Webcast tips

For the best viewing experience ... 

  • view our buffering tips
  • you'll need an an internet download speed of at least 5 Megabits per second - you can test your connection speed here (you need to check the download speed)
  • make sure you're using the most up to date version of your internet browser and any web plugins (JavaScript and Adobe Flash player)
  • use plug in speakers or headphones for the best sound quality
  • make sure that no-one else in your household is using the internet. Watching Netflix or a similar video streaming service, downloading software or apps, online gaming, or even just browsing the web could affect the stream.
  • make sure your anti-virus protection is up to date
  • make sure your computer is not running updates and close any non-essential programmes while watching the stream
  • if you don't want to see the chatroom, make your video full screen
  • refresh your browser if the webcast doesn't start at the beginning of the day or resume after a break

We cannot take any responsibility for non-BACP websites.

Chatroom information

How do I log in to the chat room?

Event platform for larger events

Our larger conferences use an event platform facilitated by CrowdComms. You'll be sent a link to login to the platform, and once logged in you'll be able to visit the 'Watch live' pages and use the interactive features within the platform.

Event platform for online only, or smaller events

Our online only, or smaller events, will typically be delivered by a dedicated livestream page containing all the interactive features of the event.

When you try to use the chat, you'll be prompted to log in to the chat box. Before you can view the chat or post a comment you'll need to join as a guest.

In the box, enter your full name and select Join.

If you refresh the page, you might need to log back in again to be able to comment.

Chatroom guidelines

There’ll be many people in the chatroom at the same time during a livestream. To ensure each online event runs smoothly and supports a safe respectful space for all delegates, we ask you to comply with these guidelines.

General conduct

Please don't use the chat room to ask technical questions or request technical help. Instead, try to use the help pages available on the day because your question may have already been answered. You can also contact webinar@bacp.co.uk where someone from the events team will be on hand to support you with your technical enquiry.

Please treat your colleagues in the chat room, and our presenters, with respect. Remember that your comments may be seen by our studio panel and presenters.

Please be patient. There may be hundreds of people typing questions into the chat and our studio hosts can only answer a few in the limited time available. 

We don’t permit delegates to post advertising of products and services or affiliate links into the online chatroom during events. If BACP observe this, warnings will be issued as per these guidelines and your post deleted.

Language and words 

Be mindful of the impact of your comments 

Be considerate of the language you use when posting and avoid using words that might be considered inappropriate or offensive to others. Please be mindful of how others may feel when reading your post. Be polite, respectful and kind.

Keep in mind the instant nature of posting and avoid making comments in the heat of the moment or at times of frustration or anger. While differing opinions can generate useful discussion, we ask that you're mindful of how this is expressed and how your language is used.

Be part of a healthy debate

A discussion between people with differing opinions can be handled respectfully. It's possible to have a discussion while still being considerate of other people’s views.

Keep in mind the impact of your interactions on others, you own reputation, and the profession. And always consider whether your post is in keeping with the values and principles of the Ethical Framework. 

It's your choice if you want to respond 

It's your choice if you want to respond to a post or not – even tagged posts can be ignored. Don't let people put you under pressure to reply. Sometimes it's not appropriate to respond and doing so doesn't always resolve the situation.

It's known that some posts are published to provoke a certain reaction. If you notice a post of this nature we'd advise you not to respond and to flag it to the events team by emailing webinar@bacp.co.uk

It’s also important to acknowledge that you shouldn’t apply pressure to another delegate to respond to your comment, either by tagging their name to respond or repeatedly posting to request they respond. If this occurs, we’ll move into the three-level warning process.

Negative situations and consequences 

Listed below is the process that BACP will follow if inappropriate behaviour or irrelevant comments within the chatroom is observed:

Level 1 - first warning 

The Events team will issue a ‘Level 1 warning message’ to user/s who are not following the chatroom guidelines and whose comment is deemed offensive, inappropriate, irrelevant to the aims of the event or too frequent or repetitive in nature.

Level 2 - second and final warning

If the delegate continues to post maliciously, the events team will send a second and final follow-up warning to the user or users by responding directly to the comment or comments in the chatroom.

Level 3 - removal of user from the chatroom 

If the delegate posts a third time with inappropriate, or offensive or irrelevant comments, they will be removed from the chatroom.

We'll issue a message in the chatroom to the delegate to inform them of the decision before they’re removed. Delegates will still be able to watch the content and will just be unable to comment in the chatroom.   

Bullying and consequences

There's a variety of ways in which bullying can take place in the context of a live event chatroom and they can all have a harmful impact on someone’s mental health and wellbeing. These can include:

  • spreading malicious and abusive rumours
  • harassing someone repeatedly
  • intimidation
  • posting someone’s private details
  • joining the chatroom with a false name to post malicious comments
  • trolling
  • Taking screen grabs of the chat to post (or threaten to post) on social media or on any external platform

If you feel that you're being bullied in the event chatroom, please email the events team on webinar@bacp.co.uk  

Consequences of discrimination, prejudice and abuse 

Sadly, at times people can face discrimination and prejudice from other users. If you feel that you're being targeted by another delegate in this way, please report them and the post to the events team on webinar@bacp.co.uk Please refer to the negative situations and consequences section above.

It is a good idea to keep screen grabs of any concerning or abusive chat comments and a log of when they have happened in case you need to produce this for evidence during any further action. The screen grabs should be sent to webinar@bacp.co.uk and are not for sharing outside of reporting the issues.

Posts may be considered a crime under UK law, if they stir up hatred on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics.

Trolling and consequences

A troll is a someone who deliberately makes offensive, irrelevant or annoying posts that aim to provoke, upset or offend. The events team will closely monitor the chatroom for posts of this nature and will take the appropriate action to issue warnings. You can also email webinar@bacp.co.uk to raise awareness of trolling in the chatroom.

If you don't comply with these guidelines, you’ll be removed from the chatroom, please see the negative situations and consequences section above.

We also reserve the right to remove you from the chatroom with immediate effect without issuing warnings and close the chatroom completely to everyone if the nature of the chat means that our delegates, presenters, hosts and staff feel unsafe in the online space.