Safe to Play at Wells Tennis Club
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
Wells Tennis Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of all children, young people (under 18) and adults at risk. We aim to provide a safe, positive, inclusive and welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy tennis free from discrimination, bullying, abuse, neglect, harassment or harm.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we encourage all members, parents, carers, coaches, volunteers and visitors to raise any concerns about welfare or wellbeing.
Need Help or Have a Concern?
Hello, I’m Brendan Ring and I have been appointed as Welfare Officer for the Wells Tennis Club Committee. I joined the club a couple of years ago and my main responsibilities are Safeguarding, Inclusion and Diversity. Please let me know if I can help with any forthcoming activities. I hope to meet many of you over the coming months.
If you have any concerns about the welfare, wellbeing or safety of a child, young person or adult at risk connected with Wells Tennis Club, please contact Brendan in confidence.
Isaac helps provide a friendly and approachable point of contact for younger members and supports the club in promoting a safe and inclusive environment.
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you have a safeguarding concern about the welfare or wellbeing of a child, young person or adult at risk, please contact the Club Welfare Officer as soon as possible. If the Welfare Officer is unavailable, or if your concern involves them directly, concerns should be reported to the LTA Safeguarding Team:
🔗 https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk/
Emergency Situations
If a child or adult is in immediate danger, or requires urgent medical attention, always contact the emergency services by dialling:
📞 999
Safeguarding Policy Statement
Purpose and Scope
Wells Tennis Club recognises its moral and legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people (anyone under the age of 18) and adults at risk.
Our safeguarding practices reflect current legislation, government guidance and the safeguarding standards set by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). We believe that everyone involved in tennis has the right to feel safe, valued, listened to and respected at all times.
At Wells Tennis Club, we are committed to:
- Promoting the safety, wellbeing and welfare of all children and adults at risk.
- Creating an inclusive and supportive club culture for players, parents, coaches, volunteers and visitors.
- Ensuring safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
- Encouraging an environment where concerns can be raised openly and confidently.
- Responding appropriately and effectively to safeguarding concerns or disclosures.
Copies of our full safeguarding policies and supporting documents can be found below.
Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to everyone involved with Wells Tennis Club, including:
- Members
- Players
- Parents and carers
- Coaches and officials
- Volunteers and staff
- Spectators and visitors
- Anyone attending or participating in club activities, competitions, coaching sessions, camps or social events
We Recognise That
- The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount.
- Everyone has the right to participate in tennis in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment.
- Safeguarding is the responsibility of all individuals involved in the club.
- Working in partnership with parents, carers, children and adults at risk is essential in promoting welfare and wellbeing.
- All people, regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background or ability, have an equal right to protection from harm and abuse.
- Some individuals may be more vulnerable to abuse, including disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, those from ethnic minority communities and those experiencing mental health challenges, and may require additional support and safeguarding measures.
- Online safety and respectful behaviour, both in person and online, are essential parts of safeguarding in modern sport environments.
We Will Seek to Keep Children and Adults at Risk Safe By
- Promoting and prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all members and participants.
- Appointing a trained Welfare Officer responsible for safeguarding and welfare matters within the club.
- Ensuring all coaches, volunteers and staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities and receive appropriate safeguarding training and support.
- Safely recruiting and selecting coaches, volunteers and staff, including DBS checks where appropriate.
- Creating an inclusive environment where diversity is respected and everyone feels welcome and valued.
- Taking all safeguarding concerns seriously and responding promptly, appropriately and confidentially.
- Maintaining accurate, secure and confidential safeguarding records in line with data protection requirements.
- Encouraging a positive safeguarding culture where people feel confident to report concerns, poor practice or inappropriate behaviour.
- Having clear reporting, complaints and whistleblowing procedures in place.
- Promoting good conduct, respectful behaviour and positive relationships across all club activities.
- Ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed during coaching sessions, competitions, camps, trips, transport arrangements, changing facilities, social events and online or social media activity.
- Supporting the mental wellbeing of players and promoting healthy, respectful participation in sport.
- Reviewing safeguarding practices regularly to ensure they remain effective, inclusive and up to date with current guidance and legislation.
Wells Tennis Club is committed to ensuring that tennis remains a safe, enjoyable and accessible sport for everyone in our community.
Key Policies and Club Documents
- Code of Conduct and Playing Like a Champion at Wells Tennis Club
- Safeguarding Statement 2023
- WTC Safeguarding Policy 2025
- WTC British Tennis Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- LTA – What’s the Score? Safe and Inclusive Tennis
- Wells Tennis Club Privacy Policy
Additional Safeguarding Support
For further safeguarding guidance and local safeguarding resources, please visit:
Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership (SSCP)
🔗 https://somersetsafeguardingchildren.org.uk/
GDPR and Privacy Information
What We Ask From Members Regarding Contact Details
To enable Wells Tennis Club to organise and run club activities and events such as:
- League matches
- Singles boxes
- Club championships
- Playing groups (e.g. Fridays and Saturdays)
- Internal tournaments
- Ladies’ Tuesday evenings
- Other club activities and events
some member details, including name, email address and telephone number, may need to be shared with relevant organisers.
By providing your details to a group or event organiser, you acknowledge that other members participating in the same activity may also receive those details where necessary for the smooth running of the activity (for example, weather-related changes or injury-related communications).
Members must only use this information for club-related purposes and must never pass another member’s personal information outside the club without permission.
Managing Your Preferences
You can update your communication preferences at any time by contacting:
Arabella Browne
Membership Secretary
✉️ wellstennismembership@gmail.com
This includes opting out of receiving:
- Membership information and forms
- Competition entry forms and league information
- Club newsletters and updates
- General club information
- Coaching information
- Photographs or event reports used for tennis-related publicity
Unsubscribing
To remove yourself from the club database, please email:
✉️ wellstennismembership@gmail.com
stating that you wish to unsubscribe.
You can also use the “Unsubscribe” link included at the bottom of club emails.
Wells Tennis Club is committed to ensuring that tennis remains safe, welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.