Safeguarding & rules

The Church of England and the Lichfield & Walsall Archdeaconries Society of Change Ringers are committed to the safeguarding of children under 18 and vulnerable adults and ensuring their wellbeing. The Church has robust policies and the Society endeavours to comply with them.

Activities Arranged by the Society

When taking part in society activities, children and vulnerable adults may be considered at risk, particularly when undertaking 1:1 training, transport to events and through the close bonds of friendship engendered through ringing activities.

The Society has a responsibility to prevent the physical, sexual, psychological, financial or discriminatory abuse or neglect of such children or vulnerable adults. In consequence, the society undertakes to exercise due diligence in the appointment and selection of those who work closely with children or vulnerable adults.  The society will follow guidelines issued by the church authorities and meet such civil legal requirements as may be in force.

In implementing our responsibilities, the society will appoint a safeguarding officer, prepare a detailed safeguarding policy, identify those activities entailing 1 to 1 physical training, supervision or transportation of children or vulnerable adults, arrange training for the trustees and event managers and seek to ensure that at least two persons with DBS certificates are present at events where children or vulnerable adults might be considered at risk.

If you have any concerns regarding safeguarding matters, contact either the safeguarding officer, or any member of the committee. Contact details can be found at the front of the Annual Report. The society will deal sympathetically and fairly with any complaints or concerns of a safeguarding nature and will advise and seek advice from the appropriate authorities. A copy of the full policy of the society is available on request.

Safeguarding within Individual Towers

The PCC of the church to which your tower belongs should already have adopted a safeguarding policy that the tower band should comply with and that policy should be displayed prominently in the church, along with the name of the Parish Safeguarding Officer. However, many towers have an independent access, so a copy should also be displayed in the tower.

It is advisable to keep a register of who attends to ring at services and practices – including visitors. This is good practice whether you have any children and young people in the tower or not.

Anyone teaching children should have a DBS check. It is advisable to have 2 people in the band with DBS clearance in case the main person can’t attend. The process is straightforward and online you will need to get the relevant access numbers from your Parish Safeguarding Officer.  Once your certificate has come through, show it to your Parish Safeguarding Officer as they will make a note of the number and the date it is issued.  Remember that DBS checks are only valid for three years and are only correct on the issue date.

When you have children and young people in the tower, ask the parent or guardian to fill out a registration form, with their contact details, any health issues the person may have and, most importantly, ask permission to use photos for the parish magazine of other public publication (examples are on the safeguarding pages of the diocesan website).

It is recommended that those leading activities and groups working with children, young persons or vulnerable adults undertake the foundation course.  Tower captains need to do the Leadership module.  There is also a basic course, relevant to all members. Unfortunately, any safeguarding training undertaken before January 2017 doesn’t fulfill the criteria. Links to the courses can be found on the website:

www.lichfield.anglican.org/safeguarding_resources/ 

If the young people in the tower need transport to events – don’t arrange it via the tower – ask the parents to agree the process between themselves, unless you know that the driver has a current church-based DBS.

The main points to remember are:

•       that this process is to protect YOU

•       even if there aren’t children or young people currently learning, don’t wait to get someone checked – if a young person shows an interest you want them to be able to start straight away

There is a lot of information and advice on the diocesan website: www.lichfield.anglican.org .

If there is anything of immediate concern, then the diocesan safeguarding officer should be notified straightaway.  Details are on the diocesan website, www.lichfield.anglican.org/safeguarding/ which gives details of who to contact quickly.

1. Title & Legal Status

1.1   This Society shall be called the “Lichfield and Walsall Archdeaconries Society of Change Ringers”.

1.2   The society shall be registered in the UK as a Charity.

1.3   The Trustees of the Society shall be the Officers, defined in 5.1.a below, and one other person appointed by and drawn from the Committee.

2. Affiliation

2.1   The ringing installations affiliated to the Society shall be those towers within the territory of the Archdeaconries of Lichfield and Walsall or their successors, plus those listed in Annex 1.

2.2   The Society shall be affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers and abide by its rules.

3. Objectives

3.1   The charity’s purposes are the advancement of Christian religion plus the advancement of the art culture and heritage of bellringing, particularly by:

a. the institution and maintenance in affiliated towers of; full Sunday service ringing, other service ringing, and ringing for national and local civic occasions.

b. the fostering of the closest possible co-operation with the church, its gospel mission, other owners of bell installations, and with the Community.

    c. the recognition of the position of ringers as members of the church community,

    d. the encouragement of recruitment and training of ringers and advancement of the art of change ringing.

    e. the provision of assistance to owners or promoters of affiliated bell installations

4. Membership & Subscription

4.1   The minimum qualification for membership is to be able to handle a bell safely and ring call changes competently.

4.2   The Society membership shall consist of:

4.2.1 Voting Members, who are resident in the territory of the society, or are members of an affiliated tower band, comprising:

         a. Adult members, subscribing at the rate defined in Annex 2.

b. Junior Members, under the age of 25 years and in full-time education, subscribing a reduced rate defined in Annex 2.

    c. Honorary Life Members, conferred upon members who fall into one of the following categories;

                 i. the completion of 50 years continuous ringing membership of the society,

                 ii. the necessity of giving up active ringing because of a permanent disability or infirmity,

                     iii. the giving, at the discretion of the Committee, outstanding service to the Society.

    4.2.2 Non-Voting Members, comprising;

a. Non-Resident Life Members, paying a one-off subscription defined in Annex 2. Ringers eligible for this category are those qualifying under section 0 and not resident within the territory of the Society nor members of an affiliated tower band. Such membership shall cease upon a member taking up residence within the territory or ringing regularly at any affiliated installation. A Voting Member, moving away from the area automatically becomes a Non-Voting Member.

4.3   Election of Members shall take place as follows:

    4.3.1 Voting or Non-Voting members shall be elected at any business meeting of the Society.

    4.3.2 Honorary Life Members shall be elected preferably at the AGM, but in extremis at any business meeting.

4.4   Proposals for election to any category of membership shall be proposed and seconded by Voting Members, and approved by a majority of members present at the meeting.

4.5   Subscription rates shall be determined by the Committee at the committee meeting prior to the financial year end, taking account of the society's financial position and commitments.

    4.5.1 These shall be publicised to the members and ratified at the AGM.

    4.5.2 Current rates in place are defined in Annex 2.

4.6   Subscriptions become due at the start of the financial year or at the date of election.

4.7   A proportion of subscriptions shall be assigned to the Bell Restoration Fund defined below. The current rate of assignment is defined in Annex 2.

5. Management Committee

5.1   The Society shall appoint a Management Committee to administer the affairs of the Society on behalf of the Members. The committee shall consist of:

    a. Officers: Secretary, Treasurer, Ringing Master and Assistant Ringing Master

b. Ex-Officio Members: Bell Adviser, Newsletter Editor, Safeguarding Officer, Data Protection Officer and Central Council Representatives, or other responsibilities that the Committee shall deem necessary for effective administration of the Society.

    c. Up to four other Voting Members.

5.2   All shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting for a period of one year, except for Central Council representatives, who are elected for a three-year term. A Voting Member may propose or second only one person, who has indicated their willingness to stand, for any one post, and proposers may not be nominated for that same post. Nominations should be received by the Secretary at least one week in advance of the meeting, but in extremis will be accepted on the day. Where more than the required numbers of persons are nominated, an election shall be conducted by ballot. If no nominations are received for a post, the Committee shall be empowered to make suitable arrangements and take appropriate action.

5.3   The quorum for a Committee meeting shall consist of five members, at least two of whom shall be Officers. At the first Committee meeting following each Annual General Meeting, the Committee shall elect a Chairperson from amongst its number.

6. Meetings

6.1   The Annual General Meeting shall be held in September each year or such other time as the Committee may decide. Notice of the AGM shall be published at least 28 days before the meeting.

6.2   A Special General Meeting may be convened by:

    a. The Committee, or

    b. A request, in writing, from at least ten Voting Members.

6.3   Meetings shall be arranged at affiliated towers.

6.4   Only Voting Members may vote at meetings of the Society and each member shall have one vote.

    a. A simple majority of those present shall be required to pass or accept an ordinary motion.

b. A 75% majority of those present shall be required to pass or accept a motion impacting on the governance or dissolution of the Society.

7. Society Funds

7.1   The Society shall maintain a General Fund and other such funds as are deemed necessary by the Committee. All funds shall be applied only in furthering the Objects of the Society. The Committee shall be empowered to reallocate funds from the General Fund to other funds maintained by the Society but not vice-versa. The Treasurer shall prepare Accounts for the year ended 30th June, which shall be examined.

7.2   The Trustees shall have the power to invest or otherwise deal with such sums as the Committee of the Society may place in their hands in such a manner as the Committee shall direct. Any two of the Trustees shall have the power to sign cheques or bank instructions. The Trustees shall have the authority to administer internet banking account(s) in accordance with the processes set down by the Society's bankers. Dual authorisation of payments is preferred when the banker's processes permit. Where the banker's processes require administration by a sole individual, one Trustee shall be authorised to do so, provided that additional Trustee(s) are also given power of scrutiny of the bank account(s).

7.3   The Bell Restoration Fund shall be administered as a restricted fund by the Committee of the Society for the purpose of providing financial support in furthering the Objectives of the Society. This includes providing, maintaining and improving a bell installation, including sound control and the transfer of bells fittings and framework from a redundant building to a new site, but excluding ropes and repairs to the church fabric. The Committee may award grants to owners, promoters or facilitators upon written application and presentation of a scheme of work and a detailed estimate or quotations for the work. In the case of installations with no resident ringing band, the Committee may act as promoter. Decisions on the award of grants from the Fund will be made by the Committee and recorded in the minutes.

7.4   If the work is not commenced within two years of a grant being offered, the scheme shall be deemed as lapsed and a new application should be submitted to the committee.

8. Peals

8.1   All participants in Society peals shall pay a fee, as determined at an Annual General Meeting and defined in Annex 2, for each one rung. The conductor, at some time prior to the following meeting, shall be answerable to the Society Treasurer for the amount due.

8.2   Any person wishing to attempt a peal with the Society shall be proposed, seconded and elected as either a Voting or a Non-Voting member, previous to an attempt being made. At the next meeting, the conductor of the peal shall report the same and the election be ratified. The proposer shall be answerable for the appropriate subscription.

8.3   The details of any peal reported as having been rung for the Society shall be entered in the records of the Society only if at least half of the participants were Voting Members of the Society.

9. Change of Rules

9.1   Any alterations to these rules shall be made at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Notice of any proposed rule change shall be made in writing to the Secretary at least six weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting. Such proposals shall be published at least 28 days prior to the meeting.

9.2   To comply with Charity Commission requirements, no amendment may be made to clause 0 (Objectives clause) or clause 0 (Dissolution clause) without the consent of the Charity Commission or which would have the effect of making the Society Charity cease to be a Charity at law.

10. Dissolution or Amalgamation

10.1 At the resolution of an Annual, or Special General Meeting, the Committee may arrange terms to amalgamate the Society with another society or societies, providing the objectives remain compatible.

10.2 In the event of dissolution of the Society, the assets of the Society shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objectives similar to the objectives of the Society as the members may determine at an Annual or Special General Meeting.

Annex 1 - Additional affiliated ringing installations

Christ Church, Coseley,

All Saints, Sedgley,

Holy Angels, Hoar Cross,

St James, Barton under Needwood,

St Mary, Stafford,

The Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry.

Annex 2 - Financial rates Subscription Rates Amount assigned to BRF

Adult Member £7.00 per annum £3.00

Junior Member £3.00 per annum £2.00

Honorary Life Members No subscription payable

Non-Resident Life Member £5.00 in perpetuity

Members elected at the last meeting in each financial year shall pay their first subscription upon election and be exempt the following year. Peal fees shall be 30p per rope. Quarter peals and other shorter performances – no cost.

The following rules relate to both the 6 and 8 bell competitions. Where alternatives are given in brackets, the first refers to the 6 bell competition and the second to the 8 bell competition.

1. Teams shall consist of six (eight) ringers, who must be members of the Society, but can be elected on the day of the competition. Teams shall consist of:

a. Tower-based teams, comprising members of the Society, who can be elected on the day. They must be members of or ring regularly at the same tower, which is affiliated to the Society at the time of the competition. There may be more than one team per tower, with a limit of two if there are more than ten entries in total. No person may ring more for more than one tower-based team. Up to one (two) guest ringer(s) may be allowed, providing they ring regularly with the band and are ringing members of the Society. 

b. Youth teams, comprising ringers selected from regular attendees at the Three Spires youth practices. No person may ring more than one bell or ring for more than one youth-based team, although they may also ring for a tower-based team. 

c.  Both types of team are eligible to win the Henry Follis Cup or the Harry Butler Shield.

2. The date, location and final date for entries shall be notified to each tower at least four weeks prior to the competition. The venue of the competition shall be at a tower where the local team do not wish to participate.

3. Entries shall be made directly to the Honorary Secretary. An entry shall be deemed an acceptance of the rules.

4. The draw shall be made publicly and promptly at the stated time by a person who is not a member of a competing team.

5. The order of the teams drawn shall be final.

6. Any team not complete and ready to ring at the time required shall be liable to disqualification.

7. The competing team only shall be in the ringing room during the test piece. A seventh (ninth) person may count the rows for call-change bands but must not aid the band.

8. A steward shall accompany each team to the ringing room, remain for the practice and explain the following:

a. Up to 5 whole pulls are allowed for rope testing.

b. Up to 3 minutes are allowed for practice. The responsibility for timing rests with the band, but if requested, the steward will give notice of the time remaining. Teams exceeding 3 minutes will be penalised.

c. The signal for the test piece shall be three whole pulls on the treble.

d. The marking shall be of 120(112) rows from the start of the test piece.

9. The test piece shall consist of 120(112) rows and shall be EITHER:

a. A touch of any method consisting of a true 120 of minor or doubles (a true 112 of major or triples) OR:

b. If a team is unable to ring a method, it may ring call changes. Such ringing shall be at least 120(112) rows of changes. The ringing must start and end in rounds and include the following changes: 135246 and 531246 (13572468). No bell shall be called to move more than one place at a time.

10a.  Scoring will be a maximum of one fault for any error(s) per row, and zero faults for a clean row.

b. Gold certificates will be awarded to any team achieving 20 or fewer faults. Silver certificates will be awarded to any team achieving 21 to 40 faults. Bronze certificates will be awarded to all remaining teams who complete their test piece.

c. The highest placed change ringing 6-bell team(s) shall be presented with the Henry Follis Cup. The Harry Butler Shield shall be presented to the highest placed call change team(s). Both trophies shall be retained for one year, or part of a year in the event of a tie. The winners of the 8-bell competition shall be presented with certificates.

11. Any dispute arising from the rules shall be resolved by an officer of the society, who is not participating. If not resolved, it shall be referred to the committee, whose decision shall be final.