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Mini and Junior Child Welfare and Equity
Mini and Junior Child Welfare and Equity
Mini and Junior Child Welfare and Equity 5 of 5
5. Cyber-Guidance, Social Media and Photography Policy
This Policy should be considered in the wider context and with reference to the club’s existing Safeguarding Policy. The Policy is in compliance with the RFU Safeguarding section’s Cyber Guidance within the
Safeguarding Toolkit.
The RFU positively encourages parents and spectators to take photographs of participants involved in rugby union to celebrate the ethos and spirit of the sport Use of the club’s web site and social media outlets should be in accordance with the Code of Rugby and the Core Values of TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE, SPORTSMANSHIP, RESPECT, ENJOYMENT
Club members who willfully ignore this Policy may be considered for discipline if the circumstances are considered to have brought the club into disrepute.
1. General Principles
The club’s website and other internet media (Facebook pages and others) are an integral part of the daily operation of the club. They are a widely available and flexible way to communicate with club members and anyone interested in joining the club. When used responsibly and with care, they are a safe and effective way to communicate with all parts of the club, both children and adults. Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict the publication of social news, celebrate success of club teams and members and inform club members and the general public of the club’s activities that are appropriate to the audience who can access the information.
2. The Club Website
In the same way that the club has responsibility for the physical safety of a junior member when visiting the club’s premises, the club must also ensure that there is nothing on its web site which could harm a child, directly or indirectly. The club is legally and morally responsible for the content of its web site. Key risks to guard against are:
- abusive or inappropriate content (photos, video or text) on the site itself or on linked sites (including adverts, and other sponsored links)
- disclosing personal information about a child to people accessing the website. This means name, address and so on – it does not preclude anonymous pictures of children being featured when engaged in rugby or other activities (see below).
- Any content that may be construed as bullying or intimidatory e.g. implying participation in an event is mandatory not optional, if directed to particular persons and, especially if directed at children.
If a club member is uncertain about a posting to the website, the club Media officer, Webmaster or Safeguarding Officer should be consulted before publishing material.
Only persons over the age of 18 should publish items to the web site. If Mini or Junior teams have submissions from young people, the content must be checked and approved by an adult before entry onto the web site.
3. Linked Web Sites
Before any sponsor link is accepted onto the web site, its content must be checked to ensure it is appropriate for all potential audiences. If necessary, access must be limited to adult club members only.
4. Photography and Video.
The photography consent section of the registration process must be completed by all participating members of the club. Consent will be assumed to have been granted unless club officials are advised
otherwise. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and the club will take all reasonable steps to comply with those wishes.
Team managers and the Safeguarding team must be advised if consent is not granted. Once Team managers are aware that a member of their squad should not be included in photographs/videos they must take all reasonable steps to comply with that instruction. Reasonable steps may include advising the parents of the squad and any opposition team officials but the ultimate responsibility must lay with the parent/carer who must supervise their child at all times and remove them from situations that they are not comfortable with. Care must be taken not to inadvertently identify those individuals when applying this process.
Any photography must concentrate on team images with children participating in the sport and not individual players.
Children must not be identified on any images.
Photographs must not be taken in the changing rooms under any circumstances.
The team manager and the safeguarding officer are available should parents want to discuss individual concerns or needs.
Festivals
Team managers must establish the photography policy of any festival organisers before attending.
The policy must be disseminated to all parents before they agree to their children attending the festival.
Festival organisers must have a photography policy in place and they must ensure that all participating clubs are aware of the policy.
5. Photos and Video of Children
There is a risk when posting an image on the web site that the image could be taken and adapted for an inappropriate use. Images of children should be chosen with care to avoid this where practicable.
Where possible, images should be uploaded so they cannot be easily downloaded and altered.
6. Mobile and on-line Communication with children
This is a rapidly changing technology. The recommended method of communication is group text, group email or group message through the official club website/Facebook. Any communication with
team members MUST be directed/copied to their parent/guardian. Direct communication with individual children MUST be avoided on safeguarding grounds. Squad managers should treat as confidential all e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers; lists should not be widely circulated and children and young people’s information in the member area should be securely protected.
7. Social Networking Sites related to the club
This is another area where new platforms are appearing regularly. Currently Facebook and Twitter are used by many club members for social and other communication. No club member may initiate a social media outlet that is directly linked and intended to be used by TOWCESTRIANS RFC members without the express permission of the Club Senior Rugby Committee or, if related to Mini & Junior Rugby, the M&J Committee. Administrators of Facebook pages, Twitter addresses and any social
media, which are clearly linked to TOWCESTRIANS RFC, must ensure that the content is appropriate to the audience that could access the material. As with the web site, the club is legally and morally
responsible for the content of its social media use, whether that be the official sites or any site using the TOWCESTRIANS club name Key risks to guard against are:
- abusive or inappropriate content (photos, video or text)
- any content that may be construed as bullying or intimidatory e.g. implying participation in an event is mandatory not optional, if directed to particular persons and, especially if directed at children or vulnerable adults.
Any issues or concern regarding social media content should be referred to the club Media officer,Senior Rugby Section Chair or officials, Chair of the Mini & Junior section or the Safeguarding officer.
Any club member who has been given permission to manage a social media outlet who refuses to act on instructions of the Club Management regarding inappropriate content will have their permission to manage the site revoked and, if necessary, the club will initiate closure of the social media outlet.
Because on-line communication is a rapidly developing area, this Policy will be kept under regular review.
The Club Management Committee reserves the right to take decisions regarding matters related to social media not currently included in the Policy if there are issues that affect the public image and reputation of the club.
Policy author: Club Safeguarding Officer
Approved by the TOWCESTRIANS RFC Senior and Mini & Junior section committees Senior section Chairman Mini & Junior Section Chairman
Date.
To be reviewed annually or as required
Safeguarding Toolkit.
The RFU positively encourages parents and spectators to take photographs of participants involved in rugby union to celebrate the ethos and spirit of the sport Use of the club’s web site and social media outlets should be in accordance with the Code of Rugby and the Core Values of TEAMWORK, DISCIPLINE, SPORTSMANSHIP, RESPECT, ENJOYMENT
Club members who willfully ignore this Policy may be considered for discipline if the circumstances are considered to have brought the club into disrepute.
1. General Principles
The club’s website and other internet media (Facebook pages and others) are an integral part of the daily operation of the club. They are a widely available and flexible way to communicate with club members and anyone interested in joining the club. When used responsibly and with care, they are a safe and effective way to communicate with all parts of the club, both children and adults. Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict the publication of social news, celebrate success of club teams and members and inform club members and the general public of the club’s activities that are appropriate to the audience who can access the information.
2. The Club Website
In the same way that the club has responsibility for the physical safety of a junior member when visiting the club’s premises, the club must also ensure that there is nothing on its web site which could harm a child, directly or indirectly. The club is legally and morally responsible for the content of its web site. Key risks to guard against are:
- abusive or inappropriate content (photos, video or text) on the site itself or on linked sites (including adverts, and other sponsored links)
- disclosing personal information about a child to people accessing the website. This means name, address and so on – it does not preclude anonymous pictures of children being featured when engaged in rugby or other activities (see below).
- Any content that may be construed as bullying or intimidatory e.g. implying participation in an event is mandatory not optional, if directed to particular persons and, especially if directed at children.
If a club member is uncertain about a posting to the website, the club Media officer, Webmaster or Safeguarding Officer should be consulted before publishing material.
Only persons over the age of 18 should publish items to the web site. If Mini or Junior teams have submissions from young people, the content must be checked and approved by an adult before entry onto the web site.
3. Linked Web Sites
Before any sponsor link is accepted onto the web site, its content must be checked to ensure it is appropriate for all potential audiences. If necessary, access must be limited to adult club members only.
4. Photography and Video.
The photography consent section of the registration process must be completed by all participating members of the club. Consent will be assumed to have been granted unless club officials are advised
otherwise. Consent can be withdrawn at any time and the club will take all reasonable steps to comply with those wishes.
Team managers and the Safeguarding team must be advised if consent is not granted. Once Team managers are aware that a member of their squad should not be included in photographs/videos they must take all reasonable steps to comply with that instruction. Reasonable steps may include advising the parents of the squad and any opposition team officials but the ultimate responsibility must lay with the parent/carer who must supervise their child at all times and remove them from situations that they are not comfortable with. Care must be taken not to inadvertently identify those individuals when applying this process.
Any photography must concentrate on team images with children participating in the sport and not individual players.
Children must not be identified on any images.
Photographs must not be taken in the changing rooms under any circumstances.
The team manager and the safeguarding officer are available should parents want to discuss individual concerns or needs.
Festivals
Team managers must establish the photography policy of any festival organisers before attending.
The policy must be disseminated to all parents before they agree to their children attending the festival.
Festival organisers must have a photography policy in place and they must ensure that all participating clubs are aware of the policy.
5. Photos and Video of Children
There is a risk when posting an image on the web site that the image could be taken and adapted for an inappropriate use. Images of children should be chosen with care to avoid this where practicable.
Where possible, images should be uploaded so they cannot be easily downloaded and altered.
6. Mobile and on-line Communication with children
This is a rapidly changing technology. The recommended method of communication is group text, group email or group message through the official club website/Facebook. Any communication with
team members MUST be directed/copied to their parent/guardian. Direct communication with individual children MUST be avoided on safeguarding grounds. Squad managers should treat as confidential all e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers; lists should not be widely circulated and children and young people’s information in the member area should be securely protected.
7. Social Networking Sites related to the club
This is another area where new platforms are appearing regularly. Currently Facebook and Twitter are used by many club members for social and other communication. No club member may initiate a social media outlet that is directly linked and intended to be used by TOWCESTRIANS RFC members without the express permission of the Club Senior Rugby Committee or, if related to Mini & Junior Rugby, the M&J Committee. Administrators of Facebook pages, Twitter addresses and any social
media, which are clearly linked to TOWCESTRIANS RFC, must ensure that the content is appropriate to the audience that could access the material. As with the web site, the club is legally and morally
responsible for the content of its social media use, whether that be the official sites or any site using the TOWCESTRIANS club name Key risks to guard against are:
- abusive or inappropriate content (photos, video or text)
- any content that may be construed as bullying or intimidatory e.g. implying participation in an event is mandatory not optional, if directed to particular persons and, especially if directed at children or vulnerable adults.
Any issues or concern regarding social media content should be referred to the club Media officer,Senior Rugby Section Chair or officials, Chair of the Mini & Junior section or the Safeguarding officer.
Any club member who has been given permission to manage a social media outlet who refuses to act on instructions of the Club Management regarding inappropriate content will have their permission to manage the site revoked and, if necessary, the club will initiate closure of the social media outlet.
Because on-line communication is a rapidly developing area, this Policy will be kept under regular review.
The Club Management Committee reserves the right to take decisions regarding matters related to social media not currently included in the Policy if there are issues that affect the public image and reputation of the club.
Policy author: Club Safeguarding Officer
Approved by the TOWCESTRIANS RFC Senior and Mini & Junior section committees Senior section Chairman Mini & Junior Section Chairman
Date.
To be reviewed annually or as required