British Universities & Colleges Sport
Sports Advisory Group Code of Conduct
About BUCS
British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher
education sport in the UK. Its vision is to enhance the student experience through sport in
three key areas:



Performance
Competition
Participation
To do this, BUCS works with student athletes, athletic union staff and elected officers as
well as professional sporting staff, coaches and volunteers at its 165 member institutions. It
offers a comprehensive, multi-sport competition structure and manages the development of
services and facilities for participative, grass-roots sport and healthy campuses through to
high-performance, elite athletes.
The BUCS sporting programme is available to the 2.3 million students across the UK. Over
100,000 students regularly compete in BUCS competitions, leagues and events. BUCS
delivers 50 sports to these students and universities and organises 150 individual final or
championship events each year.
Role of Volunteers
Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring BUCS is able to deliver the full range of services to
the membership. BUCS has in place a Volunteer Charter which outlines BUCS and its
volunteers responsibilities to one another.
The following is an extract from the Volunteer Charter that outlines how BUCS staff are
expected to conduct themselves when dealing with all volunteers.
As a volunteer with BUCS, you can expect:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
To be listened to, and allocated to a role that best suits your skill sets and
interests.
To be given clear and concise information from BUCS about what is expected of
you
Opportunities to use your talents and skills to influence the development of
University sport
To feel an important part of a team
A chance to meet people, make new friends and keep active
To receive advice on how to best complete your duties as a BUCS volunteer
The opportunity to undertake appropriate training and continue volunteer at other
BUCS events and other BUCS sports
For BUCS to respond to your queries (in whichever form), requests and
complaints, promptly
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Recognition and thanks
To be treated with respect and consideration by other volunteers and BUCS staff
Reimbursement of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course
of your volunteering at BUCS events within four weeks of receiving your claim
Equal opportunities
Health and safety advice and guidance
The full Volunteer Charter is available here
http://c1593.r93.cf3.rackcdn.com/BUCS_VOLUNTEER_CHARTER.pdf
Purpose of this code of conduct
The relationship between BUCS and the volunteers who join its Sports Advisory Groups is
an extended one, and includes acting on BUCS behalf and with our agreement in different
situations and environments. It is recognised that further guidance is needed to ensure that
our key and valued volunteers in the SAG’s know what is expected of them in this important
role. This document aims to expand upon this. The purpose of this document is therefore:
a)
b)
c)
To contribute towards a constructive and pleasant atmosphere in which to volunteer
with BUCS.
To ensure that all SAG members know what behaviour they have a right to expect from
other members.
To ensure that all volunteers know what behaviour is expected of them whilst
volunteering for BUCS.
Expectations
a) The main expectation that BUCS has for volunteer conduct is that volunteers help
BUCS with its strategic aims for sport in higher education and that a volunteer does this
by following BUCS policies and without negative behaviour which impacts on BUCS,
external organisations (such as national governing bodies) or BUCS membership.
b) In addition to being reliable, SAG members are expected to work constructively with
other volunteers and employees. Consequently, when an SAG member takes on a task
or role, s/he is expected to do it in a way which doesn’t create excess work or
unnecessary tension for others or unacceptable delays to the task in hand. SAG
members should also respond constructively with reasonable requests made to them
from other volunteers or employees.
c) BUCS places a lot of trust in its volunteers both in its internal business and during
interventions with the public. Employees and volunteers need to trust other volunteers if
they are to work productively together and so BUCS expects volunteers to be honest
whilst volunteering for BUCS.
This code applies to:
Any members of a BUCS Sports Advisory Group
This code applies at the following times:
a)
When discussing BUCS or business relating to BUCS during the volunteer’s term of
office
b)
c)
From arrival at BUCS event venues until departure from the venue
At all official and unofficial social functions of, or associated with, BUCS or its events
1.
General Code of Conduct
This code may apply in addition to other BUCS policies. There is no expectation that all
volunteers will know the intricate detail of all BUCS policies relating to behaviour, however
most behaviour that BUCS considers to be negative is widely understood and accepted as
negative behaviour in society.
All BUCS SAG members must:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
l)
m)
n)
o)
p)
2.
respect the rights, dignity and worth of others
not act in a manner that may intimidate, offend, insult or humiliate another person on
the basis of their sex, disability, race, colour, age, religion or national or ethnic origin
be fair, considerate and honest in all dealings with others
accept responsibility for their actions
make a commitment to providing quality service
not use one’s involvement with BUCS to promote one’s own beliefs, behaviours, or
practices where these are inconsistent with those of BUCS
maintain high standards of personal behaviour at all times
conduct oneself in an appropriate manner relating to language, temper and punctuality
refrain from any form of harassment of others
refrain from any behaviour that may bring BUCS into disrepute
comply with all reasonable directions of BUCS
maintain impartiality at all times
not make any statement to the detriment of BUCS or the people within BUCS knowing it
to be false or without regard as to the validity or falseness of the statement
behave constructively in meetings and in relation to decisions
not undermine decisions made by BUCS through obstructive behaviour
This Code may apply in addition to other BUCS policies
Confidentiality
At times BUCS SAG members will come across or are entrusted with information, either
about BUCS, partners of BUCS, or people or policies within which is confidential.
People’s trust in BUCS will be undermined if any of BUCS’s representatives
unnecessarily discuss issues that should not be publicly discussed.
3.
Parameters
BUCS SAG Members are expected to act as ambassadors for BUCS throughout their
term of office and promote BUCS through their interactions with other stakeholders
within their sport. However BUCS needs to make the distinction between the
responsibilities of the BUCS professional staff and the volunteer body.
BUCS SAG members are not permitted to:
a)
b)
c)
Commit BUCS to any financial expenditure
Enter negotiations or make any commitments regarding commercial activity including
sponsorship and rights
Attend meetings where a BUCS representative is requested (without prior agreement
with the Sports Manager)
d)
Make representations to other partners and stakeholders (without prior agreement with
the Sports Manager)
Where opportunities in these areas are identified the SAG member should immediately
refer to the BUCS Sports Manager for discussion on the best way to proceed.