Practical Policies for Community Settings
Creating proportionate, workable policies without overwhelming your volunteers.
Communication with young members
Establish clear rules about how adults in your organisation communicate with young members online. Best practice is to avoid one-to-one private messaging between adults and children. Use group channels where possible, copy in a second adult, and keep all communication visible. If your group uses WhatsApp, Facebook, or similar platforms, create specific guidelines about their use.
Key takeaway
Avoid one-to-one private messaging between adults and children — keep all communication visible and accountable.
Photography and social media
If your group photographs or films young people for social media or publicity, you need written consent from parents. Be clear about where images will be used. Never share images that identify a child by name alongside their photo without explicit consent. Some children may be looked after, in care, or fleeing domestic abuse — sharing their image could put them at risk.
Key takeaway
Always obtain written parental consent before photographing young people, and never pair a child's name with their image publicly without permission.