West Waterford Hunt Branch
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Volunteering

The people who are organising everything that is to do with the West Waterford Hunt Branch of the Irish Pony Club (goes for other branches as well of course) are volunteers.

We are mostly parents (and in some cases grandparents or other relatives) of Pony Club children (or even of former members) who want to help our children enjoy their sport safely and - if they like - competitively in accordance with our club's objectives.

The committee members' children do NOT get rallies for free and committee members are NOT paid.

We spend a lot of time trying to make things run as smoothly as we can so all the children will thoroughly enjoy the Pony Club experience.

Everyone can help e.g. at rallies by putting up poles for the instructors - you don't need to ask; help is always appreciated.

Pleeease let us know if you are available to help. We are often simply too busy to ask!!!

We usually have a committee meeting once a month so let us know your issues and we will discuss them and try to incorporate your ideas.

You can contact us by emailing WWPC or texting to 087-9673399 or you can talk to any of the committee members.

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Garda Vetting

According to new child protection laws all volunteers working with children will have to be vetted.

This process has already started with the DCs and secretaries of each branch having received vetting forms. The next step will be to have all committee members vetted and later everyone who wants to work with children at all.

Instructors will have to be vetted as well.

The vetting process is not complete yet but headquarters are working on it. They are keeping the vetting forms returned by the Gardaí on file.

Child Protection Courses

Committee members are also expected to do 4-hour child protection courses (they are compulsory for DCs and Children's Officers), which are sometimes offered through the IPC but approved non Pony Club courses can be taken instead. Instructors also need to do these courses.

At the moment there is great demand for such courses and they usually book out fast so it will probably take a while until everyone will have done theirs. Most of the WWPC committee members have meanwhile done their Child Protection Course.

Children's Officers must do an additional 6-hour Children's Officer course after their Child Protection Course.

For the official Irish government brochure ('Children First') please see the Department of Health and Children Website.

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