SCUNTHORPE MUSICAL FESTIVAL SAFEGUARDING POLICY IMPLEMENTED 2004
Chairman : Mrs Clare Gooing
Secretary : Mrs Helen Marshall
Treasurer : Mr Rod Wheat
Venues: Plowright Theatre, Frodingham Parish Hall, The Baths Hall & The House
Dates: 5th-9th March 2024, 1st-6th April 2024 , 20nd-25th May 2024 inclusive
Note : The definition and use of the word “Parent (s)” throughout this policy includes guardians, carers and/or teachers of vulnerable adults and/or children under 18
PURPOSES OF THE ORGANISATION:
The Festival’s aim is to provide a platform for the performance of the Arts by amateurs of all ages and abilities in a competitive but friendly atmosphere. One of our key objectives is to provide an educational element, to encourage and maintain high standards, through the constructive comments provided by professional adjudicators.
TO WHOM THIS POLICY APPLIES:
This policy relates to children under the age of 18, and to those vulnerable persons of any age who are identified to the festival organisers prior to their arrival at the Festival. This should be done by contacting the name at the top and bottom of this document. Our Festival actively seeks to meet these needs but must know beforehand in order to prepare support—or to let you know we are unable to help.
THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT:
The Festival seeks to create a caring environment with the highest possible level of protection for children and others to whom this Policy applies. The Festival’s procedure implementing this Policy will inform and involve Parents in order to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, there will be a safe environment at the Festival.
FESTIVAL PERSONNEL:
All Festival personnel are volunteers and their rôles are considered during recruitment. The Festival holds full contact details for all personnel. Where they are working in sensitive areas with children or vulnerable adults, details of these helpers have been processed and cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau.
All Festival helpers are fully aware of and support this Safeguarding Policy.
Festival personnel are vigilant in monitoring areas where children and vulnerable adults are in attendance. They will challenge any adult/s in restricted or sensitive areas if they are not accompanying children or vulnerable adults.
All festival personnel are informed how to direct children and vulnerable adults with a problem to the designated person (see below). Every problem will be taken seriously and will be documented and dated. Dependant on the nature of the problem, the documentation may be supplied to the appropriate authorities. This decision will be taken by the designated person, in consultation with the authorities, before documentation is passed over. Copies of all documentation will be retained in Festival records.
Badges will identify Festival personnel. The Co-ordinator badge will identify the person designated in charge of each particular session. Anyone wearing a badge may be approached for assistance and will take the adult or child concerned to Session Co-ordinator. All problems will be dealt with sympathetically, documented and dated.
PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL:In order for the Festival to provide the highest level of child protection during the Festival, where parents aren’t attending, this Safeguarding Policy requires them to be satisfied that their children will be
accompanied to the Festival and adequately supervised by adults acting on their behalf. Parents attending must be responsible for making sure that their child under 18 or vulnerable adult is at all times accompanied and adequately supervised by him/herself or a teacher or a suitable adult who will be required to remain in the building until the child or vulnerable adult leaves. Any person in this supervisory capacity will be expected to pay the admission fee to the auditorium.
It is our rule to make this a condition for competitors wishing to perform in the Festival, and we ensure that a copy of our Safeguarding Policy is sent to all Parents of such entrants by mail direct to their home address, or via their teacher who will be asked to provide the Festival with written confirmation that they have passed the Policy on to the Parents.
NOTE : If there are special needs which cannot be satisfied by supervision of a Parent, this must be made known in writing to the Chairman before the commencement of the Festival dates.
Festival personnel will supervise access to dressing and changing areas.
Responsible adults accompanying performers under 18 and vulnerable adults will supervise dressing and changing areas. Attention is drawn to the fact that Festival personnel will not supervise public areas, such as toilets.
The use of all audio and visual recording equipment throughout the Festival is strictly forbidden. Press photographers designated by a badge may take photographs. This Policy makes clear that, where Parents do not wish photographs to be taken, then the responsible adult attending with their child, should ensure that they are not included in photographs on the day. Persons in possession of audio and visual equipment may be refused entry to the venues.
THE LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY:
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, The Children Act 1989, The Police Act 1997, The Data Protection Act 1998, The Human Rights Act 1998, The Protection of Children Act 1999, The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, The Children Act 2004, The Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
POLICY REVIEW:Festival organisers will constantly review their Policy, improving and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to the British and International Federation of Festivals for support and that body, in turn, will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.
Contact Name : Mrs Clare Gooing