Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
Everyone has a duty to action any concerns they have or that are raised with them. No action is not an option. It is essential to deal with any concerns in a sensitive and appropriate way. Concerns should be taken seriously and must be addressed promptly. Confidentiality must be maintained at all times and information only passed to those who need to know.
Bullying and Harrassment
As a voluntary youth organisation, we have a duty of care to protect all our members, coaches and volunteers and provide a safe and healthy sporting environment.
Bullying is defined as deliberate hurtful behaviour by an adult or child, usually repetitive behaviour, which may result in pain or distress to the victim. It can take different forms including emotional, physical, racist, verbal, sexual or online bullying.
Anti-Bullying
The Pony Club’s Anti-Bullying Policy can be downloaded below. This policy outlines how an individual can identify bullying and how to deal with these incidents.
Recognising and Reporting
The ability to recognise child abuse depends as much on a person’s willingness to accept the possibility of its existence as it does on knowledge and information. It is important to understand that abuse and/or bullying is not always readily visible and may not be clearly observable.
The Recognising and Reporting document below provides more information on the following:
- When there is reasonable grounds for concern,
- Bullying in more detail and how to recognise and resolve it,
- How to report child abuse and bullying,
- How to respond to a child who reports any form of abuse,
- How to deal with allegations made against a Branch Official or Coach,
- Any special points that should be considered,
- The procedure to follow.
Action to Take
This document explains briefly the actions to take in order to help a victim of bullying, and how to approach and subsequently deal with an incident. For more information, please refer to the ‘Recognising and Reporting’ section.
Discipline at Pony Club Events
Discipline in sport should always focus on positivity!
Pony Club should provide structure and rules that allow members to learn to set their own goals and strive to achieve them, and encourage young people to become more responsible for themselves and independent. Discipline may be necessary on rare occasions to indicate to members, parents / guardians, supporters, officials or volunteers that their behaviour is not acceptable or appropriate at Pony Club activities and competitions.
Discipline and Disciplinary Action
This document outlines the procedure which should be taken when formal disciplinary action is required for consistent bad or inappropriate behaviour or excessively poor behaviour, whether this is being shown by members, parents / guardians or officials and volunteers.
- Investigate / look into the allegation to ascertain the basic facts and whether there are any witnesses.
- Establish an appropriate course of action.
- Give a formal verbal warning.
- Subsequent bad behaviour within a two year period should result in a formal written warning being given.
- Continuous poor behaviour or behaviour which is considered to be detrimental to other members, parents or officials may result in suspending or terminating memberships, or banning parents / guardians from Pony Club activities with immediate effect.
More information on these steps and the appeals process can be found below.
Whistle Blowing Policy
The Pony Club is committed to developing a culture which is safe and acceptable for those involved in the organisation to raise concerns about unacceptable practice and misconduct. Although you may not feel able to express your concerns, the child should always be protected from unnecessary risk and harm.
The Pony Club’s Whistle Blowing Policy aims to support those who suspect a safeguarding concern, and point them in the direction of the person of whom to raise their concern with so that appropriate action can be taken. More information can be found below.
