Stirling Bike Club
Under 18s in Open Age Events Policy
- Introduction
In order to provide our younger riders with a progression path, Stirling Bike Club recognises the need for a participation policy for young people taking part in club-organised activities beyond the “children only” Wallace Warriors coaching sessions. This document sets out our Youth Policy Guidelines on how young persons can take part in Stirling Bike Club “open age” or “all age”events, providing advice for them, their parents and the adult volunteers helping.
In compiling this, the Club has used guidelines issued by British Cycling and Active Stirling. The British Cycling Child Protection Policy Document can be viewed by following this link:
ThisSBC under 18 in open age events policy does not apply to Open Sporting Competition, which is covered by the regulations of the relevant governing bodies. Neither does it apply to the “children only” Wallace Warrior coaching sessions which are covered by British Cycling “Go Ride” safe guarding children policies and where children will be in the care of British Cycling qualified coaches, who have Disclosure Scotland PVG (Police) checks and child protection & first aid training. This policy & advice is particularly aimed at events such as club runs andopen age or all age awaydays.
It is the aim of Stirling Bike Club to encourage young people to take part in sport by providing a welcoming and safe environment by applying a common sense approach, using the guidance provided by professionals in a flexible but consistent manner.
This policy document will also set out procedures for adult volunteers chaperoning unaccompanied young persons.
Note :
Anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be a child/young person.
All policies and procedures detailed in this document also apply to vulnerable adults as well as children.
The term “parent” is used as a generic term to represent parents, carers and guardians
- Participation By Young Persons In “Open Age Activities”
These are open activities for all age groups and include the Stirling Bike Club Saturday Road Runs, Club Confined Time Trials, Track cycling and Mountain Bike Rides. It must be recognised by adult volunteers, the young people participating and their parents that these rides are public events for participants of all ages (so long as they have the skills needed) and the volunteer ride leaders will not have the same level of training as the British Cycling qualified coaches running the Wallace Warrior training sessions. The differences in qualifications & training between the British Cycling qualified coaches and the volunteer ride leaders are:-
British Cycling qualified coaches have:
- British Cycling coaching qualification
- Disclosure Scotland PVG (police) checks,
- HSEfirst aid qualifications,
- Child protection training.
The volunteers who regularly lead club rides will have:
- Disclosure ScotlandPVG (police) checks.
If the club provide a chaperone for an U16 rider the chaperone will have:
- Disclosure Scotland PVG (Police) checks.
A volunteer who occasionally leads a club ride may have no qualifications or Disclosure Scotland PVG (Police) checks since the guidelines advise that “those who regularly are in positions of responsibility should have Disclosure Scotland PVG (Police) checks”.
Sometimes a volunteer ride leader might be one of the British Cycling qualified coaches.
The following is a checklist for all young persons under the age of 18 intending taking part in Open Age Activities organised by Stirling Bike Club:
1.The parent/guardian must make appropriate transport arrangements to and from the event as Stirling Bike Club’s Duty of Care applies only to the event itself.
2.If you are under 18 you must inform the Adult Leader responsible at the start of every activity that you take part in. You must carry your completed young person’s information card (see end of this policy for an example) and make sure the ride leader has your emergency contact information.
3.If you are under 16, you must be a member of Stirling Bike Club. All other participants are strongly recommended to take out Stirling Bike Club/British Cycling Membership.
4. If you are under 16 then your parent/guardian must complete & sign the Young Person Consent Form (which is part of the SBC club membership application form) and tick the box by the final paragraph which gives consent to participate in activities where a British Cycling coach may not be supervising. Before the first planned event, the parent must confirm the details in the form and to confirm the ability of the rider; to do this contact the clubon one of these email addresses:
5.If you under 16, you must either
- be accompanied by a parent or
- be accompanied by a responsible adult acting in loco parentis.
If you are under 16 and are unable to bring either a parent or a responsible adult (18 or over) then you must contact the club as soon as you can before the activity (on the above e mail addresses). The club will then attempt to arrange a chaperone, as there will be a need to seek extra disclosure checked volunteers to cope with situations where the young person abandons the ride. If the young person is unable to provide a parent or chaperone and the club is unable to provide a chaperone then the young person will not be able to participate in that event. The longer before an event you contact us to seek a chaperone the better the chance of the club being able to provide one.
6.If you are 12 or under you must speak to one of the British Cycling qualified coaches at the Wallace Warrior Training Sessions and ask their advice prior to attending an open age activity.
7. If, in the opinion of the Adult Leader, there is any reason for the young person not being able to participate, that judgement will be final and not contestable. The reasons will be made known to the young person and parent. Examples of situations could include:
- Insufficient adult volunteers
- Unsatisfactory behaviour
- Difficulty level of activity judged to be too high for the young person
- Recommendations For Adult Ride Leaders / Chaperones
Where possible in “Open Age Activities”, the club should encourage young persons to participate with a parent. Activities where the volunteer takes a”duty of care over minors” fall within the conditions of the Children’s Act. Volunteers organising activities which have regular child participation, even if accompanied by parents, are highly recommended to familiarise themselves with BC Policy :
The following are recommendations for good practice:-
a). Chaperones provided by Stirling Bike Club:
-Will have a Disclosure Scotland PVG “Police” check, which SBC will arrange through Scottish Cycling.
-Be aware of any medical conditions and have emergency phone numbers for each young person they are chaperone for.
-When with young persons, under the age of 18, they try to avoid situations where they are alone with the young person. This has implications for the number of adults needed to run the activity.
-Should receive child protection awareness training (for example Active Stirling’s “Safeguarding & Protecting Children” or Scottish Cycling’s “In Safe Hands”).
b). Stirling Bike Club’s regular ride leaders:
-Will have a Disclosure Scotland PVG“Police” check, which SBC will arrange through Scottish Cycling.
-Be aware of all under 18s participating in the activity.
-Be aware of any medical conditions and have emergency phone numbers for each young person taking part.
-When with young persons, under the age of 18, they try to avoid situations where they are alone with the young person. This has implications for the number of adults needed to run the activity.
-Should receive child protection awareness training (for example Active Stirling’s “Safeguarding & Protecting Children” or Scottish Cycling’s “In Safe Hands
Within the group undertaking the activity there should be a person trained in first aid, who the chaperone / ride leader will be aware of.
4.Medical Information / Emergency Contact Details
This form should be completed for any young person under 18 wishing to participate in activities organized by Stirling Bike Club. If they are under 16 return this to the Club Treasurer with the Stirling Bike Club membership application. The club membership card will then be sent to you with the “young person information card” information on the backof the membership card and you must carry this at all times when taking part in club open age activities. If you are under 18 and joining Stirling Bike Club also return this form to the Club Treasurer with your membership application. If you are under 18 and already a member of another BC affiliated bike club then complete the medical information/ Emergency contact details & the young person information card and bring them with you to the events. (Under 18s must carry this card when participating in all club open age activities).
Part A: To be given to the ride leader
Surname ...... Forename...... ….
Date of Birth......
Address......
Post Code ...... Emergency Contact Name:…………..……………………………..
Emergency Contact relationship……………………………………………………..
Emergency Landline ……......
Mobile 1 ……...... Mobile 2 ……......
Give details of any recent illness, injury, medical condition or medication that might affect your ability to ride and recommended actions to take if symptoms appear.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ......
I understand all activities are covered by Public Liability Insurance but that there is no insurance for personal accident.
Signature ...... Date...... If Under 16this must be the signature of a parent or guardian
Part B: Young Person’s Information Card. To be carried by the young person during the ride.
Name ......
Address......
Date of Birth………………………………………..
Next Of Kin Contact ………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Landline ……......
Mobile 1 ……...... Mobile 2 ……......
Medical Conditions
......
......
October 2011 Stirling Bike Club (updated April 2014)
Stirling Bike Club & Wallace Warriors – 2010 / 2011Page 1 of 6