Terms and Conditions - Volunteering

Terms in this document:

• In this document, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
• “MCS” refers to Mane Chance Sanctuary which is located at Monkshatch Garden Farm, Down Lane, Compton, Surrey GU3 1DL.
• The “volunteer” is the person offering to work at MCS in an unpaid capacity.
• “MCS staff” refers to any paid employee or contractor for MCS or any lead, experienced volunteer assisting the team.

Registration:

• A registration form will be required to be completed prior to the start of any volunteering.  This form gives useful and important information to the member of MCS Staff that will be supervising the volunteer, including emergency contact and health and safety information.  All personal information is securely stored and will not be shared with any third party – please contact the office for a copy of our privacy policy if you would like more information.
• Further information pertaining to volunteering will be sent out by MCS – this includes directions to the Sanctuary, suitable clothing and footwear requirements and specific information relevant to the volunteering.

Medical and Behavioural Information:

• Any medical or behavioural information relevant to the participation of the volunteer must be disclosed prior to the commencement.  MCS reserve the right not to accept the participation of any volunteer on the grounds that any such medical or behavioural problems are not conducive to the volunteering or if the safety of the volunteer, MCS staff or any other person on site cannot be guaranteed.

Equine Contact:

• The volunteer will be under the supervision and/or instruction of the MCS staff when on site and with the horses.  The member of MCS staff will be responsible for the safety and well-being of both the volunteers and the horse during any interaction.  If any behavioural situation arises during this time, it is the discretion of the member of staff to remove a volunteer from the area of the horses if he/she has any concern as to the safety of the volunteer, other people present or the horse.

Clothing:

• The volunteer must attend each session in suitable clothing for the time spent with the horses in the tracks and fields as well as in the indoor accommodation on site.  This includes, but is not limited to stout footwear, such as boots, rather than canvas shoes, and gloves.  The volunteer should bring coats and jackets for outside working in cold weather conditions and also sun protection and hats for hot weather conditions.  
• If the volunteer arrives at the Sanctuary in clothing that is not suitable for outdoor working or that is not considered adequate for their safety (for example, sandals or flip flops), then the volunteer will not be accepted for the session and will be asked to return home.
• Hard hats will be provided by the Sanctuary to be worn whilst working with the horses.  Horses are not ridden at Mane Chance Sanctuary, but the volunteers may partake in grooming, leading and/or health care of the horses, for which the stated personal protection equipment will be required.  Refusal to wear such equipment will result in the volunteer being excluded from the activities involving the horses. 

Health and Safety:

• Risk assessments are in place, identifying risks and the control measures in place to minimise them.  
• In addition, MCS have detailed health and safety and fire safety policies in use at the Sanctuary which can be viewed by contacting the office.
• MCS will ensure that there is always qualified first aiders on site whilst volunteering is taking place.  This includes one or more of the other staff members on duty at MCS at the time.
• MCS staff are trained in both the site fire policy and the health and safety policy; volunteers will be expected to adhere to safe behaviour whilst on site.

Transport:

• It is the responsibility of the volunteer to travel to and from MCS  – free parking is provided at the Sanctuary.  MCS cannot accept any liability for the safety of vehicles or contents of vehicles whilst parked on site.

Valuables, Jewellery and Lost Property:

• MCS will not be liable for any item of jewellery or valuable property (eg. electronic equipment/phones) brought to the premises by any volunteer.
• MCS will not be responsible for any property left at the location by any volunteer.

Smoking, Alcohol and Drugs:

• Smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking area on site which is at the bottom of the steps to the orchard, in the yard area.  Smoking of cigarettes and e-cigarettes only is permitted by those legally of age to do so.
• Under no circumstances is smoking allowed away from the designated smoking area, including car parks and yards.
• Under no circumstances is alcohol or any other illegal substance permitted on MCS premises.
• Any prescribed medication required to be with any volunteer must be declared to MCS prior to it being brought on site – eg. inhaler, epipen etc.

Force Majeure:

• MCS shall not be liable for any delay in performing or failure to host any volunteering due to any reason beyond our reasonable control including war, armed conflict, riot, act of God, civil commotion, strike, terrorist attack, malicious damage, threats to safety, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, environmental contamination, pandemic outbreak of disease, fire, flood, severe weather conditions or any other act or matter which could not have been reasonably predicted or prevented.