Hanbury Lawn Tennis Club

Anti-Bullying Policy

Our anti-bullying policy sets out how we feel about bullying as a club, what we’ll do to tackle it and how we’ll support children, young people and vulnerable adults who experience or display bullying behaviour.

Bullying
• all forms of bullying will be acted upon
• everybody in the club has a responsibility to work together to stop bullying
• bullying can include online as well as offline behaviour
• bullying behaviour can include:
- physically pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching etc.
- name calling, spreading rumours, persistent teasing and humiliation or the continual ignoring of others
- posting of derogatory or abusive comments, videos or images on social media
- racial, homophobic, transphobic or sexist comments, taunts or gestures
- sexual comments, suggestions or behaviour
- unwanted physical contact

Our club will:
• recognise its duty of care and responsibility to safeguard all players from harm
• promote and implement this anti-bullying policy in addition to our safeguarding policy and procedures
• ensure that bullying behaviour is not tolerated or condoned
• require all members of the club to sign up this policy
• take action to investigate and respond to any reports of bullying from children, young people and
vulnerable adults
• encourage and facilitate children, young people and vulnerable adults to play an active part in
developing and adopting a code of conduct for behaviour
• ensure that coaches are given access to information, guidance and training on bullying

Each participant, coach, volunteer or official will:
• encourage individuals to speak out about bullying behaviour
• respect every child’s need for, and right to, a play environment where safety, security, praise,
recognition and opportunity for taking responsibility are available
• respect the feelings and views of others
• recognise that everyone is important and equal, and that our differences make each of us special
and worthy of being valued
show appreciation of others by acknowledging individual qualities, contributions and progress
• ensure safety by having rules and practices carefully explained and displayed for all to see
• report incidents of bullying behaviour they see – by doing nothing you are condoning the behaviour

Supporting children and vulnerable adults
• we’ll let children and vulnerable adults know who will listen to and support them
• we’ll create an “open door” ethos where children and vulnerable adults feel confident to talk to an
adult about bullying behaviour or any other issue that affects them
• potential barriers to talking (including those associated with a child’s or vulnerable adult's disability or
impairment) will be acknowledged and addressed at the outset to enable children and vulnerable
adults to speak out
• we’ll make sure children and vulnerable adults are aware of helpline numbers
• anyone who reports an incident of bullying will be listened to carefully and reports will be taken
seriously
• any reported experience of bullying behaviour will be investigated and will involve listening carefully to all those involved
-children and vulnerable adults experiencing bullying behaviour will be supported and helped to uphold their right to play and live in a safe environment
• those who display bullying behaviour will be supported and encouraged to develop better relationships
• we’ll make sure that sanctions are proportionate and fair

safeandinclusive@lta.org.uk(Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)

Childline 0800 1111 / www.childline.org.uk
Kidscape www.kidscape.org.uk
Anti-Bullying Alliance www.antibullyingalliance.org

Anti-Bullying Policy November, 2019 – reviewed November 2020 – reviewed August 2022 -

reviewed January 2024. Next review 1.9.25