SNCC Code of Conduct & Grievance Policy

SNCC code of conduct

The club promotes the ethos that cycling should be a safe and positive experience for all involved (club members, visitors and the general public).

The club is committed to ensuring that its members are able to conduct their activities in an environment that is free from harassment, intimidation or bullying.

To facilitate such an environment, club members are expected to:

• operate within the framework of the club rules and guidelines
• take reasonable care for the health and safety of other members and third parties
• comply with reasonable instructions given by club officials
• act at all times with respect for others, in good faith and in the best interests of the club.

Examples of failure to comply with the club code of conduct (normally regarded as

misconduct) include:

• minor breach of club policies
• refusal to follow instructions e.g., from a club or race official
• obscene language or other offensive behaviour

Examples of a serious breach of the code of conduct (gross misconduct) include:

• unlawful discrimination or harassment
• physical violence or bullying
• bringing the club into serious disrepute
• causing loss, damage or injury through serious negligence
• theft or fraud
• serious breach of health and safety rules and misuse of safety equipment
• serious breach of confidence
• serious breach of club or British Cycling policies and procedures
• use of banned or illegal substances
• unauthorised use or disclosure of confidential information

This list is not exhaustive and is intended as a guide only

Grievance policy

It is our policy to ensure that all members have access to a procedure to help resolve any grievances relating to SNCC quickly and fairly. Any steps under this procedure should be taken promptly unless there is a good reason for delay.

Minor grievances can often be resolved informally between parties. Discussions should be held in private without undue delay in an attempt to resolve the disagreement. If it is not resolved or the issue is considered to be a major code of conduct breach, the grievance procedure is to be used.

The time limits in this procedure may be extended if it is reasonable to do so. We may vary this procedure as appropriate to a particular case. The procedure may also be discontinued if it becomes impracticable for either party to continue with it. We will inform you in writing of the final outcome of your grievance.

It is our policy to ensure that any disciplinary matter, whether against the club or a club member, is dealt with fairly and that steps are taken to establish the facts.

Club members should not be subjected to disciplinary action without being provided with the following

• a written statement of the allegations
• a fair hearing before any decision is reached
• the right to an appeal hearing

Grievance procedure

You should put your grievance in writing and submit it to a committee member you feel comfortable approaching (other than the Chair, who provides an escalation path).  If you do not have contact details for a committee member, you should email the club (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), either providing details of the grievance or with a simple message asking a committee member to contact you to discuss the issue.

All grievances must be put in writing in order for them to be investigated.

The written grievance should indicate that you are invoking this grievance procedure and contain a brief description of the reasons for your complaint, including any relevant facts, dates, and names of individuals involved.  You will be invited to a grievance meeting or call, which will normally take place as soon as reasonable after we have received your written grievance.  While we may carry out such preliminary investigations as we consider appropriate prior to the meeting (which may involve interviewing you and any witnesses if appropriate), normally the initial grievance meeting will be your opportunity to fully explain your grievance and how you think it should be resolved.

The purpose of an investigation is for us to establish a fair and balanced view of the facts. After the initial grievance meeting, we may carry out such investigations and/or hold further grievance meetings as we consider appropriate. Investigative interviews are solely for the purpose of fact-finding and no decision on disciplinary action will be taken until after a disciplinary hearing has been held.

You are not permitted to make any electronic recordings of any investigative meetings, disciplinary or appeal hearings. Your representative, or any companions or witnesses who accompany you to any meetings or hearings are also forbidden from making electronic recordings.

Suspension

In cases of alleged gross misconduct where the members continued presence on club rides or club events would hinder an investigation, we may need to temporarily suspend them from club activities while an investigation or disciplinary procedure is ongoing. Suspension of this kind is not a disciplinary sanction and does not imply that any decision has already been made.

Grievance decisions

We will seek to inform you of our decision and of your right of appeal within 14 days of the final grievance meeting.  We may hold a meeting or call to give you this information, but in all cases, it will be confirmed in writing.

Appeals

Should you wish to appeal, you should do so in writing to the member who conducted the meeting, stating your full grounds of appeal, within one week of the date on which the decision was sent or given to you. We will hold an appeal meeting, normally no more than two weeks after we receive your appeal. Where practicable, this will be held by someone other than the person who conducted the grievance meeting(s). You may bring a companion to the appeal meeting. Our final decision will be notified to you within one week of the appeal meeting. We may hold a meeting to give you this information but, in all cases, it will be confirmed in writing.