The object of Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers is to actively promote and encourage the sport of archery.

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Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers are committed to a world which respects and celebrates diversity. Acceptance of difference, leading to equality of opportunity, is an integral part of our thinking.

Central to this we believe that everyone should be treated in an honest, fair and transparent manner in which their individuality (sex, gender, age, ethnic status, sexuality, nationality, ability/disability, race, cultural heritage and choice of bow type) should be celebrated and not used as a possible means of discrimination.

In the spirit of this, we seek to treat all individuals as autonomous and self-defining and will help and encourage everyone to reach their full potential within the club and the sport of archery as a whole.

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Animals

This section has been written based on advice from the police, RSPCA, Defra, RSPB and Raptor Rescue.

In the event of any injury/death of an animal a committee member, preferably the club nurse or secretary, must be informed within 24 hours of incident, by email, with a written report so that the committee can be informed that a serious incident has occurred. If you wish you may use the incident and dangerous occurrence form for your report.

Companion animals

If the animal injured/killed has an owner with it, talk to the owner directly. Do not under any circumstances say we will pay for treatment/replacement. Dogs are prohibited from being on the ground so although we have insurance cover, the insurers may not be willing to pay.

Wild animals - injured

Never remove an arrow that is in the body of an animal or bird, you could kill it.

If the arrow is through the wing of a bird, it is better to remove the arrow as this will allow the bird to place it's wing in a more comfortable position once free.

If we have pinned a bird to a target with an arrow:

• Immobalise the bird's legs. To do this place your index finger through the birds legs and your middle finger and thumb around the outside of the legs and grip quite tightly. Although it may seem more logical to place your hands under it's feet, if the bird has claws, especially a bird of prey, it will cause you a nasty injury if you try this.
• Lift up the hand that you have immobalised the legs with. This will support the weight of the bird.
• Cover the bird's head and eyes. This will both calm the bird and prevent it from pecking you.
• Only when you have done all the above should you pull the arrow out of the target.

All animals:

• Gently place the animal in a secure container, a box is fine.
• Make sure that it is covered and in the dark to reduce stress.

Contact the RSPCA.

• If it is possible to transport the animal to the clinic, (48 Albert Road, St Philips, Bristol), telephone in advance to say that you are on the way. They take emergency admissions 24 hours a day. Their number is 0117 972 4567.
• If we cannot transport the animal to the clinic, call the national emergency number on 0300 123 4999. They can arrange transport.

Wild animals - killed

Bow hunting is illegal in this country, however accidentally killing an animal does not need to be reported.

1. Avoid touching the animal with your bare hands.
2. If possible, wear disposable protective gloves when picking up and handling (if disposable gloves are not available see 7).
3. Place the dead bird in a suitable plastic bag, preferably leak proof. Care should be taken not to contaminate the outside of the bag.
4. Tie the bag and place it in a second plastic bag.
5. Remove gloves by turning them inside out and then place them in the second plastic bag. Tie the bag and dispose of in the normal household refuse bin, or in the bins at the rugby ground (we have permission to do this).
6. Hands should then be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
7. If disposable gloves are not available, a plastic bag can be used as a make-shift glove. When the dead animal has been picked up, the bag can be turned back on itself and tied. It should then be placed in a second plastic bag, tied and disposed of in the normal household waste, or in the bins at the rugby ground.
8. Any clothing that has been in contact with the dead bird should be washed using ordinary washing detergent at the temperature normally used for washing the clothing.
9. Any contaminated indoor surfaces should be thoroughly cleaned with normal household cleaner.

Alternatively the dead animal can be:

• Buried, but not in a plastic bag.
• Moved to the hedgerow and left to form part of the food chain. Several of the wild life organisations would prefer that we did this.

Note on ducks - We are in one of the survey areas for Avian Influenza H5N1. Therefore if we kill a duck, please contact the Defra Helpline on 08459 335577, 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday as they may be interested in testing the body.

People

All accidents, however minor must be recorded on an accident report form (see also 'Archer's kisses' below). These are kept in the blue folder on the top shelf of the metal cabinet and will be checked once a month. The white copies of the sheets will be collected and stored securely so that incidents can be audited. Yellow copies are to be taken by the person injured, or if a junior under the age of 16, by the parent/carer of the person injured, for hospital, clinic or Walk in Centre information or kept by the casualty for future reference.

In the event of anyone needing hospital treatment a committee member, preferably the club nurse or secretary, must be informed within 24 hours of incident, by email, with a written report so that the committee can be informed that a serious incident has occurred. If you wish you may use the incident and dangerous occurrence form for your report.

If any first aid equipment is used, the club nurse needs to be informed as soon as possible as to what was used so that it can be replaced.

Archer's kisses

An archer's kiss is where the string hits the bow arm when you release the string. These must also have an accident report form completed when:

• The archer is a junior.
• The archer has taken a drug that has blood thinning properties within the previous 24 hours, for example asprin, heprin, warfrin; or anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
• The skin is broken or grazed.
• There is bruising greater than the size of the archer's palm.
• There is any hard lump under the skin, even if it is not raised.

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We have a duty of care to the other users of the ground to look for all arrows and people must be prepared to stay and search if they lose one.

After searching, if you still cannot find one of your arrows, you must:

• Enter the details in the lost arrow folder in the metal cabinet.
• Notify a committee member, preferably the secretary or treasurer, on the day that you lose it.

The committee then has to notify the rugby club that the arrow is missing.

Failure to notify the rugby club invalidates the insurance. If the archer losing the arrow has notified committee and committee have not passed on the information, responsibility for any financial claim lies with the club. However if the archer losing the arrow has failed to notify committee, the archer is personally responsible for any financial liability.

Once the arrow is found:

• Add the date to the details in the lost arrow folder.
• Notify a committee member, preferably the secretary or treasurer, as soon as possible.

The committee then has to notify the rugby club that the arrow has been found.

Risk assessment - Arrow handling on the range (PDF: 50.7 KB).

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Bristol Bowmen and Golden Phoenix Archers believe that, when dealing with children and vulnerable adults, their welfare should always be of paramount importance. We are committed to providing an environment where young people and vulnerable adults can learn and participate in the sport of archery, free from harassment and abuse. We have therefore adopted the GNAS protection of children and vulnerable adults policy.

Note on children - in addition to the above policy, we require that children below the age of 16 be accompanied by a parent/carer at all times while in the club.

Note on vulnerable adults - the policy was written prior to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) covering private clubs. As such we believe the policy requirement of two additional adults being present when a vulnerable adult is shooting to now be in breach of the 2005 Act, section 21F:

(3) It is unlawful for an association to which this section applies, in the case of a disabled person who is a member, or associate, of the association, to discriminate against him—
(a) in the way it affords him access to a benefit, facility or service;...
(c) in the case of a member— ...
(ii) by varying the terms on which he is a member;'

We will therefore not be insisting that this requirement of the policy is enforced within the club. However, should any vulnerable adult wish to invoke their right not to shoot unless two additional adults present, we will wholeheartedly support their decision without any attempt to persuade, cajole, or otherwise influence them, into changing their mind.

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You should complete an incident report form if you see anything that is disruptive, dangerous, or not in the spirit of the sport of archery. It is preferable that you do this within 24 hours of the incident.

The completed form must then be given to a committee member, preferably the club nurse or secretary, either in person or via email so that the committee can be informed that a serious incident has occurred. It is then the responsibility of whichever committee member receives the form to notify the rest of the committee. However, if the incident involves a committee member and/or their child, that committee member will not be informed at this point.

If appropriate, the committee will request a risk assessment to be undertaken to prevent a repeat of the incident.

Incident form - Word version for email (50 KB).
Incident form - PDF version for printing (38.2 KB).

Types of incidents that should be reported

This list is not exhaustive and is only meant as guidance.

• Abuse.
• Discrimination.
• Damage to club property.
• Damage to personal property.
• Dangerous occurrence, eg, messing around on the range/shooting line.
• Shooting in dangerous weather conditions.
• Target frames becoming unstable/very damaged.
• Theft.
• Violence/threatening behaviour.

If applicable, call the police immediately.

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These rules are in addition to the GNAS rules of shooting contained in the green handbook.

1. The shooting line extends 50 yards from the left of the left hand boss and 50 yards from the right of the right hand boss.
2. There is to be no shooting, nor drawing of bows, if anyone is in front of the shooting line.
3. If anyone moves into the overshoot area, shooting ceases until that person has permanently vacated the area.

Notes

1. Overshoot area - For recurve and longbow, the overshoot area extends from either end of the shooting line to 50 yards beyond the target. For compound, the overshoot area extends from either end of the shooting line to 150 yards from the shooting, regardless of the distance being shot.
2. Our conditions of use of the ground are such that we are free to use it when we want as long as the rugby club is not using it. This means that if the person/people who have moved into the overshoot area are rugby club officials, grounds men etc, we may not ask them to move or hurry with their task, we must simply wait until they have completely finished what they are doing, eg marking out the white lines. Regardless of the competency of the archer, if the official/grounds man feels vulnerable, they may complain to the club and if this happens, it is likely to cause problems for us. By all means ask them how long they are likely to be, but that is all.
3. If the person passing into the overshoot area is not part of the rugby club, eg jogger or dog walker, fell free to tell them to move, as they should not be using the ground in the first place.
4. Any breach of these rules will result in disciplinary action.

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Any person wishing to take photographs, make videos and/or film while at the club must complete two copies of the photographer's registration form (PDF: 42.0 KB). One copy will be kept by the club; the other will be returned to the photographer.

This includes parents/carers wishing to take pictures of their own children.

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This section will grow as more risk assessments are done. Where appropriate they will also appear in relevant sections of this page.

• Arrow handling on the range (PDF: 50.7 KB).
• Setting up and taking down the range (PDF: 50.3 KB).

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