Apricot Centre Ethos and Code of Conduct

The Apricot Centre CIC  is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for staff, service users, volunteers, visitors and guests.  To ensure safety and comfort for all, we ask individuals to act appropriately at all times while they are in our facility or while they are participating in Apricot Centre programs. We expect persons using the Apricot Centre  to behave in a mature and responsible way and respect the rights and dignity of others.  Our Code of Conduct does not permit language or action that can hurt or frighten another person or falls below a generally accepted standard of conduct.  

Our Ethos is based on the following principles which are also important in guiding conduct:

• Value diversity at all levels of the system
• Follow the feedback of the system allowing it to evolve ('Feedback leads the way')
• The 'edge' of a system is where it is exciting, creative, and where potential lies.
• Where there is a disturbance there is wisdom within the disturbance. This allows us to creatively work with change.

Our Code of Conduct is as follows:

• Apart from publicly accessed footpaths, all visitors to the Apricot Centre must be fully supervised by Apricot Staff or have a clear agreement to undertake an unsupervised task
• Children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Please request permission and support in interacting with animals or crops.
• The Huxhams Cross Farm has some public access and right of way through the farm. We ask that anyone visiting any other part of the farm ensure that they have the permission of staff. This is to ensure safety from unsafe areas or farm practices, and to protect the animals, machinery and produce from inappropriate access.
• We will not tolerate harassment or intimidation with words, gestures or body language or any behaviour which is threatening or offensive in nature.
• Visitors and guests are asked to refrain from using a cell phone camera or any other camera while in the Apricot Centre without permission. In particular no photographs are to be taken of children without clear consent.
• No sleeping on the premises.
• No physical contact with another person in any angry, threatening or unwanted way.
• Any demonstration of sexual activity or sexual contact with another person.
• Stealing or behaviour which results in destruction of property.
• Carrying or concealing any weapons or devices that may be used as a weapon.
• The sale, possession, distribution, or use of any illegal substance (including alcohol & marijuana) by an individual on Apricot Centre  property is prohibited and will constitute grounds for immediate termination and possible prosecution.
• All indoors Apricot Centre facilities offer a smoke free environment.

This policy/document was reviewed by:

Signed  Date February 2021

Position  Wellbeing Services Manager

Last reviewed - 07/12/2022

The next revision date is: December 2023

Last Reviewed: 23/09/24 by Rachel Phillips

The next review date is: September 2025