Phoenix Rifle Club Policies
Document Purpose: The following policies are provided for Phoenix Rifle Club to support safe, inclusive, and well-governed community sporting activity. These policies should be reviewed and formally adopted by the Club Committee before publication.
Safeguarding Policy
Phoenix Rifle Club Safeguarding Policy
1. Policy Statement
Phoenix Rifle Club is committed to creating and maintaining a safe, positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for all participants, including children, young people, and vulnerable adults participating in shooting sports activities.
The welfare and well-being of children, young people, and adults at risk are paramount at all times.
The Club recognises its duty of care and safeguarding responsibilities in accordance with Home Office guidance, applicable safeguarding legislation in England and Wales, National Small-bore Rifle Association guidance, and best practice for community amateur sports clubs.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all committee members, volunteers, coaches, range officers, instructors, members, parents, carers, visitors, and any other person participating in or supporting Club activities.
3. Safeguarding Principles
Phoenix Rifle Club will prioritise the safety and well-being of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The Club will provide a safe and inclusive sporting environment, promote respect, equality, and dignity, ensure concerns are reported appropriately, and take all allegations or disclosures seriously.
The Club will appoint a Safeguarding Officer, require suitable checks where appropriate, maintain safeguarding records securely, and promote safe coaching and supervision practices.
4. Safeguarding Officer
The Club Committee shall appoint a designated Safeguarding Officer responsible for receiving safeguarding concerns, maintaining appropriate records, liaising with relevant authorities where necessary, supporting safeguarding awareness, and ensuring safeguarding procedures are reviewed annually.
Contact details for the Safeguarding Officer should be published on the Club website and displayed at the range facility.
5. Reporting Concerns
Any safeguarding concern, allegation, disclosure, or suspicion involving abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, inappropriate conduct, unsafe behaviour, or risk of harm must be reported immediately to the Club Safeguarding Officer.
Where there is an immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted without delay.
6. Good Practice
Club officials, coaches, range officers, and volunteers must work openly and transparently, avoid unsupervised one-to-one situations where reasonably possible, maintain appropriate boundaries, treat all participants equally, promote safe firearms handling at all times, and ensure activities are appropriate to age, ability, and experience.
Where minors participate, parental or guardian consent must be obtained where required, and all relevant Club safety rules and range procedures must be followed.
7. Photography, Video, and Social Media
Photography or video involving minors shall only occur with appropriate parental or guardian consent. Images must not compromise privacy, identify individuals inappropriately, or place children, young people, or vulnerable persons at risk.
Club members and officials must not engage in inappropriate online communication with minors or vulnerable persons.
8. DBS Checks
Where appropriate, individuals working with children, young people or vulnerable adults may be required to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks in accordance with safeguarding best practice and the Club’s risk assessment procedures.
9. Confidentiality and Records
Safeguarding information shall be handled sensitively and shared only with those who need to know in order to protect individuals, comply with legal obligations, or support appropriate safeguarding action.
10. Review
This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Club Committee or sooner if required by changes in law, guidance, Club operations, or safeguarding practice.
Equality and Diversity Policy
Phoenix Rifle Club Equality and Diversity Policy
1. Policy Statement
Phoenix Rifle Club is committed to providing an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for all persons participating in shooting sports activities.
The Club opposes all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation, and exclusion.
2. Commitment to Equality
The Club supports equality of opportunity regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, experience level, or sporting ability.
3. Objectives
The Club aims to promote inclusive participation in shooting sports, encourage community engagement, provide disabled access where reasonably practicable, support youth participation, create a respectful and safe environment, and ensure fair treatment of all members and visitors.
4. Inclusion in Shooting Sports
Phoenix Rifle Club supports participation by beginners, juniors, disabled participants, underrepresented groups and community members seeking a safe and structured introduction to target shooting sports.
Reasonable adjustments will be considered wherever practicable to improve access and participation.
5. Conduct Expectations
All members, visitors, volunteers, and officials must behave respectfully, avoid discriminatory language or conduct, comply with Club rules and policies, and support a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment.
Bullying, harassment, victimisation, or discrimination may result in disciplinary action, suspension, or termination of membership.
6. Membership and Participation
The Club will seek to ensure that membership and participation processes are fair, transparent and consistent, subject always to legal requirements, safeguarding requirements, Home Office guidance, firearms legislation, range safety rules, and the Club’s constitution.
7. Complaints
Complaints relating to discrimination, harassment, exclusion, or unfair treatment should be reported to the Club Committee. Complaints will be handled appropriately, fairly, and confidentially where possible.
8. Review
This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Club Committee or sooner if required by changes in law, guidance, or Club operations.
Health and Safety Policy
Phoenix Rifle Club Health and Safety Policy
1. Policy Statement
Phoenix Rifle Club is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all members, visitors, volunteers, contractors, coaches, range officers, and participants.
The Club recognises that shooting sports require strict adherence to safety procedures, lawful firearms handling practices, clear supervision, and a strong safety culture.
The Club will take all reasonably practicable steps to reduce risks, prevent accidents, maintain safe facilities, and promote responsible sporting conduct.
2. Responsibilities of the Club Committee
The Club Committee shall maintain health and safety procedures, conduct and review risk assessments, maintain appropriate insurance, ensure range safety procedures are enforced, review incidents and near misses, and ensure emergency procedures are in place.
3. Responsibilities of Members and Visitors
Members and visitors must comply with all range commands, follow safety instructions immediately, handle firearms safely at all times, report hazards immediately, use protective equipment where required, and behave responsibly while on Club premises.
4. Firearms Safety
All shooting activities shall comply with Home Office approvals, National Small-bore Rifle Association rules where applicable, Club ranges' standing orders, applicable firearms legislation, and the instructions of authorised Range Officers.
Firearms shall only be handled in designated areas, remain unloaded unless authorised, and be pointed in safe directions at all times.
5. Range Officer Authority
Range Officers have authority over range safety. All participants must comply immediately with Range Officer instructions. Unsafe behaviour may result in immediate removal from the range and referral to the Club Committee.
6. Range Safety and Facility Management
The Club shall maintain range safety procedures, conduct regular inspections, maintain safe target systems, ensure appropriate lighting and ventilation, maintain first aid provisions and provide clear emergency contact procedures.
7. Young Persons and Vulnerable Persons
Minors and vulnerable persons shall be supervised appropriately, receive age-appropriate instruction, and only participate under authorised Club procedures.
8. Accidents, Incidents, and Near Misses
All accidents, injuries, near misses, and safety concerns must be reported immediately to a Range Officer or Committee Member. The Club shall maintain an incident log and review incidents to identify corrective actions where required.
9. Contractors and Visitors
All contractors and visitors must comply with Club safety procedures, follow authorised access instructions, avoid restricted areas unless authorised, and report hazards or unsafe conditions immediately.
10. First Aid and Emergencies
The Club shall maintain appropriate first aid arrangements and emergency procedures. Emergency contact information should be clearly available at the facility.
11. Risk Assessments
The Club shall maintain risk assessments for key activities and facility areas. Risk assessments should be reviewed regularly and following any significant incident, operational change or facility improvement.
12. Review
This policy shall be reviewed annually by the Club Committee or sooner if required following legislative, operational, or safety changes.