Policies
Wellow Valley Tennis has adopted the following Policies which are also available to view in the Wellow Sports Pavilion:
1. Safeguarding Policy
2. Equality & Diversity Policy
3. Safeguarding Whistleblowing Policy
4. Code of conduct
5. Health and Safety Risk Assessment - copy available in the Pavilion
6. Fire Safety Risk Assessment - copy available in the Pavilion
1. Safeguarding Policy
Wellow Valley Tennis is committed to providing a safe and secure playing environment for all players.
We hold that incidents of physical, emotional or psychological abuse, bullying or racism have no place in the Club and any perpetrators may be banned for a period as determined by the Club Committee.
The Club has a volunteer Welfare Officer, whose contact details are published on the club website.
The Welfare Officer has attended the required LTA course for Safeguarding and has a current DBS (police check) certificate.
If any member feels or has felt insecure in any way whilst playing at the club then the member is encouraged to make contact with the Welfare Officer as soon as possible after the event.
Similarly if any member of the club has it brought to their attention that a breach of trust or any abuse may have occurred, then the member is encourage to report it to the Welfare Officer.
In the first instance the Committee, taking advice from the Welfare Officer, may choose to investigate the possible issue.
If there is ample evidence to support a claim of safeguarding risk, then the Club will bring this to the attention of the authorities.
April 2019
2. Equality and Diversity Policy
Aims
The Club aims to help the membership to have an atmosphere of friendship, respect and care for each other. In particular, we aim to treat every member equally, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation
Diversity
Our Club belongs to all members. We aim to organise a range of events and activities to suit the interests and meet the needs of a wide variety of people.
For example, we hold events which can be attended by all members and in which all members can take part if they so wish.
Inclusion and respect
Every member of the Club should be made to feel equally welcome and included at all Club events. Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic or otherwise offensive and inflammatory remarks and behaviour are not acceptable. These constitute harassment, and have no place in the Club.
Dealing with discrimination and harassment
If any member feels they have been discriminated against by the Club or harassed at a Club event they should raise this with the Committee. Contact details on the Club website.
The Committee will investigate the complaint, listening to all members involved. (If the complaint is against a committee member, that member will not be part of conducting the investigation).
If the complaint is against a particular individual, this person will have the opportunity to express their point of view, accompanied by a friend. The person making the complaint will also have this opportunity.
If the complaint is against the Club as a whole, the Committee must work to ensure that such discrimination is not repeated in the future, and must inform the members of how they propose to do this.
Any decision to exclude a person from the Club due to discriminatory or harassing behaviour will be made with reference to the Club’s Constitution. The Club will support people who feel they have been harassed or discriminated against, and will not victimise or treat them less well because they have raised this.
This Policy will be reviewed every two years.
April 2019
3. Wellow Valley Tennis Safeguarding Whistle Blowing Policy
Safeguarding children and adults at risk requires everyone to be committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability. As a club, we are committed to encouraging and maintaining a culture where people feel able to raise a genuine safeguarding concern and are confident that it will be taken seriously.
What is whistle blowing?
In the context of safeguarding, “whistle blowing” is when someone raises a concern about the well-being of a child or an adult at risk.
A whistle blower may be:
- a player
- a volunteer
- a coach
- other member of staff
- an official
- a parent
- a member of the public
How to raise a concern about a child or an adult at risk at the club
If a child or an adult at risk is in immediate danger or risk of harm, the police should be contacted by calling 999.
Where a child or an adult at risk is not in immediate danger, any concerns about their well-being should be made without delay to the Club Welfare Officer (Debbie Clarkson Tel: 07967 109411). The Club Welfare Officer will pass the details of the concern on to the LTA Safeguarding Team at the earliest opportunity and the relevant local authority and the police will be contacted, where appropriate.
If, however, the whistle blower does not feel comfortable raising a concern with the Club Welfare Officer, the whistle blower should contact the LTA Safeguarding Team directly on 020 8487 7000, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
Information to include when raising a concern
The whistle blower should provide as much information as possible regarding the incident or circumstance which has given rise to the concern, including:
- their name and contact details (unless they wish to remain anonymous);
- names of individuals involved;
- date, time and location of incident/circumstance; and
- whether any witnesses were present.
What happens next?
All concerns raised by a whistle blower about the well-being of a child or an adult at risk will be taken seriously and every effort will be made to deal with each concern fairly, quickly and proportionately.
If the whistle blower does not believe that the concern has been dealt with appropriately and wishes to speak to someone outside the club or the LTA Safeguarding Team, the NSPCC Whistleblowing advice line should be contacted on 0800 028 0285 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk.
Support
The club will not tolerate any harassment, victimisation or unfair treatment of, and will take appropriate action to protect, whistle blowers when they raise a concern in good faith.
4. Code of Conduct
Wellow Valley Tennis aims to provide a venue that is safe, inclusive and has a positive atmosphere so that everyone is able to enjoy playing tennis.
Please help us support this aim.
Tennis Rules and Tennis Etiquette
• The rules of tennis are how to play the game.
• The etiquette is how to conduct yourself on court.
Good behaviour is expected at all times whether they are a club member or visiting the club.
Please, respect all members, visitors and spectators including but not limited to the following protected characteristics:
● age
● gender
● gender reassignment
● sexual orientation
● race
● nationality
● ethnic origin
● religion or belief
● ability or disability
We ask all members and visitors to:
• encourage fair and safe play
• use respectful language and exercise good behaviour in and around the court area
• discourage deliberate hitting a ball hard at another player from close range in social tennis
• discourage disputes over calls
• wear suitable attire including non-marking trainers which have a good grip and are clear of mud/debris
• players who are considered to be improperly attired may be asked to leave the court.
• wait until a suitable break in play to walk behind a court
• wait until a suitable break in play to enter or leave a court
• clear any debris from the courts before playing (e.g. fallen leaves)
• leave the courts as you would hope to find them
• ensure that court gates are closed before leaving
• switch mobile phones to silent
• talk quietly when play is in progress
We ask that children under the age of 13 years using the courts are supervised by a parent/responsible adult at all times. This is to ensure the safety of the child and is in line with LTA good practice.
ENJOY YOUR GAME!
The ‘Committee’ has the right to terminate the membership of any member for the infringement of the rules and regulations set out above or for any conduct which in the Committee’s opinion is or might be prejudicial to the welfare of the proper conduct of the Club.
14 /09 /021 To be reviewed 09/2022