Safeguarding.
British Cycling and Cycling UK recommend that a cycling group like ours considers how it looks after its members, especially the younger and/or more vulnerable cyclists. We have therefore drafted a Farcycles Safeguarding Policy document. It is worth having a look at this, especially if you are leading rides or training groups that include children or vulnerable adults
David Williamson, who is one of the founder members of Farcycles and one of the Directors, has volunteered to look after this, and is officially our Safeguarding and Welfare Officer.
Please don't hesitate to contact David if you have any concerns or worries that things aren't happening as they should. David's contact details are in the policy document in the section on Welfare Officer.
Young Riders on Farcycles Weekly Rides
Farcycles welcomes young people who have the experience, fitness and cycling skills needed to participate safely in our weekly rides.
For safeguarding and ride management purposes, different arrangements apply to riders under 16 and riders aged 16 or 17.
Advance authorisation
A parent or guardian wishing a young person under the age of 18 to join a Farcycles weekly ride must contact us in advance by emailing ride@farcycles.cc.
Requests should normally be made at least 72 hours before the ride and must include:
the young rider’s name and age;
the ride they would like to join;
relevant information about their cycling experience and ability;
the name of any adult who will accompany them; and
an emergency contact number.
All riders under 18 must also have a completed Farcycles Parental Consent Form.
Sending a request does not automatically confirm a place. Participation is only authorised once Farcycles has replied to confirm the arrangements. Requests made at short notice may not be accepted.
Riders under 16
A rider under the age of 16 must normally be accompanied throughout the ride by a responsible adult arranged by their parent or guardian.
The accompanying adult may be:
the rider’s parent or guardian;
another relative or family friend;
a coach or member of staff from a sports club; or
another adult whom the parent or guardian considers suitable.
The parent or guardian must obtain the adult’s agreement before nominating them. A Farcycles volunteer, ride host or other participant must not be nominated without that person’s prior agreement and confirmation from Farcycles. Help can be sought by contacting Farcycles via the ride@farcycles.cc email account.
The accompanying adult must:
be aged 18 or over;
introduce themselves to the ride host or group at the start;
remain with, or in effective supervision of, the young rider throughout the ride;
take responsibility for the young rider’s conduct and welfare;
ensure that the young rider is not left behind or separated from the group; and
assist the young rider in the event of illness, an accident, a mechanical problem or an inability to complete the ride.
Wednesday rides
Wednesday rides are informal group rides. They do not have a formally designated Farcycles ride host, and dedicated first-aid or individual supervision arrangements are not guaranteed.
For this reason, riders under 16 may only participate in a Wednesday ride when accompanied by a responsible adult arranged by their parent or guardian.
Farcycles cannot agree to a Wednesday participant taking responsibility for an otherwise unaccompanied under-16 rider as part of the ride arrangements. Farcycles would suggest parents seek an accompanying adult from the list outlined above.
Saturday rides
Saturday rides normally have a designated volunteer ride host. However, the ride host’s role is to help manage the group as a whole; it does not automatically include individual supervision or parental responsibility for a young rider.
Parents and guardians must therefore make every reasonable effort to arrange their own responsible adult to accompany a rider under 16.
In exceptional circumstances, Farcycles may agree in advance that a named and suitable adult volunteer will accompany the young rider. This will depend on:
the agreement of the proposed adult;
the young rider’s age, ability and experience;
the route, distance and expected conditions;
the number and experience of other riders;
appropriate safeguarding arrangements; and
the ride host’s assessment of whether the ride can be managed safely.
An exception is not guaranteed and must be expressly confirmed by Farcycles before the ride.
Riders aged 16 and 17
A rider aged 16 or 17 may be authorised to participate without an accompanying adult where:
Farcycles has received a completed Parental Consent Form;
the parent or guardian has requested permission in advance;
the rider has sufficient experience, fitness and road awareness for the proposed ride;
the rider is capable of being reasonably self-sufficient; and
Farcycles has confirmed that the ride and group arrangements are suitable.
Farcycles may require a 16- or 17-year-old to be accompanied where the route, weather, group size, rider’s experience or other circumstances make this appropriate.
Rider preparedness
Young riders must be capable of completing the advertised distance and riding safely within a group.
They should arrive with:
a safe and roadworthy bicycle;
a correctly fitted cycle helmet;
suitable clothing for the conditions;
sufficient food and drink;
any medication they may need;
appropriate tools and spare inner tubes or other puncture-repair equipment; and
a charged mobile phone where appropriate.
The accompanying adult remains responsible for deciding whether an under-16 rider is capable of completing the ride. For an authorised unaccompanied rider aged 16 or 17, Farcycles may also consider previous riding experience and knowledge of the rider.
Ride host’s discretion
A Farcycles ride host or authorised representative may refuse or withdraw permission for a young rider to participate where they reasonably believe that:
the rider or bicycle is not suitably prepared;
the route or conditions are unsuitable;
adequate supervision has not been arranged;
the group is too large;
the number or ages of young riders cannot be managed safely; or
continuing the ride would place the young rider or other participants at risk.
Where permission has previously been given, it may still be withdrawn if circumstances on the day are materially different from those anticipated.
Nature of Farcycles weekly rides
Farcycles weekly rides are recreational group rides and are not coaching sessions, childcare provision or specialist junior cycling activities.
Unless Farcycles has expressly agreed otherwise in advance, volunteer ride hosts and other participants do not assume individual responsibility for a young rider merely because they are taking part in the same ride.
Farcycles Teaching Sessions
For Farcycles Teaching Sessions and Guided Rides, we require a consent form signed by the child's parent/guardian to be returned electronically prior to the session or brought on first attendance.
