Child Protection Policy

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 FJ Tennis Statement on Photographs of Children:

The purpose of this policy statement is to:

1. Protect children and young people who take part in FJ Tennis lessons, events and activities, specifically those where photographs and videos may be taken.
2. Set out the overarching principles that guide our approach to photographs/videos being taken of children during our lessons, events and activities.
3. To ensure that we operate in line with our values and within the law when creating, using and sharing images of children.

This policy statement applies to all staff, volunteers and other adults associated with FJ Tennis.

Introduction

In accordance with our child protection policy, we will not permit photographs, video or other images of children to be taken without parents consent. By agreeing to this policy, the parent agrees that their child may be photographed.

FJ Tennis will take all steps to ensure that images that have been taken with parents consent are used solely for the purposes for which they are intended. If you become aware that these images are being used inappropriately, please inform us immediately by emailing fj.tennis1@gmail.com

We believe that:

1. Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
2. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and to take, share and use images of children safely.

We recognise that:

Sharing photographs and films of our lessons and activities can help us celebrate the successes and achievements of our children, provide a record of our activities and raise awareness for FJ Tennis and the benefits of young children participating in sporting activities.

The welfare of the children taking part in our lessons and activities is paramount.

Children, their parents and carers have a right to decide whether their images are taken and how these may be used, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

Consent to take images of children is only meaningful when children, their parents and carers understand how the images will be used and stored, and are fully aware of the potential risks associated with the use and distribution of these images.

There are potential risks associated with sharing images of children online.

We will seek to keep children safe by:

1. Requesting parents to consent to photo’s being taken of their child. By purchasing a product on the website and /Or the Product the Parent consents, unless consent is withdrawn by communicating in writing to FJ Tennis.
2. Always explaining what images will be used for, how they will be stored and what potential risks are associated with sharing images of young children.
3. Making it clear that if a child or their family withdraw consent for an image to be shared, it may not be possible to delete images that have already been shared or published.
4. Never publishing personal information about individual children and disguising any identifying information (for example the name of their school or a school uniform with a logo).
5. Making sure children, their parents and carers understand how images of children will be securely stored and for how long (including how we will control access to the images and their associated information).
6. Reducing the risk of images being copied and used inappropriately by only using images of children in appropriate clothing and using images that positively reflect young people’s involvement in the activity.

Photography and/or filming FJ Tennis Use

Children, parents and carers must also be made aware that photography and filming is part of the lesson or programme and give written consent.

If we hire a photographer for one of our events, we will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• Providing the photographer with a clear brief about appropriate content and behaviour.
• Ensuring the photographer wears identification at all times.
• Informing children, their parents and carers that a photographer will be at the event and ensuring they give written consent to images which feature their child being taken and shared.
• Not allowing the photographer to have unsupervised access to children.
• Not allowing the photographer to carry out sessions outside the event or at a child’s home.
• Reporting concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography following our child protection procedures.

If consent to take photographs is not given

If children, parents and/or carers do not consent to photographs being taken, we will respect their wishes. We will agree in advance how they would like to be identified so the photographer knows not to take pictures of them, and ensure this is done in a way that does not single out the child or make them feel isolated.

We will never exclude a child from an activity because we do not have consent to take their photograph. Should you wish to not consent to the photographs being taken please write an email to fj.tennis1@gmail.com to confirm that you have not consent or tick the box on your checkout page.

Storing images

We will store photographs and videos of children securely, in accordance with our safeguarding policy and data protection law.

We will keep hard copies of images in a locked drawer and electronic images in a protected folder with restricted access. Images will be stored for a period of 15 years.

We will never store images of children on unencrypted portable equipment such as laptops, memory sticks and mobile phones.

FJ Tennis does not permit staff and volunteers to using any personal equipment to take photos and recordings of children. Only cameras or devices belonging to FJ Tennis will be used.

Guidance for Photographing and Filming by Parents and Guardians

It’s important that children and young people feel happy with their achievements and have photographs and films of their special moments.

Family and friends also want to be able to share the successes of their children when they have been part of a special event or activity.

However, some children, parents or carers may not be comfortable with images of themselves or their children being shared. For example:

• If a child and/or their family have experienced abuse they may worry about the perpetrator tracing them online.
• Children who choose not to have contact with some members of their family may decide to minimise their online presence.
• Families may have religious or cultural reasons for choosing not to be photographed.

It’s important for parents and guardians to be aware of child protection and safeguarding issues when taking photos of or filming children and young people. The potential for misuse of images can be reduced if organisations are aware of the potential dangers and put appropriate measures in place.

Parents and guardians should also consider the data protection implications of making, using and storing images of children and young people for your organisation’s use.

We’ve put together this guidance to help you think about and mitigate the risks involved with making and sharing images of children.