Cof of Conduct

Club Code of Conduct

Purpose and Range

Engaging in youth activities should happen in a welcoming, supportive, inclusive and safe environment. To implement this, it is necessary that young people are informed of the boundaries regarding their behaviour while they are participating in an Ógras camp or activity. It is also very important that respect and courtesy is illustrated to the camp leaders, acknowledging their role as organiser and facilitator in the running of the camp.

This Code of Conduct is an initiatory guideline to leaders, while they are preparing rules and a code of conduct/discipline specifically for their own club.

It is recommended that a code is developed with the input of members and young leaders to be certain that all members have been considered in the process. This will ensure that all members support the implementation of the code and that they take responsibility in completing the code’s objectives.

Ógras Camp and Event Rules / Guidelines

To make sure that all young people benefit from the camp and that everyone feels safe in participating in club events, the following guidelines should be obeyed:

Irish should always be spoken throughout camp activities
Actively participate and have an input in camp activities to the best of your abilities
Always be kind and show respect to others in the camp, regardless of cultural background, ability, gender or ethnicity.
You must respect the camp’s property and other camp members’ property, as well as looking after your own property.
Do not take part in any sort of bullying at any time.
Inform the leaders if you notice any form of bullying from other members
Be well behaved, balanced and show respect when you are engaging with other members and with the leaders. Consider other people’s feelings in what you do and what you say.
Report any behaviour that makes you feel uncomfortable to your leader or to a designated person.
lways Follow Ógras rules and guidelines
Remain in the room / hall that the club takes place in and do not leave without permission or alone.
Mobile phones shouldn’t be used during camp activities without a leader’s permission.
Do not take pictures or recordings of anyone in the club without the leader’s permission and under the leader’s supervision (see our Internet Policy and our Bullying Policy)
Avoid behaviour that would put anyone in the club in danger
Avoid abuse, bad language and disparaging remarks
Pay attention to litter and the cleanliness of the hall. Five minutes should be set aside at the end of each session to clean up.

Organisation rules regarding day trips

Always speak Irish.
All members and leaders are required to wear seat belts when travelling on a bus
Food or drink are not allowed on the bus other than water
Do not do anything to distract the bus driver or anyone else on the bus
Respect the venue, yourself and other people on the trip with you
Follow the leaders’ rules
Do not leave rubbish on the bus or at the venue
Do not interfere with anything that doesn’t belong to you
Do not leave the group without a leader’s permission

The camp staff are advised to agree on a list of sanctions in the event the code of conduct is violated.

Below is a list of potential ways to deal with violations:

An apology
Loss of privileges
Inform parents
Temporary or permanent expulsion of the member from the activity / camp.

When an incident occurs, a decision is made on the consequence, depending on the seriousness of the situation.

Examples of unsuitable behaviour:

Not following the guidelines
Disruptive behaviour
Speaking English in the club
Lack of respect/bad behaviour
Talking back

A guideline for camps in a case of unsuitable behaviour during camp activities:

The first time an incident occurs the member gets a verbal warning, and must apologise to the leaders / members concerned.
If an incident occurs a second time, their name goes into the accidents / incidents book and the member will have to sit out of the event/game
When the rules are broken three times – parents are contacted
When the rules are broken four times – club member is expelled
In serious cases a member may be expelled instantly from the camp, but parents must be contacted immediately.

2. Examples of serious misbehaviour where a leader may use the harshest sanctions:

Fighting and Violence
Bullying
Disrespecting others because of their gender, background, culture, ability, or their ethnicity
Showing a leader disrespect
Damage to the club / hall / school property or equipment

Guidelines for dealing with unsuitable behaviour during residential activities:

A member of Ógras staff will speak to the young person and go through the rules with them again
If the unsuitable behaviour continues, a member of Ógras staff will contact the parents and ask them to speak to the young person and request that they improve their behaviour
If the misbehaviour persists the parents will be contacted again and asked to make arrangements to collect the member in question
In the event of serious misbehaviour, the parents will be contacted and asked to make arrangements to collect the young person immediately

The protocol below is recommended for leaders when dealing with incidents at the camp.

Reconciliation is reached between the members, if possible, using the questions below:

What happened?
What would you do differently next time?
What is going to happen now? (Is the member going to be suspended / are they going to be permanently expelled from the club / activities …)
Is there anything else to be discussed or said?