Media Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This Media Policy sets out how Bedford Pentecostal Church (BPC) manages and uses media in all its forms, including photography, video, livestreaming, audio recordings, printed materials, and digital/online publications.

The purpose of this policy is to:

Protect the privacy and dignity of individuals.
Safeguard children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
Ensure that all media use complies with UK law, GDPR, safeguarding guidelines, and copyright regulations.
Provide clarity to staff, volunteers, members, and visitors about how media may be created and used.

This policy applies to:

All church services, activities, groups, and events.
All staff, volunteers, members, and visitors.
Any media produced or distributed by Bedford Pentecostal Church.

2. Types of Media Covered

Photography – still images captured at church events, services, and activities.
Videography – including recordings, promotional films, and livestreams of services.
Audio recordings – sermons, podcasts, worship, and other events.
Printed materials – newsletters, posters, flyers, reports.
Digital/online content – website, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.), email newsletters.

3. Principles of Media Use

We commit to the following principles:

Respect for privacy – we will not publish identifiable media of individuals without appropriate consent.
Safeguarding first – we prioritise the safety of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
Transparency – we inform attendees when photography, recording, or livestreaming is taking place.
Lawful processing – media use will comply with GDPR, copyright, and safeguarding laws.
Purpose limitation – media will be used only for church-related purposes (worship, communication, outreach, training, and archiving).

4. Consent and Permissions

4.1 Adults

Consent is sought before publishing identifiable photos or videos of adults on church platforms.
Group or crowd shots where individuals are not the main subject may be used without specific consent, provided no personal data is disclosed.
Individuals may withdraw consent at any time, and their images will be removed from future publications.

4.2 Children and Young People (under 18)

Written parental/guardian consent is required before taking or publishing any photos or videos of children.
Children will never be named in published media without explicit consent.
Sensitive contexts (e.g., pastoral care, prayer ministry) will never be photographed or filmed.
We avoid close-up images of children unless consent is clear and recorded.

4.3 Vulnerable Adults

Special care will be taken to protect the dignity and privacy of vulnerable adults.
Explicit consent (or guardian consent where appropriate) must be obtained.

5. Livestreaming and Recordings

Services may be livestreamed or recorded for members unable to attend and for outreach.
Notices will be displayed in the building and on event information when livestreaming or recording is taking place.
Camera angles will be positioned to avoid close-ups of the congregation unless explicit consent has been given.
Individuals who do not wish to be filmed may sit in designated “no-camera” areas.

6. Storage and Security of Media

Digital media will be stored securely on password-protected systems.
Media will only be accessible to authorised staff or volunteers.
Personal devices should not be used for storing church-related media without authorisation.
Media files will be retained only as long as necessary for their original purpose and in line with GDPR retention principles.

7. Social Media and Online Use

Official BPC social media accounts are managed by authorised staff or volunteers only.
Content will be respectful, appropriate, and aligned with the church’s values.
Personal social media accounts of staff and volunteers should not publish images or videos from church activities without consent.
Sensitive discussions or pastoral matters will never be shared publicly.

8. Copyright and Intellectual Property

Only media with appropriate permissions will be used (e.g., licensed worship music, stock images).
Sermons, worship recordings, and other original content remain the intellectual property of Bedford Pentecostal Church unless otherwise agreed.
Third-party content (e.g., music, artwork, videos) will only be used where appropriate licences are in place.

9. Safeguarding Concerns in Media

Media will not be taken in bathrooms, changing areas, or private counselling settings.
Photography and filming at children’s/youth events will be managed by designated leaders.
Any inappropriate use of media (e.g., unauthorised sharing, misuse of images) will be treated as a safeguarding matter and escalated in line with church safeguarding policy.

10. External Media and Press

Requests from journalists, photographers, or media companies must be approved by the Church Leadership or Communications Team.
No individual may speak on behalf of Bedford Pentecostal Church without authorisation.
Any filming on church premises by external groups requires prior permission and a signed agreement.

11. Breaches and Complaints

Any concerns or complaints about media use should be raised with the Data Protection Officer or Safeguarding Lead.
In cases of GDPR breaches, we will follow our Data Protection and GDPR Policy, which may include reporting to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
In safeguarding-related cases, the concern will be escalated in line with the Safeguarding Policy.

12. Policy Review

This Media Policy will be reviewed annually by the Trustees and Leadership Team to ensure it remains compliant with GDPR, safeguarding, and best practices in digital communication.

Last reviewed: September 2025

13. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this policy or media use at Bedford Pentecostal Church, please contact:

Data Protection Officer / Media Enquiries
Bedford Pentecostal Church
1 Roise St, Bedford MK40 1JJ
admin@bedfordpentecostalchurch.co.uk & media@bedfordpentecostalchurch.co.uk
01234 210550