CHILD PROTECTION POLICY Implemented from October 2008, updated 2016

5. PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL

In seeking a partnership to look after children and vulnerable adults in a safe environment, a copy of the Festival’s CHILD PROTECTION POLICY is published on the Festival website.   Where an entry is made by a teacher, responsibility for contact with parents or guardians will be through the agency of that teacher either by personal contact or post.   Written confirmation that the Newcastle Festival’s Child Protection Policy has been conveyed by the teacher to the competing child’s parents is required with the entry.

The first responsibility for children and young or vulnerable adults lies with the parent, guardian or carer.  Where a parent, guardian or carer is not able to accompany a competitor, this Policy requires them to be satisfied that their children will be accompanied to the festival and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf. Children must not be dropped off at the festival and left to fend for themselves.   When competitors take part in groups the ratio of teacher or responsible adult to pupils is defined elsewhere.   The festival officers and stewards are responsible for the admission, ingress and egress of competitors, the general public and other safety issues (e.g. emergency exits, escape routes, first aid, etc.).

6. PERFORMANCE AREAS AND CHANGING/

    PRACTICE AREAS

This policy requires parents/parents/carers to be satisfied that their wards will be adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf.   Changing areas and practice rooms must be supervised by those nominated responsible adults attending with performing children and/or vulnerable adults.   Neither these rooms nor toilets will be supervised by festival personnel

7. PHOTOGRAPHS, AUDIO AND VIDEOTAPES

    AND PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY

In compliance with our Child Protection Policy, changes have been made to Newcastle Festival’s rule 9, which states “recording by any audio or visual equipment is TOTALLY BANNED throughout the premises in use for the Festival.

 

 

 

Photographs will be taken at the festival by the official festival photographer(s) who will be identified with a badge. A Press photographer may attend who will be accompanied throughout their visit by a festival official

Use of photographs taken of children at the festival, be it for the organisation’s website or on any other media use, must have the express permission for that use by a parent or guardian of the child. In the case of a group including a child, the group leader or official responsible may give that permission.  In all cases the permission is granted through the signing of the festival consent form.

 

8. LEGISLATION SUPPORTING THE FESTIVAL’S CHILD PROTECTION 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 Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

9. POLICY REVIEW

The organisers will constantly review their policy, revising and enhancing it as necessary.  In this task the British and International Federation of Festivals provide support and in turn will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.

CHILD PROTECTION CONTACT:

Festival Trustee, Mrs Margaret Tebby, 184 Seabridge Lane, Newcastle, Staffs. ST5 3LS  Tel: (01782) 613874

Registered Charity No. 1037562

 

 

CHAIRPERSON:

2017 DATES:

FESTIVAL TRUSTEE:

TREASURER:

VENUES:

Carol Reddish

March 18th, 24th, 25th

Margaret Tebby

Jane Procter

Newcastle under Lyme College,

Knutton Lane, Newcastle,

Staffs ST5 2GB and

Clayton Hall Academy, Clayton Lane,

Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 3DN

 

 

DEFINITION: For the purposes of this policy a child is a person under the age of 18 years.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The safety of children and members of other vulnerable groups is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse.   All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the charity’s trustees and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.

1. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF THE FESTIVAL

The object of the Festival shall be to advance the education of the public in the Arts, and in particular the Arts of Music, Speech and Drama in all their branches’ (Festival Constitution clause 2).

The Festival is a partnership between three parties.  The Festival provides a public platform for amateur performance combined with an educational element from professional adjudicators.   Teachers encourage their pupils to enter the festival as part of their teaching programme.  Parents and Guardians have the opportunity to see and hear a public performance and hear expert opinions.

2. THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT
The festival is run by volunteers. It is the Festival’s policy to inform and involve parents, guardians, carers and teachers in order to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practical that the festival environment is safe.  The festival takes place in two venues listed above and these may be used by other organisations at the same time

3. TO WHOM DOES THIS POLICY APPLY?
The policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and members of vulnerable groups of any age whose needs are identified to the organisers prior to their arrival at the festival.   This should be done by contacting the address or telephone number at the foot of this document.  In recognising the needs of children from all ethnic groups and children who are disabled, the festival actively seeks to meet their needs.   Parents/guardians/carers and/or teachers must inform the festival, well beforehand, in order that we either prepare support, or let you know if we are unable to help

4.FESTIVAL PERSONNEL

The Festival hold an address register of every Festival volunteer who is identified by wearing a badge showing their name and festival responsibility. The Festival Trustees hold enhanced disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB).   Festival personnel are not involved in one to one contact with competitors.  All volunteers on the festival register are provided with a job description.   In case of a serious problem, anyone wearing a badge will be able to take you to the Festival Director in a private area.   All problems will be taken seriously and will be documented and dated.