ELLISWICK LAWN TENNIS CLUB

British Tennis Diversity and Inclusion Policy

Concern Reporting Procedure

 Anyone who has concerns that they or someone else is being discriminated against or has been a victim of discriminatory language or behaviour should:

Respond	Listen carefully to what the person is telling you. Do not interrupt; keep questions to a minimum; do not promise to keep the information secret
Refer	Is someone in immediate danger? YES Call the police (999)   THEN	NO Talk to the club’s Welfare Officer in confidence, ANDREE HAXTON on 07900006526; Talk to the LTA Safe and Inclusive Tennis Team * (020 8487 7000) as soon as possible [Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm]. If the Safe and Inclusive Tennis Team is unavailable and you want advice before the next working day, call the NSPCC (0808 800 5000) or Parent Line Scotland (0800 028 2233) if your concerns is about a child. If your concern us about an adult ask them for details of your Local Authority Adult Social Care Services.   Hate crime can alternatively be reported through True Vision at www.report-it.org.uk
Record	Write an objective account of your concerns immediately using the Reporting a Concern Form found in our website Safe and Inclusive Tennis  page. Send it to the LTA Safe and Inclusive Tennis Team within 48 hours of the concern/disclosure ([email protected])   Handling a concern/disclosure can be emotionally difficult. If you would like to talk to someone after making a concern/disclosure, contact the LTA Safe and Inclusive Tennis Team by phone 020 8487 7000 or email  [email protected]

* In Wales? You can also contact the Wales Safe and Inclusive Tennis Lead (029 2046 3335). In Scotland?  You can also contact the Tennis Scotland Safe and Inclusive Tennis Lead (0131 444 4154).

(See appendix C for more details on what to do if a disclosure from a child or adult at risk is made to you)

ELLISWICK LTC DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION POLICY

 

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY: NOT RESPONDING TO DISCRIMINATORY OR UNACCEPTABLE LANGUAGE AND BEHAVIOUR IS NOT AN OPTION.

 

ELLISWICK LTC STRIVES TO ENSURE THAT:

• Tennis is diverse and inclusive (Access to membership and participation)
• Diversity is embedded in our Club’s culture and our behaviours
• We create a culture where inclusive leadership thrives
• We take a positive approach using positive action to ensure that communities and individuals are valued and able to reach their potential
• We publish accurate information re the location/accessibility of our facilities

To achieve these aims we believe that everyone involved in tennis has a vital role to play in promoting diversity and inclusion and we ask everyone to become Safe and Inclusive Champions – proactively promoting safe and inclusive tennis and taking action against all forms of discrimination.

This policy applies to all members, coaches, volunteers and other adults associated with Elliswick LTC. The commitment to diversity and inclusion is upheld by all – The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Tennis Scotland, Tennis Wales and the Tennis Foundation.

This document sets out our approach and we have developed Codes of Conduct for Members and Volunteers, Coaches and Team Captains, Parents and Carers and Players that uphold the appropriate behaviour to support a safe and inclusive environment .

This applies regardless of a person’s age, disability, gender reassignment status, sex, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status or any other background.

 

CONCERN REPORTING PROCEDURE

Anyone that has concerns that they or someone else is being discriminated against or has been the victim of discriminatory language or behaviour should:

Respond: Listen carefully to what the person is telling you. Do not interrupt; keep questions to a minimum; do not promise to keep information secret

Refer: If someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999. Alternatively, you may contact the Club’s Welfare Officer, Andree Haxton on 07900006526, County Safeguarding Officer on [email protected] for advice. You may also call the NSPCC on 0800 800 5000 or Children Services on 0300 123 4043 or Adult Services on 0300 123 4042. Hate Crime can alternatively be reported through True Vision at www.report-it.org.uk

Report: LTA Customer Support Team at https://lta.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

Record: Write and objective account of your concerns immediately and email it to the Club’s Welfare Officer at [email protected] or to [email protected] or complete the LTA Online Concern Form https://safeguarding-concern.lta.org.uk

Where there are concerns that diversity and inclusion good practice has not been followed, you are encouraged to follow the Elliswick LTC Whistleblowing Policy and:

1. Complain directly to the person or organisation and seek resolution. In the first instance, this can often resolve may disputes and concerns
2. Contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing advice line on 0800 028 0285 or the NSPCC at [email protected]
3. Seek further advice from the Equality Advisory Support Service on 0800 800 0082 or at https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/app/ask

 

 

 

Use of Terminology (See Appendix A for full glossary of terms)

We have adopted the following definitions to explain our approach to diversity and inclusion in tennis:

Discrimination – treating someone in a less favourable way and causing them harm, because of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation

Diversity – acknowledging, celebrating and respecting the differences between groups of people and between individuals. We will work to ensure that people can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to enjoy their sport without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment or abuse

Harassment – unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The focus is on the perception of the complainant not the intent of the perpetrator. Employees can complain of behaviour they find offensive even if it is not directed at them.

Inclusion – ensuring that tennis is equally accessible to any member of the community so they can be fully involved in whatever capacity they choose; and that they are supported to achieve their potential in any capacity e.g. player, employee, volunteer, coach or official. We will work to ensure that people have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, that they feel respected and valued and are not singled out, with regard to their age, disability, gender reassignment status, sex, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status or any other background.

Positive action – Elliswick LTC is committed to taking positive steps to counteract the effects of physical or cultural barriers – whether real or perceived – that restrict the opportunity for all sections of the community to participate equally or fully. We will ensure that we institute, support or contribute to appropriate measures or initiatives that enable access to tennis and participation in associated activities by people from any group that is under-represented in tennis or has difficulty accessing it and that they can do so with dignity or without being singled out.

 

SCOPE

Elliswick LTC has direct safe and inclusive responsibility for:

• Members, consultants, coaches and officials they employ;
• Volunteers, including board members and councillors they recruit;
• Events and programmes they run; and
• Ensuring all accreditation requirements are met by accredited coaches, officials and venues.

We recommend/support the development of good diversity and inclusion practice to:

• Accredited coaches, officials and venues;
• Players, parents and carers;
• Volunteers recruited by other organisations;
• Venues hired by or on our behalf;
• Club Events

This policy is in line with national legislation (See Appendix B for details of the legislation) and applicable to our County, specifically to every person and place that we have direct safe and inclusive responsibility for.

 

Related policies and procedures

• Safeguarding Policy (Including Whistleblowing)
• Transgender Policy
• Anti-Bullying Policy
• Online Safety and Communications Policy
• Safe Recruitment Policy
• Photography and Filming Best Practice Guidance
• Supervision Policy for Herts County Team Events
• Supervision Policy for Herts County Training
• Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers
• Code of Conduct for Coaches and Team Captains
• Code of Conduct for Parents and Carers
• Code of Conduct for Players
• Use of Changing Rooms and Showering Facilities Policy
• Compliments, Complaints and Disciplinary Policy

 

This Policy is reviewed every two years (or earlier if there is a change in national legislation) and recommended for approval by:

Elliswick LTC Chairperson Eric Rovick                                     Date: 11^th September 2023

Elliswick LTC Welfare Officer Andree Haxton            Date: 11^th September 2023