Code of Conduct

1. Who it applies to

Every member, mentor, learner, volunteer, guest and staff member, in every club setting: workshops, mentoring sessions, events, online groups and club correspondence.

2. What we expect

• Treat everyone with respect, whatever their background, level or first language.
• Be patient with beginners; nobody is judged for what they do not yet know.
• Give feedback on the work, not the person.
• Be honest about your own skill level and experience.
• Keep what is shared in confidence, confidential.
• Turn up when you commit to teach or mentor, or give notice if you cannot.

3. What is not acceptable

• Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or discrimination on grounds of race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age or nationality.
• Sexual attention or contact that is unwelcome, and any contact with a minor outside approved, supervised settings.
• Threats, violence, or encouraging others to do harm.
• Sharing another person’s private information without their consent.
• Using club settings for unsolicited selling, recruitment or political campaigning.
• Misrepresenting club membership as a qualification, licence or endorsement.

4. Safeguarding

Activities involving under-18s or vulnerable adults are supervised, and volunteers in those roles are checked as required. Any safeguarding concern is escalated immediately to the designated safeguarding lead and, where necessary, to the police or local authority.

5. Reporting a concern

Report through the Contact page, marking the message “Conduct concern”. Reports are handled confidentially and shared only with those who need to act on them. You can ask for a report to be handled by someone not involved in the situation.

6. How reports are handled

We acknowledge a report within 5 working days, gather the facts from those involved, and decide proportionately. Outcomes range from an informal conversation, to a written warning, to exclusion from an activity, to suspension or cancellation of membership under the Membership Terms. Serious matters may be reported to the authorities.

7. Appeals and retaliation

Anyone subject to a sanction may appeal in writing within 21 days to a committee member not involved in the decision. Retaliation against someone who reports a concern in good faith is itself a breach of this code.