Safeguarding & Data Protection

Ski Ability NI — Keeping Our Athletes Safe On and Off the Slope

Ski Ability NI is affiliated to Snowsport England and we are fully committed to keeping our athletes, families, volunteers and coaches safe — both on the slope and in how we handle personal information.

As part of our affiliation and insurance requirements, we adopt Snowsport England’s Safeguarding and Data Protection policies in full.

We do not create our own separate safeguarding or data protection policies — instead, we follow the national governing body’s standards, guidance and procedures.

These policies apply to all members, volunteers, coaches, committee members and anyone acting on behalf of Ski Ability NI.

find out more here

Summary for Families

In simple terms, this means:

• Your child’s safety and wellbeing always come first.

• Everyone at Ski Ability NI has a duty to speak up if they are worried about something.

• We only collect information we genuinely need to support and protect our athletes.

• Your information is kept securely and only seen by people who require it for their role.

• We follow clear rules for photos, videos and social media — and always respect your consent choices.

• If you ever have a concern — even if you’re not sure — please contact us.

•  You will be listened to and taken seriously.

Safeguarding Policies We Follow (Snowsport England)

Ski Ability NI has formally adopted the following Snowsport England SnowSafe safeguarding policies:

• 2024 SnowSafe Children Policy – Safeguarding Children & Young People

• SnowSafe Adults Policy – Safeguarding Adults

• SnowSafe Adults Procedures – Safeguarding Adults’ Procedures

• 2024 SnowSafe Toolkit – Guidance & Templates for Clubs

• Photography & Filming – Best Practice Guidance

• Snowsport England Safeguarding – Full Information & Resources

These policies set out how we prevent abuse, respond to concerns, support athletes, handle allegations, recruit volunteers safely, and maintain a safe and inclusive club environment.

Data Protection & Privacy

Ski Ability NI is committed to protecting personal data and respecting privacy.
We follow Snowsport England’s:

• Data Protection Policy

• Privacy Notice

• Privacy Notice for Members

These documents explain how personal information is handled across Snowsport England–affiliated clubs.

At a club level, we only collect information that is necessary to:

• keep athletes safe and supported

• communicate with parents, carers, volunteers and coaches

• meet safeguarding, insurance and governing body requirements

We store information securely and only share it when necessary — for example, for competition entry, insurance, or where there is a legal or safeguarding requirement.

Photography, Video & Social Media

We celebrate the achievements of our athletes — but we are extremely protective of them.

Ski Ability NI follows Snowsport England’s Photography & Filming Best Practice Guidance and will always:

• ask for consent before using identifiable photos or videos

• respect families who do not wish their athlete to be photographed

• store images securely

• use images only for club-approved purposes

Parents and carers may change their media consent at any time.

Who to Contact With a Concern

Club Welfare Officer – Ski Ability NI

If you have any safeguarding or welfare concern — big or small — please contact:

Jennifer — Club Welfare Officer

 Phone: available on request

 Email: safeguarding@skiabilityni.org

Snowsport England Safeguarding Lead

You may also contact Snowsport England directly:

Mark Vaughan — Snowsport England Safeguarding Lead

 Email: welfare@snowsportengland.org

 Tel: 07462 156784

Concerns can also be submitted directly through Snowsport England’s Safeguarding page.

If It Is Urgent

If you believe a child or adult is in immediate danger:

999 — Emergency Services

101 — Police (non-emergency)

NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Childline: 0800 1111

This website is built using Google Sites. Google manages cookies and technical data in line with its own Privacy Policy.