Another British Horse Society c**k-up

HectorTTerry

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Prior to the current CE, The British Horse Society was an Investors in People organisation. Investors in People is the standard for people management. The standard defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people well for sustainable results.

In the 2012 annual report The British Horse Society states: as an Investors in People organisation, we take training and development very seriously: 76 separate training events took place for staff during 2012, ranging from technical/professional training to skills workshops. training has been delivered both internally and by external providers.

Since the current CE has been in position, The British Horse Society no longer has Investors in People Accreditation. Since the CE has been in position, there has been no mention of any training or support for employees in any annual report.
 

GHamlet75

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Thanks HectorTTerry. In case anyone was wondering how to access the annual reports you can find the last few years here http://beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details?regid=210504&subid=0
Go to the documents tab and you can download any of the annual reports. This is public information available to everyone. This covers
The British Horse Society Annual Report 2017
The British Horse Society Annual Report 2016
The British Horse Society Annual Report 2015
The British Horse Society Annual Report 2014
The British Horse Society Annual Report 2013

Unfortunately it doesn’t go back to the 2012 accounts (which is important to look at, as this gives you something to compare with – ie how the organisation has changed since the CE has been in power). If anyone wants to read this simply google ‘british horse society annual report 2012’.
 

GHamlet75

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Regardless of whether you politically agree with Teresa May or not, has anyone else seen the news in the last 24 hours?

"So, just as we won't accept any behaviour that causes people to feel intimidated or humiliated in the workplace, there must be consequences for failing to comply with the law.

"Non-disclosure agreements cannot stop people from whistleblowing but it is clear some employers are using them unethically.

"The government is going to bring forward measures for consideration for consultation to seek to improve the regulation around non-disclosure agreements and make it absolutely explicit to employees when a non-disclosure agreement does not apply or cannot be enforced."

The committee’s report, published in July, said NDAs “must be better controlled and regulated” and that lawyers must be held to account if using them unethically.

Labour has pledged to ban NDAs that stop employees disclosing discrimination, harassment or victimisation.

I'm sure any journalist would be interested to know exactly how many NDAs or compromise agreements The British Horse Society has enforced over recent years.

Check out
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...l-puts-non-disclosure-agreements-in-spotlight
https://news.sky.com/story/theresa-...hically-after-daily-telegraph-gagged-11534347
And the original article (if you have a subscription)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/23/british-metoo-scandal-cannot-revealed/
 

GHamlet75

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If you google BHS and bullying, not only do you find a number of articles about the clothes store, you also find the Horse & Hound article https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/new...ependent-review-bullying-elitism-found-646843

If you google British Horse Society and grievance you will find the tribunal
https://assets.publishing.service.g...ritish_Horse_Society_1303008_2016_reasons.pdf

Maybe the two organisations have more in common than meets the eye?

Looking at the BBC this morning, the Telegraph says it spent eight months investigating allegations of bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment in relation to this week’s story.

It will take time for the truth to be revealed but I for one am prepared to be patient.
 
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GHamlet75

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I can’t believe it. We have reached 30,000 views! Thank you to everyone for spreading awareness of this forum and for continuing to support JanetGeorge’s initial thread. To reiterate - awareness allows members to make informed decisions of how they decide to use their donations in the future, be this with the British Horse Society or other organisations whose focus is dedicated to horse welfare. I hope this forum also provides some form of supportive framework for past or present employees who believe they have been unfairly treated.
Thank you for all your support.
 

honetpot

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Well that disappeared quickly.
I think if the Trustees tried to change its going to cost an awful lot of money if people refuse the leave, which by the look of it they will. Having worked in a similar situation its far easier to pay off the junior staff, because of course they are causing the problem, than actually tackle the real problem at the top.
There have obviously been no processes in place to prevent the high turnover of staff at any level of management and its hard to prove the cause in reality unless there is a paper trail,
I have already paid my subs for the year, but with regret I think the only quickly effective way to effect change is to not re-join and a join something like WHW. If it was done on mass it would effect the accounts which they can not fudge.
FB posts disappear and will this thread?
 

Charliew00

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I guess if this thread disappears another can be started. The Isle of Man Committee resigned a few years ago and there has been no effort made to resurrect it.
 

Red-1

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Well that disappeared quickly.
I think if the Trustees tried to change its going to cost an awful lot of money if people refuse the leave, which by the look of it they will. Having worked in a similar situation its far easier to pay off the junior staff, because of course they are causing the problem, than actually tackle the real problem at the top.
There have obviously been no processes in place to prevent the high turnover of staff at any level of management and its hard to prove the cause in reality unless there is a paper trail,
I have already paid my subs for the year, but with regret I think the only quickly effective way to effect change is to not re-join and a join something like WHW. If it was done on mass it would effect the accounts which they can not fudge.
FB posts disappear and will this thread?

I can understand why the FB post disappeared, as it was a page for the BHS. I don't think this thread will go as, without going back through and checking, I am not sure anyone has broken any rules.

I think the longer this goes on then the more it is likely that the BHS will have to issue some sort of statement, if just to preserve the membership and therefore finances. Personally I left the BHS in October last year and now have 3rd party on my horse insurance. I stopped riding professionally and now just ride my own :cool:
 

JanetGeorge

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Well that disappeared quickly.

The frightening thing is ALL the regional FB pages have disappeared. God forbid that anyone could DARE question what goes on at HQ. Trying to upload the question on the main page: "Does BHS HQ really think that removing its Regional pages from FB stops people talking about the mess? I don't think so. " But it wouldn't upload. Didn't stop my review comment uploading - though it probably won't last long. For the record, what I said was: " The best improvement for the BHS would be a new Chairman and Chief Executive. You can't gag all of the people, all of the time. "
 

GHamlet75

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I’ve learnt that people who follow this forum but aren’t registered users, are unable to view any attachments. JanetG’s post showed an announcement from British Horse Society NE Wales Facebook Page.
It said: The North East Wales Committee are sorry to announce that as a result of loss of confidence and faith in the CEO and Trustees of the Society, and the management of its finances, the majority of committee members resigned at the recent Annual Review Meeting. The Committee are very sorry that it has come to this but thank everyone who have attended our events and clinics over the years for their fantastic support.

What a brave decision! It will not have been easy as volunteers sacrifice many hours, days, weeks, months, years supporting The British Horse Society. However, I have admiration for this decision and it reassures me that people care. As a united front we can make a difference.
 

GHamlet75

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No - I'm hopeless at catching screenshots. But there was nothing very sexy.
Not to worry JanetGeorge! At least it was shared by people, so it got some exposure before being removed. It's a shame that the British Horse Society is trying to suppress everyone. If everything was ok, why would there be any need to hide things?
 

JanetGeorge

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Not to worry JanetGeorge! At least it was shared by people, so it got some exposure before being removed. It's a shame that the British Horse Society is trying to suppress everyone. If everything was ok, why would there be any need to hide things?

Exactly. And they haven't taken down their FB page yet - that's the only way to get rid of 'reviews' you don't like, lol. Mine is still there - it says: "The best improvement for the BHS would be a new Chairman and Chief Executive. You can't gag all of the people, all of the time." Time she woke up to THAT!
 

GHamlet75

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I'm very surprised your review is still there JanetGeorge! I am also surprised that for once they haven't removed other negative reviews. It looks like the British Horse Society has a serious issue with its membership. I notice on their facebook advertising they keep removing any negative comments about members having insurance issues but fortunately the following is still documented on their facebook page:

Has anybody else had the need to claim on their Gold Membership Insurance? Well I'm so sorry I've been paying my premiums these years! Having broke my back 12 months ago end of April (horse related accident). I've been looking through the T&C's and tried to claim. Now they say, the policy wording has changed and unless a specialist states I'm disabled for life, I won't have a claim? I have been off work since the accident, need further surgery, am virtually housebound, can't look after my horse and will have to sell him or retire him because I can't afford to keep him with no wage! Why do they always manage to find loopholes not to pay up?? Gutted
1f641.png
:(

Yes, I've had a similar experience. I got kicked in the head in 2009 & suffered a fractured skull. I have been left with reduced sight in my left eye and totally deaf in left ear. Tried claiming on my BHS gold insurance. After about a year of having to visit specialists & obtain several doctors reports, I was told I wasn't eligible to claim as both ears or eyes would have to be affected to count as 'total disability'. Needless to say I have since cancelled my BHS gold membership :-(

Disgusting isn't it, the policy wording doesn't state this at all though does it? But what it does say misleads you into thinking you are covered. Afterall, you take it out thinking you are covered if you have an accident too! My public liability is more or less void now, because my horse doesn't ride on the roads. So it's only because I'm looking into taking legal action that I'm not cancelling mine at the moment! Absolutely disgusting!! 😠

it may be worth putting your case to the Insurance Ombudsman. They have been known to thoroughly investigate insurance companies policy wording and I know of people whose claims have been upheld through them - not horse related ones I know but it’s their legal obligation to investigate all policies . I’m with these thinking my horse is covered if he’s involved in an accident on the road ? Is this correct 🤔 . I am going to look into it further as I have been paying Gold Premiums too - what a waste of money if they’re using opt out clauses 😡 sounds disgusting on their part. If they’re taking money from members in a misleading way then premiums should be returned as the cover is not what you initially were advised or thought it to be - obviously misrepresentation 🙄- Good luck with your legal action it certainly sounds as though it needs challenging 👍🏻

Full review can be found here https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheBritishHorseSociety/reviews/

If the British Horse Society doesn't pay out on insurance claims it makes the whole membership worthless.
 

Tiddlypom

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Tbf, the main benefit of the insurance cover offered by BHS gold membership is the £20 million third party liability cover. The cover for accidental death or total disablement is very limited (payout is a max £10k) and I'm surprised that folk would rely on that cover as being sufficient if they had a major injury.

Features and benefits
PROVIDES COVER FOR ACCIDENTAL DEATH, LOSS OF LIMB OR SIGHT AND PERMANENT TOTAL DISABLEMENT ONLY as a consequence of:
A: Horserelatedaccidentsotherthanwhilstattendinganorganisedequestrianevent

as defined in B below but including travelling to and from such event.
B: HorserelatedactivitieswhilstattendinganeventorofficialPractice/Trainingsession organised by or affiliated to the BHS, British Show Jumping Association, Pony Clubs,

BHS Riding Clubs, British Eventing, British Equestrian Vaulting, British Carriagedriving, Endurance GB or Fédération Equestre Internationale

Up to a maximum benefit of £5,000 in respect of A and £10,000 in respect of B You can only claim for one of the benefits as a result of any one accident

Cover in respect of Accidental Death is limited to £5,000 in respect of persons under the age of 16.






https://www.bhs.org.uk/~/media/bhs/...-gold-members-terms-and-conditions.ashx?la=en
 

GHamlet75

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Wow the devil is in the detail! OK you have a good point Tiddlypom.
It's also very specific about the types of event. I assume from this, we aren't covered if we attend any non affiliated events or for that matter, a whole host of other activities that we might want to do with our horses.
Definitely a case of read the small print before you buy!
 

Leo Walker

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Wow the devil is in the detail! OK you have a good point Tiddlypom.
It's also very specific about the types of event. I assume from this, we aren't covered if we attend any non affiliated events or for that matter, a whole host of other activities that we might want to do with our horses.
Definitely a case of read the small print before you buy!

Looks pretty standard to me. I think its the same in any horse insurance policy isn't it? Its also an insurance of last resort. Something to be considered an added bonus of membership rather than the sole purpose if it surely?
 

GHamlet75

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Thanks Leo Walker. The British Horse Society promotes insurance as the top two reasons to join them:
  • Public liability insurance up to £30 million - Be protected, even if your horse causes damage or injury
  • Personal accident insurance up to £10,000 - Accidents happen, but it’s good to know you’ll be covered
I know many people who are members solely because of the insurance so I just want to ensure they all read the small print before assuming they are covered because the way they advertise it is in my opinion, misleading.

bhs.jpg
 

GHamlet75

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I notice this review on the British Horse Society Facebook page:

The BHS are just bullies! if it was not for the volunteers there would be no BHS!
I think all BHS volunteers should consider what the North East Welsh committee did and may be set up their own committee.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/TheBritishHorseSociety/reviews/

Bullying in the workplace remains a hot topic in the press https://www.metro.news/bullying-a-problem-in-the-nhs-say-40-of-doctors/1292918/
 

GHamlet75

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The independent has a whole section on their website dedicated to bullying. https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Bullying
An article that should be of interest to the followers on this forum thread states
‘research from the Workplace Bullying Institute suggests that 58 per cent of bullies in the workplace are female’
Full article here https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...n-bee-syndrome-colleagues-women-a8508581.html

Bullying in the workplace is real.

Bullying in the workplace is no longer something that can be hidden.

Bullies are being held accountable.
 
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