Online Safety Policy

October 2023

The purpose of this policy statement

Starship operates as an 18+ online community open to all those over the age of 18 including adults who may be vulnerable. They work as an online World of Warcraft guild and discord community running events with members outside of the community. These include: Competitions, Quizzes, Streams, In game events and more.

The purpose of this policy statement is to:

  • ensure the safety and wellbeing of all members of the community including vulnerable adults is paramount when joining the Starship community.

  • provide custodians with the overarching principles that guide our approach to online safety

  • ensure that, as a group, we operate in line with our values and within the UK law in terms of how we use online devices and services.

The policy statement applies to all custodians and community members and anyone involved in Starship’s activities.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect those in the UK as this is where our base of operations sits. As such we will run in accordance with UK law when assessing potentially harmful activities and when considering other documentation such as a risk assessment. Summaries of the key legislation and guidance are available on:

We believe that:

  • Our community members should never experience abuse of any kind

  • Everyone should be able to use the internet for education and personal development, but safeguards need to be in place to ensure they are kept safe at all times.

We recognise that:

  • the online world provides everyone with many opportunities; however it can also present risks and challenges

  • we have a duty to ensure that all people involved in our community are protected from potential harm online in a reasonable way according to the nature of this community.

  • we have a responsibility to help keep our participants safe online, whether or not they are a community member or simply participating in an online event to a reasonable degree.

  • working in partnership with our community members and other agencies is essential in promoting people’s welfare and in helping people to be responsible in their approach to online safety

  • all our members regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.

We will seek to keep our community safe by:

  • appointing an advisor for safeguarding to advise on our procedures and any action that needs to take place

  • providing clear and specific directions to custodians and community members on how to behave online through our community rules

  • supporting and encouraging the people using our service to use the internet, social media and mobile phones in a way that keeps them safe and shows respect for others

  • developing clear and robust procedures to enable us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour, whether by a community member or event participant

  • reviewing and updating the security of our information systems regularly

  • ensuring that all data held is used effectively

  • ensuring personal information about the adults who are involved in our community is held securely and shared only as appropriate and in line with our privacy policy

  • ensuring that images of children, young people and families that are shared within the community are only used by the Starship lead team after their written permission has been obtained, and only for the purpose for which consent has been given

  • providing supervision, support and training for custodians about online safety

  • examining and risk assessing any social media platforms and new technologies before they are used within the community.

If online abuse occurs, we will respond to it by:

  • having clear and robust procedures in place for responding to abuse (including online abuse) including removal of members from the community where appropriate

  • providing support and training for all custodians on dealing with all forms of abuse, including bullying or cyberbullying, emotional abuse, sexting, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. This support and training is limited to understanding of context and our own procedures

  • making sure our response takes the needs of the person experiencing abuse, any bystanders and our community as a whole into account

  • reviewing the plan developed to address online abuse at regular intervals, in order to ensure that any problems have been resolved in the long term.

Related policies and procedures

This policy statement should be read alongside our community policies and procedures, including:

  • Community Rules

  • Online Risk Assesment

Contact details

Community Lead

Name: Adam Skinner

Discord Display Name: .ctrl.

Senior lead for safeguarding

Name: Joanne Harris

Discord Display Name: LadyA