Karate Wales Delegation Attends English Karate Council Seminar

Four of the Committee members of Karate Wales; Lee Costa, Gabe Operanta, Stephen Wellington and Rob Copeland attended a seminar run by our friends in England who run the English Karate Council. The EKC is a Governing Body for Karate in England who represent the majority of practicing Karateka in England. 

The seminar updated delegates on current thinking, legislation and policy and procedures and illustrated the mechanisms inherent in being able to demonstrate and evidence 'good governance'. 

Organisational structure was examined through the lens of one key issue - Child Protection/Safeguarding. While the area of governance and compliance is more encompassing than just this one aspect, Child Protection is nevertheless a key issue for all Sport and Physical Activity organisations. 

John Bell presented the Seminar. 
John sits on the Board of the Sport and Recreation Alliance (formerly CCPR). He is Chair of Merseyside Sports Partnership and was Director of Leisure and Recreation for two large statutory authorities. He is a practicing 3rd Dan Karateka and Chair of EKC.

Jules Goulding spoke about Governance and compliance. 
Jules is a practicing judge sitting in Liverpool. She is a Legal Commissioner (Criminal Cases Review Commission) and member of the Board of the Forensic Science Advisory Council. She is a practicing Karateka.

Finally Hamish Telfer gave a very entertaining and extremely informative talk on Child safeguarding. 
Hamish is an academic who works and publishes in the area of practice ethics in sport. A co-author of UK Sport's 'Code of Practice for Sports Coaches', he is also a former GB team coach in Track and Field athletics.

There were many notables from the world of Karate present.
Vic Charles MBE seven times World Champion and Bob Poynton, one of the leading Shotokan instructors in Britain among others.

Karate Wales wish to thank the EKC for a thoroughly worthwhile and interesting seminar and also for the warm welcome they received, and the support they were given in the early stages of developing Karate Wales.