1. Safeguarding and Child protection policy

2. Code of Conduct for People working with children

3. Code of Practice for young people

4. Club equality and diversity Policy

5. Code of Practice for members

6. Accident and emergency information

1. Safeguarding and child protection policy

Lifetime Tennis Club aims to create an enjoyable environment for all juniors who wish to take part in tennis or other sport and social activities at the club.

We believe that children and young people have the right to be safe, secure and free from threat.

We believe that young people have the right to be treated with respect, and to have their concerns listened to and acted upon.

We will ensure that the club provides for the needs of junior members through specific programmes, designated facilities, and safe practice.

We have procedures in place to address poor practice, and to help any young person who appears to be at risk, or who appears to be the victim of abuse. We will offer help and support when a child or young person tells us that they are affected by these issues.

We will take steps to ensure that any club volunteers or professionals working with children are suitable to do so, through the use of references and background checks. We will ensure that all relevant people have been vetted and approved through the LTA’s DBS (formerly Criminal Record Bureau) disclosure process.

We will ensure that all of those working with children are made aware of the LTA code of conduct for people working with children in tennis, and are required to follow it.

The club has an adult member who is specifically responsible for children, young people and child protection:

This person’s name is: James Webber

They can be contacted at: Lifetime Tennis 07962277709

LTA Child Protection

T: 0208 487 7008/7116

M (24 hour): 07971 141 024

E: childprotection@lta.org.uk

www.LTA.org.uk/childprotection

2. Code of conduct for people working with children

Lifetime Tennis is committed to the following code of conduct when working with children:

1.                   Be professional and maintain the highest standards of personal behaviour at all times.

2.                   Recognise the trust placed in adults by children, and recognise the power held over children by adults. Treat this trust and this power with the highest responsibility.

3.                   Try to work in an open and accountable manner at all times. Work in view of others wherever possible, be wary of working alone and unobserved, and be willing to accept questions or criticism regarding good practice.

4.                   Expect others to work in an open and accountable manner. Question and criticise the practice of others if necessary.

5.                   Maintain a professional relationship with children. Any form of sexual relationship or activity with a child is unacceptable and could lead to disciplinary and legal action.

6.                   Not be under the influence of drink, drugs or any illegal substance.

7.                   Use appropriate and respectful forms of discipline and communication. Physical aggression, intimidation, verbal abuse and persistent shouting are not acceptable. Any form of assault (e.g. hitting, kicking, pinching, slapping) are regarded as a serious incident.

8.                   Use appropriate language. Don’t swear, and never make sexual or suggestive comments to a child. If a child makes such comments, be prepared to enforce these boundaries in your response.

9.                   Not appear to favour one child or show interest in one child more than another.

10.                Not discriminate against a child because of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity.

11.                Use physical contact with players only where necessary. If contact is necessary, (e.g. first-aid), then explain to the child what the contact is for, and change your approach if he or she appears uncomfortable.

12.                Design and use training methods and training programmes that are appropriate to the individual child.

13.                Be aware of situations that could be misunderstood or manipulated by other adults. For example, if a coach or official is alone with a child in a clubhouse, changing room or car, he or she may be vulnerable to allegations of misconduct.

14.                Be vigilant and aware of how actions can be misinterpreted by children. Actions made with good intentions can seem intrusive or intimidating to some children. Sometimes children become attracted to the adults working with them. Adults should be aware of the impact of their actions, and should sensitively address any misunderstanding.

Concern about a child’s welfare

Lifetime Tennis endeavours to:

15.                Take seriously any suspicion or allegation of abuse, or any disclosure of concern made by a child (or adult).

16.                If a concern comes to your attention, record information, including relevant details. Be sure to record opinions or feelings as such; do not record them as facts. Do not question or interview the people involved in the incident of concern.

17.                Report any concerns within the area of Child Protection (physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect or bullying), in confidence and without delay, to your club, county or LTA Child Protection Officer. If CPOs cannot be contacted and there appears to be an immediate risk, contact the police or your local social services.

18.                Never discuss an allegation or suspicion with another person, (other than the police or social services), before receiving advice from the club, county or LTA Child Protection Officer.

Lifetime Tennis Child Protection Officer

James Webber – Ph: 07962277709

LTA Child Protection

T: 0208 487 7008/7116

M (24 hour): 07971 141 024

E: childprotection@lta.org.uk

www.LTA.org.uk/childprotection

2.Lifetime Tennis Code of practice for young people

Lifetime Tennis Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its members. The club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the club should, at all times, show respect and understanding for the safety and welfare of others. Therefore, members are encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that
they may have about any aspect of the club with James Webber, managing Director.

As a junior member of Lifetime Tennis Club you are expected to abide by the following code of practice:

·             All members must play within the rules and respect officials and their decisions.

·             All members must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, cultural background, religious beliefs or sexual identity.

·             Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions, or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.

·             Members must wear suitable kit for training and match sessions, as agreed with the coach.

·             Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly.

·             Junior members are not allowed to smoke on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions.

·             Junior members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind on the club premises or whilst representing the club.

3. Lifetime Tennis Club equality policy

The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that members, non members and visiting clubs and teams are not denied access to Lifetime Tennis because of a discriminatory reason.

a)     Lifetime Tennis is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. Tennis should be enjoyed by everyone who wants to play the game.

b)     Our commitment is to eliminate discrimination by reason of gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.

c)     This policy is fully supported by the Director and management that are responsible for the implementation and review of this policy.

d)     Lifetime Tennis, in all its activities, will not discriminate or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, ability or disability. The Lifetime Tennis will ensure that it treats its employees, members, non-members and visiting clubs and teams fairly and with respect and will ensure that all members of the community have access to and have opportunities to take part in, and enjoy, its programmes of activities, competitions and events.

e)     Lifetime Tennis will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual (which the Lifetime Tennis regards as forms of discrimination). This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal. Lifetime Tennis will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs.

f)       Lifetime Tennis commits itself to the immediate investigation of any complaints of discrimination on the above grounds, once they are brought to its attention. Complaints will be dealt with in accordance with its complaints policy and, where such a complaint is upheld, the LTC may impose such sanction as it considers appropriate and proportionate to discriminatory behaviour.

g)     Lifetime Tennis is committed to taking positive action where inequalities exist and the development of a programme of on-going training and awareness in order to promote the eradication of discrimination and to promote equality and diversity in tennis.

h)     Lifetime Tennis is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and employees and requires all members and employees to abide by and adhere to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation, including the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Age Discrimination Act 2006 as well as any amendments to these acts and any new legislation.

Lifetime Tennis Club complaints procedure

In the event that any employee, member, visitor or visiting team feels that he, she or it has suffered discrimination or harassment in any way or that the club policies, rules or code of conduct have been broken they should follow the procedures below.

1.         The Complainant should report the matter in writing to the Club or Managing Director, James Webber. The report should include:

(a)             details of what occurred;

(b)             details ofwhen and where the occurrence took place;

(c)             any witness details and copies of any witness statements;

(d)             names of any others who have been treated in a similar way (provided that those people consent to their names being disclosed);

(e)             details of any former complaints made about the incident, including the date and to whom such complaint was made; and

(f)               an indication as to thedesired outcome.

2.         If the person accused of discriminatory behaviour is an employee of the Club, the Club will regard the incident as a disciplinary issue and will follow any disciplinary procedure set out for employees or (if none exists) the statutory disciplinary procedure.

3          If the person accused of discriminatory behaviour is a non-employee of the Club, the Club’s management committee or representatives of the committee:

3.1             will request that both parties to the complaint submit written evidence regarding the incident(s);

3.2             may decide (at its sole discretion) to uphold or dismiss the complaint without holding a hearing;

3.3             may (at its sole discretion) hold a hearing (whether or not such a hearing is requested by either party) at which both parties will be entitled to attend and present their case;

3.4             will have the power to impose any one or more of the following sanctions on any person found to be in breach of any Club policy, (including the Equality Policy):

(a)   warn as to future conduct;

(b)   suspend from membership;

(c)   remove from membership;

(d)   exclude a non-member from the Club, either temporarily or permanently; and

(e)   turn down a non-member’s current and/or future membership applications.

3.5       will provide both parties with written reasons for its decision to uphold or dismiss the complaint within one (1) calendar month of such decision being made.

3.5       Either party may appeal a decision of the committee to the County Association (including a decision not to hold a hearing) by writing to the