Child Protection Policy

Chair: Rev Philip Wagstaff
Acting Secretary : Ashley Allerton
Treasurer: Jane Firth
Venue: South Street Baptist Church, Exeter
Dates: 25 February - 15 March 2008

Contact details for child protection issues:
Lead Officers: Claire Kennedy 0845 838 2316
Ann Reed: 0845 838 2319

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.

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.

2. THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT
The Festival organisers will use their best endeavours, in co-operation with parents, teachers and other responsible adults, 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 committee:

• 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

Problems should be reported to any Festival personnel identified by badge. Every problem will be taken seriously, be documented and dated.

5. PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL
You will have received this policy either through the post, via your teacher or the person who entered you: that person is a partner in ensuring that all entrants and their parents are made aware of the policy. The purpose of this is to ensure that all parents, guardians and carers understand that it is their responsibility to make arrangements for their children/ vulnerable adults to be adequately supervised. 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 you to make this clear.

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 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, as per Festival rule number 8. If any parent, guardian or carer objects to their child being in an official group photograph, it is the responsibility of their parent, guardian or carer to ensure that their child is not included in the photograph.

8. LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY
The Children Act 1989; 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 Children Act 2004

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