Portslade Bowls Club (PBC) Social Media Policy
Social Media refers to those interactive media technologies which permit users to create & share content; or participate in networking. For example: blog sites, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, X (formally Twitter), YouTube or any other similar platform.
This policy’s purpose is to emphasize and clarify the Club’s advice to social media users. It seeks a balance between maximizing the benefits whilst mitigating the potential risks. PBC wants its members to feel enabled to participate, yet being mindful of their responsibilities and obligations. PBC seeks to establish a culture of openness, trust and integrity when using social media sites.
Bowls England (BE) believes that Social Media does offer benefits and can be a valuable tool for keeping club members informed as well as raising the profile of bowls to a broader audience. But BE’s affiliated Clubs must balance the advantages with the need to protect the interests of their members and the sport of bowls. Social Media can facilitate quick and efficient information sharing. More-over posting images etc may increase the visibility of bowls to a wider public audience which in turn BE say, could lead to some new revenue opportunities for marketing and sponsorship.
Social Media does present some risks once the content is in the public domain and if widely distributed beyond the original intended audience. Once posted, published information cannot be fully retracted. Where possible, privacy settings on social media platforms may be set to limit access. You should also be cautious about disclosing your personal details since potential risks include theft of your personal information & other criminal activity. Also beware of sexual grooming messages. PBC requires its members not to publish any content which could bring ‘Bowls’ into disrepute.
The Childrens’ Act defines a person under 18 years as a child. Parents / Guardians must make appropriate arrangements for those under 18s re the receipt of text & email or Whats App messages etc. (An acceptable compromise for those over 14yrs. may be by copying parents into messages.)
The Club requires its members to respect copyright and fair-use issues by giving proper credit for work, ensuring that they have the right to use the content before pasting it on-line. Members must maintain confidentiality when sharing information and follow data protection laws. Members must follow the terms and guidelines of the respective social media platform.
Members are advised that;
1) If any offending material is posted, Bowls England or Portslade Bowls Club will request its immediate removal and may consequently take further appropriate disciplinary action.
2) Portslade Bowls Club will not be using social media as a substitute for the more usual formal channels, ie when for instance, announcing or providing information for a meeting.
3) Our expectations for Club Members are that they will refrain from posting unacceptable comments when using social media.
Examples being but which are not limited to are:
Profane, obscene & sexual or abusive language / images,
Discriminatory content based on race, gender, sexual orientation or disability,
Defamatory, derogatory or libelous comments. Offensive & disrespectful content,
Posts that create an intimidating, bullying or harassment environment.
Any statement which cannot be verified.
Sport is by definition competitive and at times can bring unwelcome sporting or social opinions – possibly about a rival person or club and these can sometimes spill onto social media. Members must ensure that nothing they post would cause personal distress to others; or be seen as inappropriate for children. This may include photographs / videos where an individual can be identified. Their consent should to be obtained before posting any such personal information online. This is a definite requirement for all content referring to club members under-18s.
Members are asked to make their contributions clear as to whether they are representing the club online or if they are speaking personally. Members must not disclose any sensitive or private information. Protect confidential, private or sensitive information. Please ensure that all the information you share is accurate and up-to-date. Any errors must be corrected without delay.Do not post anonymously, using pseudonyms or false screen names. Be transparent and honest. It is critical that you comply with the laws governing copyright in relation to material owned by others. Always attribute such work to the original author/source and give a link to the source if available.
HMRC reminds CASCs that the Government now has a dedicated team using advanced technology which actively monitors social media for any anti-social opinions. PBC Ltd. as a CASC has a lot to lose should we be held responsible for the actions of an individual club member. Members are asked to bring inappropriate or suspected misconduct messages to the attention of the Safeguarding Officer.
This Social Media Policy Statement is a compliant requirement for PBC having HMRC’s CASC status.
Re: PBC’s ‘Facebook’ usage:-
“If you wouldn’t put it on the club notice board then it doesn’t belong on the club’s social media pages”.
The Bowls Club has two Facebook sites; the usage rules may be seen using the links shown below. PBC Ltd wishes to keep the promotion of the bowls club separate from the more informal site staying in touch with each other. One site is private, just for club members to communicate with each other regarding club news and activities. The second site may inform the public of the club’s activities.
Portslade BC’s rules for those using the members’ only site:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/232138941978890/about
Facebook’s Privacy Policy covering both sites:
https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/?entry_point=comet_dropdown
You must always follow the terms & conditions for those third-party sites which you participate on.
John Green, Company Secretary, June 2025
