Club policies

Ivybridge Walking Club – governing principles, and policies.

Background - Ivybridge Walking Club (IWC) was set up nearly 20 years ago as a local walking group by local people living in Ivybridge and the surrounding area. It has grown from strength to strength with an ongoing turnover of participants.  Over the years it has also expanded into facilitating opportunities for members and friends to access complimentary social events.  Walks are now scheduled every fortnight, planned and led by members. The roots of IWC remain firmly in the Ivybridge area.

Guiding Principle - IWC seeks to be a friendly group, primarily focused around walks, operating as far as possible with the minimum of fuss and administration.

Equality and Diversity - IWC is open to everyone. We aim to treat every individual equally, regardless of their age, disability, gender, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We greatly value, and seek to have, an atmosphere of friendship, respect and care for each other.

Safe practice - Safe practices are the responsibility of everybody involved in the club. IWC are a club of adults each of whom must take responsibility for their own actions and decisions whether as walk leaders, members or participants in any of our activities. Ultimately walk leaders have the discretion to advice against any individual undertaking a walk if they are not deemed adequately equipped to complete the walk safely.

In short minimising risk, adopting safe practices, and planning accordingly is everybody’s business.

Safeguarding Policy and Practice - As a general rule IWC activities do not involve children or people regarded as vulnerable adults to which formal Safeguarding Legislation applies. Consequently members are not expected to have regular contact with such issues or detailed knowledge of Safeguarding legislation or best practice Safeguarding policies.  However, members should be alert to any concerns and act on any risks they see or perceive. As an absolute minimum this would involve alerting the Safeguarding lead within IWC or passing their concerns to an alternative authority.

It should be clear in the context of our club that beyond dealing with any potential immediate risk, Safeguarding primarily involves alerting/passing on ones concerns to a suitable person.

The Safeguarding lead in IWC is the current chairperson, or if they are not available another member of the IWC committee.

IWC Safeguarding Policy and Practice should be reviewed at least every two years to ensure it remains suitable and appropriate for our club.

April 2024