Dear Parent/Guardian

This code of behaviour is in place to make sure everyone who takes part in Culmore Youth Club’s activities knows what is expected of them and feels safe, respected, and valued.

Culmore Youth Club must make sure that everyone taking part in our activities has seen, understood, and agreed to follow the code of behaviour, and that they understand what will happen if there is inappropriate behaviour. 

We expect people who take part in our services to display appropriate behaviour at all times. This includes behaviour that takes place outside our organisation and behaviour that takes place online.

This code of behaviour aims to:

• Identify acceptable and unacceptable behaviour
• Encourage cooperation, honesty, fairness, and respect
• Create an environment where your self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence will grow
• Encourage you to recognise and respect the rights of others
• Encourage you to take responsibility for your own behaviour
• Help resolve conflicts and make it clear what will happen if you decide not to follow the code.

Dos and don’ts for children and young people 

You should: 

• be supportive and kind to others 
• be friendly 
• listen to others 
• be helpful 
• have good manners
• treat everyone with respect 
• take responsibility for your own behaviour 
• talk to the Youth Leader about anything that worries or concerns you 
• follow this code of behaviour and other rules (including the law)
• join in and have fun! 
  

You shouldn’t: 

• be disrespectful to anyone else 
• bully other people (online or offline) 
• behave in a way that could be intimidating 
• be abusive towards anyone
  

What happens if I do not to follow the code of behaviour? 

This code of behaviour is part of our process for making sure everyone who takes part in our activities gets the support they need.

Minor or first-time incident

If you behave in a way that doesn’t follow our behaviour code, our staff or volunteers will remind you about it and ask you to change your behaviour. This gives you the chance to think and to plan how you could behave differently, with support from staff and/or volunteers.

Formal warning

If you continue not to follow the code of behaviour after your first reminder, or if your behaviour is more serious, you will be given a formal warning by the person running your activity. They will make a record about what happened and inform your parents or carers if it is appropriate. They will also talk with you about what happened and agree what support you need to improve your behaviour in the future. We might also decide that further steps should be taken, such as restricting you from taking part in some activities. 

Final warning

If the support we have put in place isn’t helping you to change your behaviour, we might need to give you a final warning. Again, this will be recorded, and we’ll inform your parents or carers as appropriate. At this point, we might need to talk with you and your parents or carers about other services that might be more able to give you the support you need.

Child protection procedures

If any member of staff or volunteer becomes concerned that your behaviour suggests you might be in need of protection or that you might present a risk of harm to other children and young people, they will follow our child protection procedures. This might involve making a referral to the local authority. If child protection procedures are necessary, we will talk this through with you and your parents as soon as possible, unless doing so would put you in danger or interfere with a police investigation.

The role of parents and carers 

We see parents and carers as important in encouraging positive behaviour and will involve them as appropriate. We will always inform and involve your parents or carers if you receive a formal warning about your behaviour, unless doing so would put you in danger.