Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust Ethical Guidelines for Programme Participants Support
Mastering Mountains Charitable Trust (MMCT) has a mission to enrich the lives of people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) by helping them get outdoors. Our three primary goals are:
Enabling Change: We aim to facilitate positive, life-long change in the lives of our programme participants.
Strengthening Connection to Community: We strive to enhance our programme participants' sense of belonging and support within their communities.
Developing Hope: We work towards fostering hope and enriching the lives of individuals facing these diagnoses.
To this end, the team at MMCT have adopted the following ethical guidelines when working with programme participants who are seeking support in the outdoors. These guidelines ensure the ethical treatment of programme participants while addressing their unique needs and situations:
Participant-Centred Approach: MMCT is committed to a participant-centred approach, where the welfare and goals of the programme participants are the top priority. We strive to understand the unique needs and aspirations of each programme participants and tailor our support accordingly.
Informed Consent: We will obtain informed consent from all programme participants before engaging in any support activities. Programme participants have the right to know the nature and purpose of our support, any potential risks involved, and their right to withdraw from the programme at any time.
Privacy and Confidentiality: MMCT respects the privacy and confidentiality of our programme participants. MMCT recognises that some participant’s discussions may involve sensitive or personal topics. We will handle these conversations with the utmost respect for the participant’s privacy and well-being, maintaining strict confidentiality. We will not disclose any programme participant information to third parties without explicit consent. However, there are some situations in which information may be disclosed on a need-to-know basis to professional or government organisations:
Illegal Activity: If a programme participant is involved in or planning to engage in illegal activities, MMCT may disclose information to relevant authorities.
Self-Harm or Harm to Others: If a programme participant is at risk of self-harm or poses a threat to others, MMCT may disclose information to relevant authorities or medical professionals.
Psychological Distress: In cases where a programme participant is in significant psychological distress and requires professional intervention, we may share information with appropriate mental health professionals.
Emergencies: In emergency situations, such as a programme participant going missing or suffering an injury during outdoor activities, MMCT may share relevant information with emergency services.
Support and empowerment: Our mentoring sessions will be conducted in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. We will actively listen to our programme participants, provide guidance, and foster an environment of trust and open communication. We will respect and celebrate the diversity of our programme participants, taking into consideration cultural, ethnic, and individual differences in our support approach
MMCT aims to empower programme participants with disabilities, helping them develop the skills and knowledge required to navigate life with a chronic illness and maintain access to outdoor activities independently in the long term.
Treaty of Waitangi: We acknowledge and respect the Treaty of Waitangi and endeavour to create a greater level of equity in health outcomes for Maori. We honour traditional Maori knowledge and practices relating to the land, environment, and healing.
Environmental Sustainability: We will promote environmental sustainability and respect for the natural environment in all our activities. In all our work, we strive to minimise our environmental impact and educate our programme participants about responsible outdoor practices.
Continuous Improvement: MMCT is committed to ongoing training and self-assessment to ensure that our support services remain ethical, effective, and aligned with best practices in the field.
These ethical guidelines serve as a foundation for MMCT's commitment to supporting individuals with MS and FND in their journey towards an enriched life through outdoor adventures. We are dedicated to upholding these principles while providing therapeutic support and fostering positive change, community connection, and hope in the lives of our programme participant, helping them secure long-term access to the outdoors.
Date: 25 October, 2023