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Docs and policies

The Club has the following Rules and Policies:

  • Privacy Policy
  • Junior Rules
  • Code of Conduct for Club Officials and Volunteers
  • Code of Conduct for Parents / Carers
  • Organisers Guidelines
  • Safeguarding Children and At-Risk Adults

PRIVACY POLICY STATEMENT

The Information Commissioner (formerly Data Protection Commissioner/Registrar) has issued a formal notice about online gathering of personal data in which it is stated that many UK websites which ask users to submit personal data are contravening the Data Protection Act 1998. This may be an indication that the Commissioner intends to take action in the future. It is possible that commercial organisations will be targeted initially but orienteering organisations that do not comply are not immune from prosecution.

Walton Chasers has appointed a Data Controller responsible for ensuring that the club complies with the Act. This responsibility includes all personal data, including all membership records, however obtained, stored and processed (including paper as well as electronic records). The primary obligation is to ensure that all personal data is processed fairly and lawfully, and a key aspect of fair and lawful processing is the purpose for which the data is collected. The restrictions on collection are that personal data may be collected only for members and regular associates and may be processed only for the purposes for which the organisation exists. Commercial use is not allowed. “Members” includes current members, past members and also potential members defined, for our purposes, as all members of the public who wish to enter events or to obtain further information about a club/association or its activities. “Regular associates” includes members of other clubs, including those of other countries. It is the standing agreement to allow event entries from such members that makes the association regular, not how often any one individual may wish to enter. “Associate” also includes landowners and others with whom Walton Chasers co-operates.

The affected websites are those which offer online event entry, and webpages with forms to fill in with personal information, including any online facility for sending an email directly from a web page. Walton Chasers has an on-line membership application form, and may wish to use email event entry in the future. It will be ensured that, before being allowed to submit any personal data, a user has to click on a button confirming that he or she has read the Walton Chasers Orienteering Club Privacy Policy page and agrees to its conditions. Steps must be taken when collecting personal data via a website to make sure that the processing is “fair”. Such personal data will be confined to name, address, telephone number, email address, orienteering club, sex/age class, course, BOF membership number, SportIdent e-card number, and preferred start time, and persons providing such personal data are deemed to agree to the use of this information solely for the processing and publication of results for the event. Similar notices of purpose must be on all paper-based membership and other forms that clubs/associations use to collect personal data. Thus, if a membership application form or event entry form is completed there will be a printed statement on the form that competitors are deemed to agree to the use of the information solely for mailing club information, or for the processing and publication of results for the event. For online event entry purposes, the Entries Secretary/Organiser may be considered to be acting as or on behalf of the Data Controller, and by sumitting the entry runners are deemed to have read the Walton Chasers Orienteering Club Privacy Policy Statement page, and to agree to its conditions.

Walton Chasers Orienteering Club will use the personal data supplied at an event, or online for that event, only for the purpose of processing and publishing entries and results for the event. The personal data will be disclosed as results on Walton Chasers web site for all electronic events, and for some others. It is not intended to implement on-line payment.

Send all comments, updates and queries for the Walton Chasers Orienteering Club Privacy Policy Page to admin@walton-chasers.co.uk

Junior Rules

The Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of all its members.

The Club believes that it is important that members, coaches, administrators and parents associated with the Club should, at all times, show respect for each other, be encouraged to be open at all times and to share any concerns or complaints that they may have about any aspect of the Club with the Designated Officer:
Cath Williams (admin@walton-chasers.co.uk (01785) 663 888)
As a member of the Walton Chasers you are expected to abide by the following junior club rules:

All members must compete within the rules and respect officials and their decisions.
All members must respect opponents.
Members should keep to agreed timings for training and competitions or inform their coach or team manager if they are going to be late.
Members must wear suitable kit for training and match sessions, as agreed with the coach or team manager
Members must pay any fees for training or events promptly
Junior members are not allowed to smoke, or to consume alcohol or drugs of any kind, at training sessions or when representing the Club in competitions
Mobile phones are to be switched off throughout all club activites

It has been agreed at committee that:
If there is verbal (or physical) aggression or abuse, the perpetrator will be asked to leave the session
If someone is persistently uncooperative throughout a training session, they will be asked not to come to the next training session, and to think about why they belong to the club and whether or not they want to come again
Training sessions on Cannock Chase or events are appropriate to be signed up for Duke of Edinburgh award, gym sessions are not

Code of Conduct for Club Officials and Volunteers

All volunteers must:

  • Consider the well-being and safety of participants before the development of performance.
  • Develop an appropriate working relationship with performers, based on mutual trust and respect.
  • Make sure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part.
  • Promote the positive aspects of the sport (eg fair play).
  • Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance.
  • Follow all guidelines laid down by the National Governing Body and WCH.
  • Hold the appropriate, valid qualifications and insurance cover.
  • Never exert undue influence over performers to obtain personal benefit or reward.
  • Never condone rule violations, rough play or the use of prohibitive substances.

Code of Conduct for Parents / Carers

  • Encourage your child to learn the rules and compete within them.
  • Discourage unfair competition and arguing with officials.
  • Help your child to recognise good performance, not just results.
  • Never force your child to take part in orienteering.
  • Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding the good performance of all.Never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes.
  • Publicly accept officials’ judgements
  • Support your child’s involvement and help them enjoy their orienteering.Use correct and proper language at all times.

Organiser Guidelines


If you have volunteered to be an organiser of a Chasers event, you don’t need to re-invent the wheel. Organiser’s guidelines are available which pull together all tasks and contacts that you should need.
Chasers event guidelines are available from via admin@walton-chasers.co.uk

British Orienteering event guidelines are available from www.britishorienteering.org.uk

Safeguarding Children and At-Risk Adults

Walton Chasers Orienteering Club agrees to adopt the British Orienteering safeguarding policy & procedures.

British Orienteering updated its safeguarding and safety policy in February 2021 and the detailed policy can be accessed through https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/safeguardingandsafety

This has details for reporting any safeguarding or safety concerns but these can also be reported through any officer of Walton Chasers.

All individuals involved in orienteering through WCH at every level, including participants, Officials, Instructors/Coaches, Administrators, Club Officials or spectators (where it is feasible to manage) agree to abide by the British Orienteering Code of Ethics and Conduct (“Code”) and all such individuals participating or being involved in orienteering through WCH in one of the aforementioned roles or in a role which comes within the intended ambit of this paragraph and the British Orienteering Safeguarding Policy & Procedures generally are deemed to have assented to and as such recognise and adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in the Code.