Version October 2026
Volunteer Code of Conduct
1. Why we have this Code
Mission Motorsport brings together beneficiaries, volunteers, staff, partners and members of the public in environments that can include motorsport events, vehicles, workshops and other activities. We want everyone involved to feel safe, welcome and respected.
This Code explains the behaviour we expect from volunteers and what volunteers can expect from Mission Motorsport. It applies whenever you are volunteering for, representing, or reasonably likely to be seen as representing Mission Motorsport, including at events, venues, during related travel or accommodation, and when using official online channels.
Volunteering is voluntary. This Code is not a contract of employment and does not create an employment or worker relationship, a legally binding obligation, or a guarantee of volunteering opportunities.
2. Our purpose and values
Our purpose is to aid the recovery and rehabilitation of those affected by military operations through opportunities provided by motorsport and associated vocational pathways.
As a Mission Motorsport volunteer, we ask you to:
- support our charitable purpose and values;
- act with honesty, care and respect;
- help create a welcoming and inclusive environment;
- put safety and the wellbeing of people first; and
- use good judgement when representing Mission Motorsport.
3. Treat people with respect
Please:
- treat beneficiaries, other volunteers, staff, partners and the public with dignity and courtesy;
- communicate in a respectful and constructive way, in person and online;
- respect personal boundaries and do not misuse a position of trust or influence;
- do not bully, harass, intimidate, discriminate against or victimise anyone;
- do not use threatening, abusive, sexually inappropriate or deliberately offensive language or behaviour; and
- tell your volunteer lead if a situation or relationship could make it difficult for you to keep appropriate boundaries.
4. Safeguarding and welfare
Everyone has a part to play in keeping people safe. Follow Mission Motorsport’s safeguarding policy, training and instructions that apply to your role.
If you see, hear or suspect something that makes you concerned about someone’s safety or welfare:
- report it as soon as possible through Mission Motorsport’s safeguarding reporting route;
- if someone is in immediate danger, call 999 first and then tell Mission Motorsport as soon as you can;
- do not investigate the concern yourself or promise to keep it secret;
- record and share only the information needed under the safeguarding procedure; and
- if the concern involves the person you would normally report to, use the alternative contact set out in the safeguarding policy.
- Where a role requires a DBS check or other suitability assessment, volunteers must cooperate with reasonable requests for information and any re-checking requirements applicable to the role.
Mission Motorsport will take safeguarding concerns seriously and handle them in line with its safeguarding procedures and any reporting duties that apply.
5. Equality, inclusion and dignity
Help us make Mission Motorsport a place where people are treated fairly and feel able to take part.
Do not discriminate unlawfully against anyone because of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, or treat someone unfairly because of their background or circumstances.
Mission Motorsport also expects volunteers to support reasonable adjustments that have been put in place for disabled beneficiaries, volunteers or staff.
If you see behaviour that is inappropriate, speak up where it is safe and reasonable to do so, or report it to your volunteer lead or another appropriate Mission Motorsport contact.
6. Safety at events and activities
Motorsport and event environments can involve significant risks. Please:
- follow risk assessments, safety briefings, signs, venue rules and reasonable instructions from Mission Motorsport staff, event officials and authorised personnel;
- wear required personal protective equipment and identification;
- stay within areas you are authorised to enter;
- do not drive, move, operate or work on a vehicle, machinery or equipment unless you have been authorised and are competent to do so;
- take reasonable care of your own safety and the safety of others;
- report accidents, near misses, hazards, damaged equipment and unsafe behaviour promptly; and
- tell your volunteer lead if you are not trained, confident or fit to carry out a task safely. Do not continue with a task you reasonably believe is unsafe.
7. Alcohol, drugs and fitness to volunteer
Do not volunteer while your judgement or ability to carry out the role safely is impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, misuse of medication or any other substance. Follow any stricter event, venue, driving or motorsport rules that apply.
If medication or another temporary issue may affect your ability to carry out a safety-critical task, tell the person supervising the activity so that suitable arrangements can be considered. You do not need to share more personal information than is reasonably necessary for safety.
8. Confidentiality, privacy and information
You may learn personal or sensitive information through your volunteering. Please:
- only access, use or share information you need for your volunteer role;
- keep personal, beneficiary and confidential charity information secure;
- do not discuss confidential information where it may be overheard or share it through personal accounts or unauthorised systems;
- follow Mission Motorsport’s data protection, confidentiality and information-security instructions; and
- report lost information, misdirected messages, suspicious access or other possible data breaches straight away.
These expectations continue after your volunteering ends.
9. Photos, social media and speaking about Mission Motorsport
We welcome volunteers sharing positive experiences, but protecting people and their privacy comes first.
When volunteering or posting about Mission Motorsport:
- follow Mission Motorsport’s social media, photography and communications rules;
- do not share personal or confidential information about beneficiaries, volunteers or staff;
- only take or share photographs, video or stories where the required consent or authorisation is in place;
- do not speak to the media on behalf of Mission Motorsport unless authorised to do so;
- do not present personal views as the views of Mission Motorsport; and
- if you use an official Mission Motorsport account, only post content you are authorised to post and follow the Charity’s approval process.
- Volunteers should avoid conduct, whether in person or online, which could reasonably be expected to damage the reputation of Mission Motorsport, its beneficiaries, partner organisations or the wider veteran community.
Your personal social media accounts are your own. However, if you identify yourself as a Mission Motorsport volunteer or your connection with the Charity is clear, please remember that people may associate your posts with the charity. The Charity may need to act where a post connected with Mission Motorsport breaches confidentiality or safeguarding requirements, is unlawful, or causes a serious and identifiable risk of harm to people or the charity.
10. Conflicts, money, property and personal benefit
Please act honestly and do not use your volunteer role for improper personal benefit. In particular:
- tell your volunteer lead about any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest that could affect your role;
- do not seek or accept gifts, hospitality, money or other benefits where this could improperly influence you or create that impression;
- only collect, handle or spend charity money where you have been authorised to do so and follow the relevant procedures;
- take reasonable care of Mission Motorsport property, vehicles, equipment, systems and credentials, and use them only as authorised; and
- do not use Mission Motorsport’s name, contacts or resources for private business, fundraising or other purposes unless authorised.
- Volunteers should promptly inform Mission Motorsport if they are charged with, convicted of, or become subject to investigation for a criminal offence where this may reasonably affect safeguarding, safety, trust and confidence, the reputation of the charity or their suitability for the volunteer role.
11. Raise concerns
Please tell us if you are worried about unsafe practice, bullying or harassment, discrimination, safeguarding, fraud, misuse of charity resources, serious wrongdoing or another breach of this Code.
Raise the concern with your volunteer lead or use the reporting route in the relevant Mission Motorsport policy, including the Whistleblowing Policy, the Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy or the Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy where applicable.
If your concern is about the person you would normally speak to, use an alternative appropriate contact or the route set out in the relevant policy.
Mission Motorsport will not treat a volunteer unfavourably for raising a genuine concern in good faith or for taking part in a fact-finding review.
Genuine volunteers do not generally have the statutory whistleblowing protection that applies to qualifying workers, but Mission Motorsport applies this non-retaliation principle as a matter of charity policy.
12. What you can expect from Mission Motorsport
We will aim to:
- treat you fairly, respectfully and consistently;
- give you a clear description of your role and appropriate induction, information, training and support;
- give you a named contact or clear route for support;
- provide relevant safeguarding and health and safety information;
- make reasonable efforts to match tasks to your skills, experience and capabilities;
- provide appropriate insurance for authorised volunteering activities;
- explain how approved volunteer expenses are claimed, where applicable;
- listen to feedback and concerns and respond appropriately;
- protect your personal information and respect confidentiality; and
- recognise and value the contribution you make.
13. If there is a concern about conduct
Concerns about a volunteer’s conduct will be handled under the Conduct and Disciplinary Policy & Procedure, Annex 1: Volunteer Conduct and Problem-Solving Procedure. That procedure is deliberately separate from the employee disciplinary procedure.
Minor concerns will normally be dealt with informally where appropriate, for example through discussion, clarification of expectations, additional support, training, supervision or an agreed change to the volunteer role. An informal discussion is not a disciplinary warning.
For a serious or repeated concern, Mission Motorsport may carry out a proportionate fact-finding review. While a concern is considered, it may temporarily pause volunteering, restrict particular activities or access, or make other proportionate arrangements. These are precautionary measures and do not mean that the concern has been substantiated.
Possible outcomes include no further action; advice or guidance; additional training or supervision; agreed changes to duties or boundaries; a period of restricted or paused volunteering; or ending the volunteer role.
Mission Motorsport may take immediate protective action where reasonably necessary to protect people, charity property or the integrity of an external investigation. The full process, including the opportunity to respond, support at a formal conduct meeting and the good-practice review available where a volunteer role is ended, is set out in MM030 Annex 1.
14. Policies that work alongside this Code
This Code should be read alongside the Mission Motorsport policies and procedures relevant to your role, including where applicable:
- MM030 Conduct and Disciplinary Policy & Procedure — Annex 1: Volunteer Conduct and Problem-Solving Procedure
- MM006 Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
- MM029 Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy
- MM011 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
- MM012 Whistleblowing Policy
- MM024 Complaints Policy
- MM002 Data Protection and Privacy Policy
- MM013 Reasonable Adjustments Policy; Health and Safety Policy; and applicable IT, communications, social media and Serious Incident Reporting arrangements.
15. Volunteer acknowledgement
I confirm that I have received and read the Mission Motorsport Volunteer Code of Conduct. I understand the standards expected when I volunteer for or represent Mission Motorsport, and I know where to ask questions or raise a concern.
Sources
Charity Commission — Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-and-protecting-people-for-charities-and-trustees
Charity Commission — Safeguarding for charities and trustees
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees
Charity Commission — Charities and social media
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-social-media/charities-and-social-media
Charity Commission — Report serious wrongdoing at a charity as a worker or volunteer
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-serious-wrongdoing-at-a-charity-as-a-worker-or-volunteer
NCVO — Writing a volunteer agreement
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/involving-volunteers/recruiting-and-welcoming-volunteers/writing-a-volunteer-agreement/
NCVO — Solving volunteer problems
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/involving-volunteers/supporting-and-managing-volunteers/solving-volunteer-problems/
NCVO — Ending the volunteering relationship
https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/safeguarding/certain-roles/volunteer-managers/ending-relationship/
DCMS — Guidance on reporting safeguarding concerns in a charity
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-reporting-safeguarding-concerns-in-a-charity/guidance-on-reporting-safeguarding-concerns-in-a-charity
