We have Safeguarding and Equality policies that apply to all members, coaches and visitors
We encourage children and adults to create safe and inclusive tennis environments
We prioritise safe and inclusive recruitment, induction, training and support
We protect people’s confidential information about safeguarding and equality
We address safeguarding and discrimination concerns immediately

Safeguarding is managed on behalf of the Management Committee by the Welfare Officer.

As an LTA registered venue, we follow the LTA’s Safe and Inclusive Tennis guidelines and meet the five LTA Venue Safeguarding Standards. Our policies and procedures are set out in the following documents in this section:

Safeguarding and Equality Code of Conduct
Safeguarding Policy
Recording of Photos Policy
Safeguarding Reporting Procedure

Useful additional resources are the LTA safeguarding pages at lta.org.uk/safeguarding and the Safe to Play Tennis campaign at safetoplaytennis.co.uk.

Safeguarding and Inclusion: Our Code of Conduct

We have a Code of Conduct which summarises our approach to Safeguarding and Inclusion.

Prioritise the well-being of all children and vulnerable adults at all times
Be a positive role model. Act with integrity, even when no one is looking
Help to create a safe and inclusive environment both on and off the court and promote the Fair Play values
Value and celebrate diversity and make all reasonable efforts to meet individual needs
Keep clear boundaries between your professional and personal life, including on social media
Check you have the relevant consent from parents before taking or using photos and videos of children
Ensure that roles and responsibilities are clear, and everyone has the information and training to carry them out
Where possible, do not be alone with a child or vulnerable adult
Do not abuse, neglect, harm or discriminate against anyone, or act in a way that may be interpreted as such
Doing nothing is NOT an option: report all concerns and disclosures as soon as possible

Note: it is illegal for someone in a position of trust, such as a coach, to have a sexual relationship with a young person under the age of 18 in their care. It is illegal to have a sexual relationship with anyone under the age of 16 whether they give consent or not.

Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. NOT RESPONDING TO A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN IS NOT AN OPTION.

Shipston Tennis Club is committed to prioritising the well-being of all children and adults at risk, promoting safeguarding in our club at all times, including all programmes and events we run. This Policy aims to minimise risk, deliver a positive tennis experience for everyone, and respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns.

Definition of Safeguarding

Safeguarding children involves protecting them from abuse and neglect, preventing the impairment of their health or development, and ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.
Safeguarding adults at risk involves protecting them from abuse or neglect, and empowering them to make their own choices, consulting them before taking action wherever possible and safe to do so.

LTA Venue Safeguarding Standards

As an LTA registered venue we meet the five minimum safeguarding standards set by the LTA:

Safeguarding Policies: we have current safeguarding policies and procedures in place and available to members.
Safeguarding Awareness: everyone at the club knows what safeguarding is, why it matters and how to report a concern.
Safeguarding Culture: safeguarding is embedded in how we run activities and events, and risks are considered in our planning.
Staff, Coaches and Volunteers: relevant roles hold a satisfactory criminal record check, coaches qualified to LTA Level 2 or above are LTA Accredited, and committee members complete the required safeguarding training.
Procedure: we have a clear procedure for reporting and responding to concerns, and our Welfare Officer is trained and engaged in the role.

Roles and Responsibilities

Our club’s Management Committee has overall accountability for this Policy and its implementation
Our club Welfare Officer is responsible for updating this Policy in line with legislative and club developments, and completes the LTA Welfare Officer training for their role
Committee members complete the LTA Safeguarding Training for Committees
All individuals involved in the club are responsible for reading and upholding the Policy and Code of Conduct

Safe Recruitment Policy

All coaching staff are required to read our policies and Code of Conduct, and to discuss them with the Head Coach
All coaching staff hold an in-date enhanced DBS check and current LTA safeguarding certification
Any coach qualified to LTA Level 2 or above who delivers coaching activity at the club must be LTA Accredited, or Accredited+ where applicable
We build these requirements into our recruitment, induction and ongoing checks

Reporting

Any concerns regarding safeguarding should be reported using our Safeguarding Reporting Procedure

Breach of Policy

Breaches of this Policy may result in disciplinary action leading to possible dismissal and legal action
Where an appeal is made following a safeguarding decision made by the club, an independent appeal body may be used

Recording and Publishing Images Policy

We encourage coaches, parents and friends to take pictures and videos. We believe that this can encourage children to take part in tennis, record special moments in their tennis development, and be a useful aid in coaching and development.

Parents, carers and spectators who want to take photos or videos are required to obtain the consent of the parents of all children involved.
Coaches who wish to take photos or videos at an event, or publish images after the event, must obtain consent from parents, explaining why they are taking the images and what they will be used for.
Coaches may use video equipment as a legitimate coaching method. Tennis players and their parents or carers should be made aware if this forms part of the tennis programme, and any such recording must be destroyed after use.

If anyone has concerns about inappropriate photography, this should be reported immediately to the event organiser or the Club Welfare Officer, who will follow our safeguarding procedures.

Appropriate Images

All children featured in photographs or recordings must be:

Appropriately dressed in clothing covering their torso from their neck to thighs, for example a t-shirt and shorts or skirt
Featured with people engaging in tennis
Recorded in groups with other children or adults where possible
Representative of the diversity across tennis, with regard to age, gender, ethnicity and disability
Identified using their first name only, although it is preferable that their name is not given

Safeguarding Reporting Procedure

This Procedure provides guidance to the individual to whom a concern around safeguarding or discrimination is reported.

If you are made aware of a safeguarding concern you should follow the Safeguarding Reporting Procedure as follows.

Respond

Listen carefully to a complaint and do not interrupt
Keep questions to a minimum
Do not promise to keep the information secret

Refer

If someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999
Inform our Welfare Officer immediately, who will report it to the LTA Safeguarding Team
A concern can also be reported directly to the LTA using the online Report a Concern form at safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk, which can be submitted anonymously if you wish
Contact the LTA Safeguarding Team or the NSPCC if you are unable to contact the Welfare Officer

Record

Ask our Welfare Officer for a Concern Report Form
Complete the form within 48 hours of the concern and return it to the Welfare Officer

Contact Details

Welfare Officer: see the Contacts and Committee section of the website
LTA Safeguarding Team: 020 8487 7000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or [email protected]
LTA Report a Concern online form: safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 (outside office hours)
Childline: 0800 1111 (help and advice for children)
Warwickshire LTA County Safeguarding Officer: available for advice and support (see the Warwickshire LTA website)
If you would like to raise a concern about the Welfare Officer, contact the Club Chairman

In an emergency, or if you are concerned that someone is at immediate risk of harm, always call the police on 999.

Safeguarding and Inclusion