Child Protection Policy

Chair: Rev Philip Wagstaff
Secretary: Robert Stephenson
Treasurer: Jane Firth
Venue: South Street Baptist Church, Exeter
Dates: 1st March - 20th March 2010

Contact details for child protection issues:
Lead Officers:
Linda Gibson: 0845 519 2621
Claire Kennedy 0845 838 2316

The safety of children and vulnerable adults 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, staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns in accordance with DPAFs Child Protection Procedure. The Festival's Management Committee is committed to and responsible for implementing the Festival's Child Protection Policy in full.

Throughout this policy, where "children" are mentioned, this also includes members of vulnerable groups; the term "Parents" shall include "guardians and carers".

1. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF ORGANISATION
The objects of the Devon Performing Arts Festival are to advance the education of the public in the Arts, and in particular the Arts of Music, Speech and Drama and Dance in all their branches and to provide amateur performers of the Arts with the experience of competing on a prestigious public stage with the educational benefit of encouragement and guidance from specialist and highly respected adjudicators.

2. THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT
The Festival organisers seek to advise and involve all Teachers, Parents, Guardians, Carers and Club/Organisation Leaders in ensuring that all possible precautions are taken to protect the well-being of all persons covered by this Policy (see appropriate points under "To Whom does this Policy Apply?" below) and with them will use their best endeavours to ensure a safe and secure environment at all times.

3. TO WHOM DOES THIS POLICY APPLY
This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and those vulnerable adults of any age who are identified to the organisers prior to their arrival at the Festival: this should be done in writing to the address given in the syllabus and programme. The Festival actively seeks to meet the needs of its competitors.

4. FESTIVAL PERSONNEL
All Festival personnel, including the committees: • are volunteers • are selected and recruited by personal recommendation, with references and committee agreement • have a copy of this policy and are briefed in its implementation • wear identifying badges at all times • provide contact details which are logged in the festival records All Stewards have a job description for the position they occupy, and each position is reviewed to establish whether the holder is required to undergo an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. All Stewards are briefed prior to the commencement of their duties, which are assigned on a skills basis. Festival personnel sign in and out each day. They are expected, so far as is reasonably possible, to monitor the Festival environment and to challenge any unacceptable or suspicious behaviour. Problems should be reported to any Festival personnel who can be identified by the badge they are wearing. Every problem will be taken seriously, be documented and dated in a bound book and acted upon in accordance with DPAFs Child Protection Procedure 2008.

5. PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL
Whilst endeavouring to create a safe and caring environment, the DPAF does not take responsibility for children or vulnerable adults at the Festival and this policy is sent to those responsible for entering children to the Festival to make this clear. Our Policy will be included in the Festival Syllabus. Each contestant entry form will display a reminder to parents, teachers, carers and guardians of the existence of the Festival Child Protection Policy. When programmes are sent out with details of dates and times of performance, a copy of this Policy will be supplied for each entrant, unless they enter via their school, when one copy only will be sent to the school as teachers will be responsible for supervision on the day. Teachers or others who enter children to the Festival are responsible for ensuring that all entrants and their parents are made aware of the policy, so that all parents, guardians and carers understand that it is their responsibility to make arrangements for their children/ vulnerable adults to be adequately supervised. Where parents are not personally attending with their children, the Devon Performing Arts Festival requires them to be satisfied that their children will be accompanied to the Festival and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf, and to ensure that their children are aware of the identity and name of the person responsible for their care. Festival helpers will not act as supervisors at the Festival.

6. PERFORMANCE AND CHANGING AREAS
Changing, practice, toilets and other public areas are unsupervised and parents/guardians/carers should be mindful of their responsibilities under point 5 above. Individual rehearsals need to be organised and supervised by the respective parent/teacher.

7. PHOTOGRAPHS,VIDEOTAPES and PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY
The use of any audio or visual recording equipment is strictly prohibited, other that by the agents of the Festival. Photographic images, audio and visual recordings may be made by agents of the Festival and subsequently may be used in print, on our website or in public broadcast to promote and publicise the Festival; they may then be viewed by participants and their families, the general public, and other organisations and institutes. If any parent, guardian or carer objects to their child being in an official photograph or recording it is the responsibility of the parent, guardian or carer to ensure that Festival personnel are made aware of this and that the child is not included.

8. LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY
The Children Acts 1989 & 2004; The Police Act 1997; Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;The Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

19. POLICY REVIEW The organisers of the DPAF will review this policy annually, improving and enhancing it as necessary.

Child Protection Officers:
Ms Linda Gibson
Ms Claire Kennedy, 0845 838 2316