Photography, Filming & Social Media Policy

Photos, video and social media are a big part of telling the Saltcoats Victoria FC story, but they must never put anyone, especially a child or a vulnerable adult, at risk. This policy sets out how we take, use and share images, and how everyone connected to the club should behave online.

Club photography and video

The club may photograph and film matches, training and events for its website, news, match reports, social media, programmes, sponsors’ material and match analysis, including recordings made using Veo or similar camera systems.
Photographers and camera operators acting for the club are approved by the committee, and are asked to follow this policy. A person who is not approved should not take photographs in a way that causes concern.
Images are taken only in appropriate places and never in changing rooms, showers or toilets, and never in a way that could embarrass or harm someone.

Children and young people

For anyone under 18, we ask a parent or carer for permission before an identifiable image is used for anything other than general match coverage. Parents can say no, or change their mind, at any time by telling the club.
We do not publish a child’s full name with a photograph. A first name, or team and squad, is the most we normally use. We never publish home addresses, school details, or personal contact details.
Children must be appropriately dressed in any image we publish, and images should show the activity, not focus on the child.
Club social media accounts and messaging groups must not be used to contact a child directly (see below).

Adults at risk

Photographs of adults at risk are only taken and published with their consent, or that of a person legally able to give it on their behalf.

Spectators and parents

Spectators may take photographs and video of matches for private and personal use, but must not take pictures of children or adults who object, or in a way that upsets or intrudes on anyone.
Please do not post images that show other people’s children without their parents’ permission, and never post information that identifies where a child lives or goes to school.
If you are concerned about someone’s photography, tell a club official.

Match officials and opposition

Match officials and opposition players are treated respectfully in anything we post. We do not post content that mocks, abuses or humiliates anyone.

Social media and online behaviour

Anyone who represents the club, or who posts about it, is expected to follow the Code of Conduct online as well as in person. That means:

No abusive, discriminatory, racist, sectarian, threatening or defamatory content, and no bullying or harassment.
No private information about other people, and no posting of team news, injuries or disciplinary matters before the club has shared it.
No comments that criticise match officials, players or opposition in an abusive way, or that could bring the club, the league or the Scottish FA into disrepute.
Do not claim to speak for the club unless you are authorised to do so.

Contact with children online

Adults in a coaching, volunteering or official role should not be “friends” with, follow, or privately message children they work with through social media or personal accounts.
Where communication is needed, it should go through the parent or carer, or in an open group that includes a parent or another adult with a safeguarding role.
Communication should be about club matters only, and at sensible times.

Club accounts

Club social media accounts are run by named people approved by the committee, with strong passwords that are changed when someone leaves. Comments and messages are monitored, and abusive content is removed. Serious concerns are reported to the Safeguarding Officer or the police.

Removing images

If you want an image of you, or your child, taken down, email saltcoatsvictoria@gmail.com with details and where you saw it. We will remove it from club channels as soon as we reasonably can, but cannot control copies shared by others.

Concerns and breaches

Any concern about the use of images, or about online behaviour that puts someone at risk, should be reported to the club Safeguarding Officer straight away. Breaches of this policy can be dealt with under our Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure.