Ladywell Community 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 adultswho 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

Support to the parents/guardians
• parents or guardians will be advised on the club’s bullying policy and practice
• any experience of bullying behaviour will be discussed with the child’s parents or guardians
• parents will be consulted on action to be taken (for both victim and bully) and we’ll agree on these
actions together
• information and advice on coping with bullying will be made available
• support will be offered to parents, including information from other agencies or support lines

Useful contacts
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
Tennis Scotland Safeguarding Lead 01314441984
(Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
LTA Safe and Inclusive Team 0208487000/
safeandinclusive@lta.org.uk(Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Parentline Scotland 08000282233
Childline 0800 1111 / www.childline.org.uk
Kidscape www.kidscape.org.uk
Anti-Bullying Alliance www.antibullyingalliance.org