Boxmoor Cricket Club – Online Safety and Social Media Policy

Introduction

This policy provides guidance on how Boxmoor Cricket Club (The Club) uses the internet and social media, and the procedures for doing so. It also outlines how we expect the coaches, players and parents of the club and the children or young players to behave online.

Aims

The aims of our online safety policy are:

• to protect all children involved with our organisation and who make use of technology (such as mobiles phones, games consoles and the internet) while in our care
• to provide everyone with policy and procedure information regarding online safety and inform them how to respond to incidents
• to ensure our organisation is operating in line with our values and within the law regarding how we behave online

Understanding the online world

As part of using the internet and social media, the club will:

• understand the safety aspects – including what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour for adults and children -when using websites, social media, apps and other forms of digital communication.
• be aware that it doesn’t matter what device is being used for digital interaction, but that the same safety aspects apply whether it is a computer, mobile phone or game console.
• when using social media platforms (including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram), ensure that we adhere to relevant legislation and good practise guidelines.
• regularly review existing safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure that online safeguarding issues are fully integrated, including:
  • making sure concerns of abuse or disclosures that take place online are written into our reporting procedures
  • incorporating online bullying (‘cyberbullying’) in our anti-bullying policy
• provide training for the everyone responsible for managing our organisation’s online presence

Managing our online presence

Our online presence through our website or social media platforms will adhere to the following guidelines:

• all social media accounts will be password-protected, and at least 3 people will have access to each account and password
• the account will be monitored by a designated person, who will have been appointed by the club committee
• the designated person managing our online presence will seek advice from our designated safeguarding lead to advise on safeguarding requirements
• designated staff will remove inappropriate posts by children or staff, explaining why, and informing anyone who may be affected (as well as the parents of any children involved)
• oour account, page and event settings will be set to ‘private’ so that only invited members can see their content
• identifying details such as a child’s home address, school name or telephone number shouldn’t be posted on social media platforms
• any posts or correspondence will be consistent with our aims
• we’ll make sure children and young people are aware of who manages our social media accounts and who to contact if they have any concerns about the running of the account
• parents will be asked to give their approval for us to communicate with children through social media, or by any other means of communication
• parents will need to give permission for photographs or videos of their child to be posted on social media
• all of our accounts and email addresses will be appropriate and fit for purpose.

What we expect of our coaches and volunteers

• they should be aware of this policy and behave in accordance with it
• they should seek the advice of the designated safeguarding lead if they have any concerns about the use of the internet or social media
• they should communicate any messages they wish to send out to children to the designated staff responsible for the organisation’s online presence
• they should not communicate with children via personal accounts
• they should not ‘friend’ or ‘follow’ children or young people from personal accounts on social media
• they should make sure any content posted is accurate and appropriate, as young people may ‘follow’ them on social media
• they should not communicate with young people via personal accounts or private messages
• rather than communicating with parents through personal social media accounts, they should choose a more formal means of communication, such as face-to-face, in an email or in writing, or use an organisational account, profile or website
• at least one other person should be copied in to any emails sent to children or young people.
• they should avoid communicating with children via email or organisational social media outside of normal office hours
• emails or messages should maintain the organisations tone and be written in a professional manner, avoiding the use of emojis or symbols such as ‘kisses’ (X’s)
• any disclosure of abuse reported through social media should be dealt with in the same way as face-to-face disclosure, according to our reporting procedures.
• smartphone users should respect the private lives of others and not take or distribute picture of other people if it could invade their privacy.
• ono one must engage in ‘sexting’ or send pictures to anyone that are obscene, indecent or menacing

What we expect of children and young people

• children should be aware of this online safety policy and agree to its terms
• we expect children and young people’s behaviour online to be consistent with the guidelines set out in our policies
• children should follow the guidelines set out in our policies on all digital devices, including smart phones, tablets and consoles

Using mobile phones or other digital technology to communicate

When using mobile phones (or other devices) to communicate by voice, video or text (including texting, email and instant messaging), we’ll take the following precautions to ensure young peoples and children’s safety:

• we will avoid having children’s or young people’s personal mobile numbers and will instead seek contact through a parent or guardian.
• we’ll seek parental permission on each occasion we need to contact children or young people directly; the purpose for each contact will be clearly identified and agreed upon
• a method of accountability will be arranged, such as copies of texts also being sent to the club’s lead safeguarding officer or to parents.
• staff should have a separate phone from their personal one for any contact with parents or young people.
• texts will be used for communicating information – such as reminding children or young people about upcoming events, which kit to bring or practice timings – and not to engage in conversation
• if a young person misinterprets such communication and tries to engage a staff member in conversation, the member of staff will take the following steps:

• end the conversation or stop replying
• suggest discussing the subject further at the next practice or event
• if concerned about the child or young person, provide contact details for the club’s safeguarding lead or appropriate agencies

Using mobile phones during sports activities

So that all children can enjoy and actively take part in sports activities, we discourage the use of mobile phones during such activities. As part of this policy we will:

• make children aware of how and who to contact if there is an emergency or a change to previously agreed arrangements with the organisation
• inform parents of appropriate times they can contact children who are away at camps or away trips and discourage them from attempting contact outside of these times
• advise parents that it may not be possible to contact children during activities and provide a contact within the club or organisation who will be reachable should there be an emergency
• explain to young people how using mobile phones during activities has an impact on their safe awareness of their environment, and their level of participation and achievement

Use of other digital devices and programmes

The principles in this policy applies no matter which current or future technology is used – including computers, laptops, tablets, web enabled games consoles and smart TVs – and whether an app, programme or website is used.

If any digital devices are used as part of activities within the organisation:

• we expect children and young people to adhere to the guidelines surrounding online use and behaviour set out in our policies
• we’ll establish appropriate restrictions, more commonly known as ‘parental controls’ on any device provided to prevent misuse or harm

As an organisation, we commit to implementing this policy and addressing any concerns quickly and within these guidelines.

Further information for parents and carers on keeping children safe online

NSPCC /O2 Helpline 0808 800 5002 – www.o2.co.uk/help/nspcc/child-protection

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) – www.ceop.police.uk

Childnet – www.childnet.com

The UK Safer Internet Centre – www.saferinternet.org.uk

Bi-Annual Review Conducted March 2024