HKPC Safeguarding Code of Conduct
As a HKPC Volunteer you should:
- Treat children with respect and recognise them as individuals in their own right.
- Taking all reasonable care to protect children from all forms of abuse while in your care.
- Ensure that children understand the instructions that have been given to them, and that what is asked of them is age and skill appropriate, and can be reasonably expected.
- Dress and act professionally and appropriately for the situation.
- Take children who are not listening or following instructions to one side and ask them to sit out the activity in the company of a responsible adult.
- Be visible to other adults when talking with children.
- Be culturally sensitive to attitudes of physical contact. Touch should be age-appropriate and only the necessary amount for coaching, safety or medical needs.
- Be attentive to children’s physical needs. Offer rest time and water breaks.
- Respect children’s right to privacy and avoid asking questions of a personal nature.
- Avoid questionable behaviour that could be misconstrued, such as flirting, joking or rough play.
- Create and maintain an open culture in which any issues or concerns can be discussed, and inform children of what they can do if they feel there is a problem or difficulty.
- Report to the Safeguarding Officer if you suspect a child may be subjected to inappropriate or abusive actions or attitudes of another person.
It is NOT appropriate to:
- Match children to ponies or horses that are not appropriate for them, including size and temperament.
- Commence a riding activity without the presence of a qualified instructor.
Give gifts of any kind to children without the knowledge and consent of their parents.
- Give children your contact or social media details.
- Communicate through electronic means directly with children without parental knowledge and consent. Group communication is preferable over individual communication.
You must NEVER:
- Allow children to participate in a riding activity without adequate personal protective equipment.
- Discriminate against or show favour towards particular children.
- Hit, assault or physically discipline a child.
- Speak to a child in a disrespectful manner such as shouting, swearing or using humiliating or shaming language.
- Invite children to your home or meet them outside of HKPC activities without the knowledge and consent of their parents.
- Touch children in a manner which is inappropriate. A general guideline is not to touch the face, chest or bottom. Inappropriate touching includes kissing and tickling.
- Engage in any activity or use language that is flirtatious, sexually provocative, offensive or exploitative.
- Develop physical, sexual or romantic relationships with children.
- Expose children to inappropriate materials such as pornographic or violent pictures, videos and literature.
- Excuse, or participate in, behaviour which is illegal.
- Be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.