involved in sport from before he can remember. He joined Beckington CC in the early 2000’s when he couldn’t think of an excuse quick enough in the pub on a Saturday lunchtime and has been there since, becoming a member of the committee and child welfare officer within a couple of seasons. He was involved in the setting up of BCCs youth section, a now vibrant group of well over 100 young people.
Iestyn is a foster carer and adoptive parent with birth, step, foster and adopted children ranging from 28 to 4 years old.
Professionally Iestyn is a specialist autism tutor working for Somerset county councils autism and communication service where he is involved in the education, care and support of vulnerable young people who are unable to access mainstream education and also the chair of governors at a local first school where he has responsibility for safeguarding and children with SEN.
Iestyn is excited to join the wiltshire cricket board with the aim of assisting wiltshire clubs in keeping young people safe and enjoying sport.
Core responsibilities of the County Welfare Officer
The key responsibilities of the County Welfare Officer and therefore Iestyn’s key tasks will be as follows:
- To help safeguard young people by assisting in the promotion and implementation of the ECB Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Childen’ and the related ‘Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure’ at a County level, including county teams and junior team managers.
- The local point of contact for Child Safeguarding matters in respect of the statutory agencies and, where necessary, to liaise with these agencies.
- To provide Child Safeguarding advice and support to Club Welfare Officers.
- To refer serious or complex safeguarding concerns to the ECB Safeguarding Team.
Please note that Pete Sykes will be continuing in the role of Deputy Welfare Officer but if you have any future safeguarding concerns please contact Iestyn as your first port of call via the contact details above.
Welcome to Iestyn!
