Sheffield Walking Group

Guiding Principles for Sheffield 20s and 30s Walking Group

The aim of Sheffield 20s and 30s Walking Group (SWG) is to provide a sociable, friendly and inclusive environment for walking and social activities for members. SWG is part of the Ramblers, which is a charity. In addition to the wider charitable aims of the Ramblers, SWG has a particular focus on encouraging Sheffield-based people in their 20s and 30s to walk. This document outlines the behaviour we request of all our members (including committee members, walk leaders and other activity organisers).

• Please be polite and friendly – both to existing and potential members and to members of the public we encounter on SWG walks or other events.
• Please feel free to come along to two or three walks to try out SWG to see if it is right for you; after that, if you wish to continue walking with the group we ask that you join the Ramblers and put SWG as your local group. We also ask that members keep their membership up to date for so long as they walk with us or participate in SWG activities.
• Our walks require mobility and a degree of physical fitness, dependent on the nature of the walk. We endeavour to provide information on the level, nature and intended pace of the walk. Please consider this when selecting which walks to attend – particularly in relation to weekends away, as some may be very challenging.
• Please recognise that whilst we endeavour to provide a high quality service to our members and helpful information about our walks and activities, our walk leaders and organisers of social activities and weekends away are unpaid volunteers who devote a considerable amount of their own time for the benefit of the group. Things will not always go according to plan, so please try to be understanding and supportive when such incidences occur.
• Please consider volunteering to help the group in future by leading or back-marking a walk, which will help support the group’s continued success. Please speak to a member of the committee if you are interested. You might also like to consider standing for a position on the committee, which is voted in at our AGM in October.
• Respect the privacy of all members. Members who provide contact details for activities they organise ask that these are used only for purposes related to that activity.
• Respect all other SWG members and their differing backgrounds and walking abilities. Discrimination on the grounds of sex, disability , ethnicity, sexuality, religion, age or nationality will not be tolerated. Likewise, any sexual or other harassment (verbal or physical), bullying, victimisation, or behaviour that is threatening, intimidating or aggressive is unacceptable.
• Please feel free to provide feedback on activities, as we are always looking to improve the group’s activities and services for members. If necessary, please use the complaints procedure if you feel that a member of SWG may have breached these Guiding Principles, or that their behaviour has become a concern. All complaints and concerns will be dealt with in confidence.