The internet is a great tool to help everyone, including children and adults at risk to communicate and learn, but it also exposes them to the risk of harm. 

Some of the key risks to children and adults at risk include: 

  • Giving out confidential information, such as full name, address, school, details about their personal lives and/or passwords. Once on the internet, this is no longer confidential and can be widely shared
  • Posting inappropriate images of themselves or others, such as sexually suggestive images, for example being partially clothed; and/or sleeping.
  • Being coerced into posting inappropriate images or information about themselves online
  • Making ‘friends’ with people they do not know – and who may or may not be who they say they are. Sometimes adults can pretend to be children online so that they build a relationship with a child or adult at risk
  • Online bullying, including name calling, threats, teasing and/or discriminatory remarks
  • Responding to images or texts in an inappropriate manner, such as with threats. This can trigger online and face-to-face violence
  • (Involuntary) access to age inappropriate content, such as pornography or violent videos

Online conduct

The constitution of Exmouth Gig Club states disciplinary action can be taken against any member displaying “behaviour not becoming of a club member” – this extends to online and digital messaging.

In addition to this the committee reserves the right to the instant dismissal of a member (without following the fully disciplinary procedure) if they post any material on club related social media or the message board that is:

  • Racist
  • Derogatory
  • Sexist
  • Discriminatory
  • Abusive
  • Homophobic
  • Offensive
  • of a bullying nature. 

Disciplinary action may also be started against members who post inappropriate material elsewhere even if it is NOT directly related to the club. It is not acceptable behaviour and the club will take a hard stance against cyber bullying.

Photography

The safety of the child/adult at risk is paramount and, to ensure this, we need to create safe and secure environments in which they can train, compete and socialise. Although rare, there are risks of abuse arising from the misuse of imagery. 

All members must comply with the following guidelines. 

  • No photograph, video clip or other image of a child/adult at risk involved in any aspect of rowing should be published, whether in print or electronically, e.g. on a website or social media, without written, informed consent from the parent/carer/guardian of the child/adult at risk.
  • No personal information, other than their name and their club, should accompany published images (particular provisions apply in connection to photography at public events such as competitions). 
  • While some editing of images is acceptable, images taken of children/adults at risk involved in rowing should not be modified, merged or manipulated in a way that might cause embarrassment or distress to the subject or cause the final image to be inappropriate.
  • Care must be taken to ensure that images of children/adults at risk who are under a court order are not recorded or published except in compliance with the order, which could require permission from the parents/carers or appropriate authorities. 

U18s are required to have a parent/carer/guardian to consent to the taking of images for training or media purposes (done via the U18s membership application form). Any images intended for print or electronic distribution must be crossed checked against the consent list. 

If required, images may be adapted to allow for group shots where not all those photographed have consent forms (e.g. pixilation or cropping).