Every week there are many digs and events being organised across the UK. Some are through Metal Detecting Clubs and some through Online Detecting Groups.*
Introduction:
Social media has facilitated the huge growth of online detecting groups, helping to fill the gap for those detectorists unable to join a traditional club or gain their own permissions. We recognise that in order to protect the interests of all parties, as well as the reputation of the hobby, we need to establish a set of standards.
This is NOT about the NCMD telling clubs/groups what they should and shouldn’t be doing, this is about bringing us together. It is about promoting responsible metal detecting, standing together to protect the hobby from outside interference, giving online group organisers a voice and giving detectorists the means to find legitimate, well organised digs and events.
These standards will be there to help and protect the admins and organisers of online groups who arrange detecting days/events. Group organisers will benefit from enhanced insurance cover provided by us as part of their NCMD membership. They will also have a seat in the event organisers workgroup, which will give them a say in how the hobby is run and represented to the government.
Those that choose to follow these standards will be included on our Club Directory, allowing our members to find a suitable club/group that is well run and protects the hobby at all times.
Benefits:
- If you are an NCMD member and you sit on the committee of a registered detecting club or are the organiser/admin of a registered online group, then you benefit from free enhanced insurance cover for any activities you organise directly related to metal detecting.
- Clubs and Groups can add their details to our website directory which is available to our 40,000 members, giving them the opportunity to grow and gain more members.
- You will be able to advertise that you follow the NCMD code of conduct, giving members reassurance that your group is providing legitimate, well organised digs.
- You can report individuals for bringing the hobby into disrepute, we will then share that information with other clubs and groups, thereby helping to ensure that the reputation of our hobby is maintained.
- We stand together to ensure that there is no outside interference in our hobby, particularly in regard to organised events.
Code of Conduct:
In order to be included on our directory, you need agree to the following set of standards:
- It is essential that everyone attending your events has adequate individual insurance to protect the interests of the landowners i.e NCMD membership or an equivalent.
- You need to be a member of the NCMD to have the enhanced organiser cover.
- You must promote the NCMD Members Code of Conduct for responsible metal detecting. Click here to view.
- It is vital to promote the recording of finds on the PAS database as well as the importance of reporting treasure items to the FLO.
- Where a treasure item is found at an event, the organisers should ensure that it has been reported to the relevant authorities.
- Where a hoard is found, there must be a process in place to ensure that best practise is followed.
- Where events are organised to raise funds for charity, the benefactors must be named, accounts must be made available to those who have subscribed and a receipt must be shared to show that monies have been paid to the charity concerned.
- You must ensure that the wellbeing of everyone attending the event is a priority, this includes:
- Marshalls must be in attendance throughout the event and remain until everyone has left the site.
- You must abide by the law of the land relevant to the event location.
- You should have a written agreement with the landowner to protect the interests of all parties.
*For clarification:
Metal Detecting Clubs – will be run by a committee with at least 3 committee members, the club will have a constitution/code of conduct that members agree to and they hold regular face-to-face club meetings with their members, as well as arranging digs/events.
Online Detecting Groups – will be online only and use social media to communicate with members and arrange detecting days. These groups tend not to have a committee or constitution set up, they tend to be run by one or two organisers/admins.
If you agree to these standards you are welcome to add your details to our Club Directory by filling in appropriate form:
