News

Posted: 28 January 2026

Scottish Rowing has commissioned an independent review of wellbeing and protection across the sport in Scotland.

The review will examine our policies, practices and culture to ensure they are effective in keeping everyone involved in rowing safe and that they reflect current best practice across sport and beyond. This forms part of Scottish Rowing’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in wellbeing and protection.

The review will be led by Chris Smart, an experienced independent consultant in this field. Chris is a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police, where he led the South London Child Abuse Investigation Team. Since leaving the police, he has supported a wide range of organisations including the Men’s ATP Tennis Tour, the Lawn Tennis Association, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Church of England, a number of Local Authorities and Scottish Gymnastics, where he chaired their independent wellbeing and protection review and now serves as an independent member of their Wellbeing & Protection Sub Committee.

Chris will operate independently of Scottish Rowing’s management and case processes. His role is to review systems, structures and culture - not to re-investigate individual cases or act as a disciplinary process.

What the review will look at

The review will consider:

• · How wellbeing and protection is governed and delivered across Scottish Rowing, clubs and performance programmes

• · Whether people across the sport feel safe and able to raise concerns

• · How concerns are reported, managed and learned from

• · The effectiveness of training, communication and support arrangements

• · Whether roles and responsibilities relating to wellbeing and protection are clear and well understood

A sample of past cases will be reviewed on an anonymised basis to understand whether policies and procedures have been followed appropriately and to identify learning for the future.

How members can contribute

Members of the Scottish rowing community, past and present, are invited to share their experiences of wellbeing and protection in the sport to help inform the review.

Chris Smart can be contacted directly and in confidence at: chris@pvpconsulting.co.uk

Please note: this review is not a route for reporting live concerns. If you have a current wellbeing or protection concern about a child or adult at risk, you should contact Scottish Rowing’s Lead Wellbeing and Protection Officer immediately via: https://www.scottish-rowing.org.uk/wellbeing

If you think a person is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, you should call the emergency services on 999.

You can also read our Frequently Asked Questions about the review, which explain what the review will and will not cover, how information will be handled, and how findings will be reported. Read the Independent Wellbeing and Protection Review FAQs

What happens next

The review will formally commence on 1 February 2026 and is expected to take no longer than six months to complete. An interim update is expected during the review, with a final report anticipated later in 2026.

Scottish Rowing intends to publish a summary of the findings and recommendations and to be transparent about how we will respond.

The full Terms of Reference for the review are available to read here: Read the Independent Wellbeing and Protection Review Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference may be updated by agreement between Scottish Rowing and the independent reviewer to ensure the review remains appropriate and effective.

Chris Smart, Independent Wellbeing and Protection Consultant, said:

“I am looking forward to working with Scottish Rowing and commend them for taking a proactive approach to making the sport as safe and enjoyable as possible for everyone involved. This review provides a valuable opportunity for individuals to share their views and experiences, helping to ensure the process is as inclusive and thorough as possible.”

Dr Laura Graham, Chair of Scottish Rowing, said:

“The wellbeing and protection of everyone involved in rowing in Scotland is a fundamental responsibility of our sport. Commissioning this independent review reflects our commitment to listen, to learn and to ensure our systems, culture and oversight meet the highest standards. We encourage anyone who wishes to share their experience to engage with the review and help us strengthen wellbeing and protection across the Scottish rowing community.”