CTC National Council (Cycling Development Committee)
Children and Young Persons Participation Policy – Recreational Cycling
Version 1.0 July 2003
Children and Young Persons Participation Policy – July 2003, Ver 1.0Page 1 of 3
1. Introduction
Following consultation with CTC local groups on the introduction of participation leadership and registration guidance for local cycling groups CTC National Council’s cycling development committee has recognised the need for a participation policy for children and young people taking part in recreational cycling activities.
This policy does not apply to sporting cycling competition which is covered by the regulations of the relevant governing bodies, nor is it aimed at the requirements of training in cycling skills which is covered by separate advice. It is particularly aimed at events which can be described as club runs, touring, charity rides, randonnees, try-outs and family rides.
A complete code of good practise “Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults” has been devised by British Cycling, the governing body for cycle sport in the UK. CTC, along with a consortium of national cycling groups working together as the Cycle Liaison Group have agreed that this common standard is of benefit to the whole of organised cycling and the standards set out in this document should as far as possible be implemented amongst all providers of organised cycling. This code of practice has now been published as a booklet supported by CTCand the Council has agreed that this code of practice will apply to all CTC activity providers organising specifically for young people.
However the code is general in nature and does not cover the rules of each organisation that has signed up to the code. This document sets out the specific CTC policies that have been agreed to specify how young people can participate in our activities. The policies below have been created not to stop children participating, but to give a framework in which activity providers can work.
However nothing is as successful in encouraging children to take part in cycling as encouragement, a welcoming environment and a common sense implementation of guidance, not a rigid enforcement of rules. It is hoped these policies will be implemented in this spirit.
Along with other national cycling organisations and general good practice CTC recognises
- Anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be a child/young person.
- All policies and procedures described refer to vulnerable adults as well as children.
- The term parent is used as a generic term to represent parents, carers and guardians
2. Welcoming young people
Many local groups are concerned and daunted by the prospect of unaccompanied young people on their rides, especially the risk that the may not be able to keep up or fall in line with usual club behaviour. There are also concerns about potential liability falling on groups or leaders.
Equally many inexperienced cycle users are daunted by the apparent distance and difficulty of rides, the technology and the apparent need for experience when riding with a group.
CTC has a great tradition of supporting family riding, and of being the starting point for riders who have gone on to become world and Olympic cycling champions or life long cyclists. The nature of our rides is that they are often slower and shorter in distance than associated cycle racing clubs and are more suitable for newcomers to group cycling. In some geographical areas CTC rides are the only organised cycle rides. As young and new riders get older and stronger they often outdistance their parents and want to participate in more demanding activities without them, this is something CTC believes can and should be encouraged.
CTC Council supports the introduction of young and new riders to our activities and strongly encourages local groups to make provision for introducing new riders as part of their activities. This guide sets out a set of commonsense rules which should make it easier for local groups to cater for unaccompanied young people without fear of liability, or being in breach of rules or codes. Council also hopes that young people introduced to enjoyable cycling will make lifelong CTC supporters, and that they continue to ride on their own as soon as they are able. Local groups will be able to continue to welcome them under this guidance.
In many cases the young people are full members of either CTC or their local club or group and the specific reason for joining is to participate, so to not allow them on rides is a denial of the membership package they have purchased. Where the current programme of a CTC local group does not provide for new cyclists and the less committed rider whether adults or young people groups are encouraged to consider at least an occasional programme to encourage them.
3. CTC Participation Rules for all activities.
All participants under 18 must have signed a CTCparental consent form. The only exemption is where a young person having reached the age of 16 can prove that they are no longer living with parents or guardian and are de-facto living as independent adults. This will be proven by the supply of evidence such as a rent book or utility bill with the person’s current address in their name or a National Union of Students membership card.
The parental consent form is the same for all activities and is on the back of the standard event entry form. The child can bring a signed form, parents do no have to come to the start. (See additional guidance below)
Where an activity is part of a series, such as a regular programme of club runs a single consent can be given for more than one activity in the series, for example one form can be filled in for a year of club runs. In this case if there is a substantial change in the programme then it is important that parents are notified.
4. Activities specifically run for and promoted to children
Children’s activities where the activity provider takes a duty of care over minors as part of its activities clearly fall within the scope of the Children’s Act and the organiser/leader should be accredited by a governing body (CTC or ANO), receive child protection awareness training and have a criminal records check.
CTC fully recognises the difficulties in obtaining records checks at this time (July 2003) with both CRB in England and registration of umbrella bodies.
A self declaration form is provided by CTC as the first stage of a records checking process and must be completed by the activity provider run for and promoted to children. This gives permission for CTC to obtain the necessary checks as required, and provides the initial information needed to accept an activity provider.
This form is the one already provided to CTC local groups for consultation.
The activity provider and any volunteers assisting should make themselves fully aware of the provisions of “Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults”. Its provisions are not repeated here.
5. Participation by children in general cycling activities.
This includes most common activity provided by local groups, in particular any regular weekly or monthly programme.
These are in principle open activities for all ages and therefore should aspire to general aspects of good practice, any attendee has a right to expect a quality, well run, supportive experience regardless of age.
A CTC Code of Conduct is being developed for such rides based on the feedback from local groups on current best practice, this will allow for riders of all abilities and ages. Activities that are supportive, well run, common sense and with the best interests of the participant at heart are unlikely to attract complaints, let alone claims.
However it must be recognised by activity providers, participants and their parents that these rides are public events for all ages and the duty of care that can be provided by the activity provider is only at a level of good practice for all ages. Child protection procedures are therefore only advisory and represent good practice. Leaders and organisers of rides which have regular child participation even if accompanied by parents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with “Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults”
The activity provider must still have procedures for complaints and concerns to be raised by minors or their parents.
6. CTC child participation rules for activities open to all ages.
National council has set the minimum age for unaccompanied children as13 on open age CTC rides and events. There is no lower age limit if accompanied by a responsible adult acting in loco parentis, but a parental consent form is still needed.
Children agedfrom 13 to 17may participate unaccompanied if they have parental permission to take part in an open activity and the parent understands there are no special child procedures laid on.
The CTC Code of conduct for CTC rides sets out the minimum expectations that all participants can expect from a CTC activity. In the case of under 18s this information must be available to the parents or the parent cannot give informed consent for the child’s participation.
7. Additional Guidance
Additional guidance is provided to help and assist ride leaders when working with younger or inexperienced riders, especially the points that activity providers should communicate to parents. These will be the normal arrangements for the group or event, there does not need to be any special arrangements for young people in an open age ride.
- When organising under the rules of other organisations such as Audax UK ensure their parental consent procedures are fully adhered to.
- Ensure parents are aware of the demands of any activity, and that they are involved in a decision about the ability of the child to complete the activity. They must be aware if it is likely that the child will ride alone, or with company and the arrangements for this to happen.
- Written parental permission to complete several rides under specified conditions should not be treated as a blanket agreement, and if a ride is outside the scope of previous discussions with parents’ additional consent is required.
- If parents wish to accompany, meet the child or spectate explain the basis on which they may do so. This might involve agreeing to meet them at an event control, the finish or similar point.
- Be sure the parents have agreed how the child is to get home after the ride. Explain the normal procedure, if the group tends to break up towards the end or riders go home in ones and twos explain this to the parents. If the child is to be collected or accompanied home by a specific friend, neighbour or the ride leader make sure this agreed.
- For activities where the child may ride some or part of the event alone the child must be given a point of contact, a single person, location or phone number that can be used in the event that the child is lost, distressed or feels threatened by an adult or other child. How this contact is to be made must be clear to the child, and if the organiser is not confident that the young person has the means to make contact then they may not participate.
If an unaccompanied child comes to a club run without parents or prior contact then it is advisable that the child’s parents be contacted, this may be done by mobile phone. If the leader is satisfied that consent can be obtained and the parents are aware of the ride details the child may be allowed to continue.
The leader should confirm verbally with the child and if present the parents the understanding of the issues above, especially the destination, duration and likely difficulty of the ride. A child should not be cajoled or encouraged on to a ride that they may not be competent to make by parent or leader.
The leader must satisfy him or herself that the guidance above can be fully satisfied and the child’s participation is fully supported by parents. If contact with parents cannot be made or the leader is not satisfied that these conditions can be met then the child should NOT be allowed to go on the club ride.
Children and Young Persons Participation Policy – July 2003, Ver 1.0Page 1 of 3