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Code of conduct

Code of Conduct

In order to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all group participants, we ask everyone to abide by the following code of conduct:

EVENT PARTICIPATION

  • Participation in group activities is open to both full and prospective members.
  • Full members are those who have paid their membership fee for the current membership year.
  • Prospective members are those who have expressed interest in joining the group and who have not been a member in the past twelve months. The trial period is two months from the first activity in any one year.
  • Child members are those persons under the age of 18 and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times during any group event.

 

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Participants must show respect to other group members.
  • Participants must show respect to the countryside and follow The Countryside CodeOpens in a new window.
  • Participants must not do anything that may bring the group into disrepute.
  • Participants must heed the instructions and advice of the event organiser.
  • Participants must come adequately equipped and appropriately clothed for an event.
  • Participants are responsible for ensuring they take part only in events within their capabilities and, if in doubt, must check with the event organiser prior to attending an event to make sure that it is suitable.
  • Participants in any activity must notify the organiser if they want to withdraw from an event early.
  • Participants must be able to maintain a reasonable pace that doesn’t affect the enjoyment or safety of the rest of the group.
  • Any participant bringing an animal with them is responsible for keeping it under control all times and ensuring that it doesn’t cause damage, cause distress to livestock or spoil the enjoyment of others on the event.
  • Participants must not become unfit or unsafe for the activity through the consumption of alcohol or drugs prior to or during the activity.

 

ORGANISERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Events must be organised and run by a full adult member of the group.
  • Organisers must make a reasonable assessment of the risks associated with the event, at a level appropriate to the type of event.
  • Organisers must make participants aware of the demands and risks of the event.
  • Organisers must make reasonable adjustments to an event if circumstances require.
  • Organisers must ensure that, if the group splits into sub-groups, each sub-group has a designated organiser.
  • Organisers must report any issues, incidents or accidents occurring during their event to the committee.
  • Organisers must ensure that any group equipment that they borrow is returned to the group in a satisfactory condition.

 

FINANCE

  • The committee will consider applications for reimbursement of expenses associated with administration, operation or management of the group.
  • The group will not reimburse expenses incurred by activity organisers without prior approval of the committee.
  • No member must make profit from the group, except for such professional services as may be necessary for the running of the group and rendered with the prior approval of the committee.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

  • Membership details of full members of the group will be held electronically and in accordance with any data protection legislation.
  • A published membership list detailing the contact details of full members of the group will be made available to all full members of the group.
  • Members have the right to have their details excluded from the published membership list upon request to the treasurer.
  • The published membership list, the group’s electronic mailing lists and websites must only be used to distribute messages for the running of the group, publicising events or other messages that promote the group’s object.

 

POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE

  • The committee has the right to withdraw activities if they feel they are inappropriate.
  • The committee has the right to suspend or refuse membership if a member acts in breach of this code or in a manner that is incompatible with the object of the group.
  • The committee has the right to enforce moderation or revoke the sending rights of any member if they feel they have abused the group’s mailing lists.