Child Protection Policy
Preliminary Statement: The safety of children and vulnerable adults is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. Any suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the Festival’s trustees, officers and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.
Purposes of the Organisation: The aim of the Festival is to encourage the love of music in the former County of Westmorland by organising a series of professionally adjudicated classes, together with schools workshops and concerts.
To Whom This Policy Applies: This Policy applies to children under the age of 18, and to those vulnerable persons of any age who are identified to the Chief Steward prior to taking part. The Festival recognises the needs of children from ethnic minorities, with disabilities or other special needs and seeks actively to meet those needs where notified to the Chief Steward by Parents.
The Environment of the Festival: The Festival aims to create a caring environment with the highest possible level of protection for children and others to whom this Policy applies. All Parents will be informed and involved in implementing this policy so as to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, the safety of children taking part.
Festival Personnel: Everyone involved in the Festival is a volunteer. The roles of helpers are considered during recruitment and full contact details are held for all helpers. Where there is any requirement for volunteers to take responsibility for children in sensitive areas, or make decisions involving children, such volunteers will be cleared through the Criminal Records Bureau. All volunteers are fully aware of and support this Policy. Festival personnel will be vigilant in monitoring areas where children are, and will challenge adults in sensitive areas who are not accompanying children. All Festival personnel are trained how to direct children and parents to the designated person in the event of a problem. 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, including the Police. 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.
Identification of Festival Personnel: All Festival personnel will be identified by badges. Anyone wearing a badge can be approached in case of a problem and will be able to direct you to someone who will be able to help you privately and confidentially.
Implementing the Policy: The Festival sends this policy out to individual entrants when it confirms the entries and sends the timing of their class(es). It is also sent to teachers and they are asked to pass both the times of classes and the policy to parents/guardians or carers. In this way, the Festival ensures that everyone who attends is aware of their responsibilities under this policy. In order to provide the highest level of protection during the Festival, parents are responsible for ensuring that all children are accompanied and supervised at all times and are expected to pay the admission fee for the session.
NOTE: The Chief Steward must be notified in writing (c/o Chairman, address below) before the Festival if there are special needs which cannot be dealt with by a Parent.
Audio and Visual Recording: The use of all audio or visual recording equipment at any time during the Festival is strictly forbidden. The Festival may appoint a photographer, designated by a badge, or allow a Press photographer to attend. Photographs during the Festival will only be used for publicity purposes connected with the Festival. Parents who object to children being photographed while taking part in the Festival must inform the Chief Steward in writing (c/o The Chairman, address below) in advance. Persons in possession of audio or visual recording equipment may be refused admission.
Relevant Legislation Supporting this Policy: 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.
Policy Review: Festival organisers will review this Policy after each event. Last review October 2011.
Contact Address: Jean Robinson, Over Blease, Old Hutton, Kendal LA8 0LU.
Purposes of the Organisation: The aim of the Festival is to encourage the love of music in the former County of Westmorland by organising a series of professionally adjudicated classes, together with schools workshops and concerts.
To Whom This Policy Applies: This Policy applies to children under the age of 18, and to those vulnerable persons of any age who are identified to the Chief Steward prior to taking part. The Festival recognises the needs of children from ethnic minorities, with disabilities or other special needs and seeks actively to meet those needs where notified to the Chief Steward by Parents.
The Environment of the Festival: The Festival aims to create a caring environment with the highest possible level of protection for children and others to whom this Policy applies. All Parents will be informed and involved in implementing this policy so as to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, the safety of children taking part.
Festival Personnel: Everyone involved in the Festival is a volunteer. The roles of helpers are considered during recruitment and full contact details are held for all helpers. Where there is any requirement for volunteers to take responsibility for children in sensitive areas, or make decisions involving children, such volunteers will be cleared through the Criminal Records Bureau. All volunteers are fully aware of and support this Policy. Festival personnel will be vigilant in monitoring areas where children are, and will challenge adults in sensitive areas who are not accompanying children. All Festival personnel are trained how to direct children and parents to the designated person in the event of a problem. 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, including the Police. 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.
Identification of Festival Personnel: All Festival personnel will be identified by badges. Anyone wearing a badge can be approached in case of a problem and will be able to direct you to someone who will be able to help you privately and confidentially.
Implementing the Policy: The Festival sends this policy out to individual entrants when it confirms the entries and sends the timing of their class(es). It is also sent to teachers and they are asked to pass both the times of classes and the policy to parents/guardians or carers. In this way, the Festival ensures that everyone who attends is aware of their responsibilities under this policy. In order to provide the highest level of protection during the Festival, parents are responsible for ensuring that all children are accompanied and supervised at all times and are expected to pay the admission fee for the session.
NOTE: The Chief Steward must be notified in writing (c/o Chairman, address below) before the Festival if there are special needs which cannot be dealt with by a Parent.
Audio and Visual Recording: The use of all audio or visual recording equipment at any time during the Festival is strictly forbidden. The Festival may appoint a photographer, designated by a badge, or allow a Press photographer to attend. Photographs during the Festival will only be used for publicity purposes connected with the Festival. Parents who object to children being photographed while taking part in the Festival must inform the Chief Steward in writing (c/o The Chairman, address below) in advance. Persons in possession of audio or visual recording equipment may be refused admission.
Relevant Legislation Supporting this Policy: 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.
Policy Review: Festival organisers will review this Policy after each event. Last review October 2011.
Contact Address: Jean Robinson, Over Blease, Old Hutton, Kendal LA8 0LU.
In accordance with the Criminal Records Bureau suggested code of practice, for registered persons and other recipients of disclosure information, the Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival will ensure the following practice:
Policy on Storage and Handling of Information
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival will seek disclosures only when necessary and relevant to a particular post and will ensure that your consent is given before seeking a disclosure. The information provided on a disclosure certificate will only be used for recruitment purposes.
Disclosure information will only be shared with those authorised to see it in the course of their duties.
Two disclosure certificates will be issued; one to the umbrella body who processes the disclosure (BIFF) and one to you. Where additional disclosure information is provided to the umbrella body – information which does not appear on your copy of the disclosure certificate – the umbrella body will disclose this information to the appointing committee of our Festival.
Disclosure information will be stored by the umbrella body in a locked non-portable container for a maximum of 6 months, which is a reasonable period to allow the consideration and resolution of any complaints. Only those authorised to see this information in the course of their duties will have access to this container. Disclosure information will be destroyed by shredding. No image or photocopy of the disclosure information will be made, however the following details will be retained:
Date of issue of disclosure
Name of subject
Disclosure type
Position for which disclosure was requested
Unique reference number of disclosure
Recruitment decision taken
The Festival will ensure that all appointing committees with access to disclosure information are aware of this policy and have received relevant training and support required to ensure it is carried out.
The Festival undertakes to make a copy of this policy available to any applicant for a post with the Festival that requires a disclosure.
Disclosure information will only be shared with those authorised to see it in the course of their duties.
Two disclosure certificates will be issued; one to the umbrella body who processes the disclosure (BIFF) and one to you. Where additional disclosure information is provided to the umbrella body – information which does not appear on your copy of the disclosure certificate – the umbrella body will disclose this information to the appointing committee of our Festival.
Disclosure information will be stored by the umbrella body in a locked non-portable container for a maximum of 6 months, which is a reasonable period to allow the consideration and resolution of any complaints. Only those authorised to see this information in the course of their duties will have access to this container. Disclosure information will be destroyed by shredding. No image or photocopy of the disclosure information will be made, however the following details will be retained:
Date of issue of disclosure
Name of subject
Disclosure type
Position for which disclosure was requested
Unique reference number of disclosure
Recruitment decision taken
The Festival will ensure that all appointing committees with access to disclosure information are aware of this policy and have received relevant training and support required to ensure it is carried out.
The Festival undertakes to make a copy of this policy available to any applicant for a post with the Festival that requires a disclosure.
Policy on Rehabilitation of Offenders
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival undertakes to ensure that this policy is provided to all applications for positions which involve contact with children and where an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau is required. We will only request an enhanced disclosure where it is necessary and relevant to the position. Much of our work is with children and, when we draw up our job descriptions, we carry out a thorough risk assessment to ascertain whether a position requires an enhanced disclosure.
As you apply to join our Festival team of voluntary helpers, we ask you for details about yourself for our file (Form 1). Some positions require a further form (form 2) as those positions involve working closely with children. As you complete this form, we ask you to include details of any convictions, spent or unspent. To ensure confidentiality we ask you to return information about any criminal record you may have, spent or unspent, in a sealed envelope, marked Private and Confidential For The Attention of the Chief Steward (c/o Chairman). We will ensure that all our voluntary staff involved in the recruitment process are aware of this policy and have received relevant training and support on all those procedures documented by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, ex-offenders have the right not to reveal spent convictions. However, the same Act makes it clear that, where the nature of the work involves contact with children or vulnerable adults, people may be asked to declare all criminal convictions, including those which are spent.
We must make it clear that, while it is necessary to ask for information on convictions, we will not necessarily exclude people from volunteering should they have convictions which are not relevant to the work carried out. Should the Festival receive disclosure information which shows a conviction, we will take into consideration:
Whether the convictions is relevant to the post being offered
The seriousness of the offence revealed
The length of time since the offence took place
Whether the applicant has a pattern of offending behaviour
Whether the applicant’s circumstances have changed since offending took place
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival is committed to the fair treatment of its volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background. We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talents, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for voluntary positions based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival 2013
This document is reviewed after each Festival and updated as required
As you apply to join our Festival team of voluntary helpers, we ask you for details about yourself for our file (Form 1). Some positions require a further form (form 2) as those positions involve working closely with children. As you complete this form, we ask you to include details of any convictions, spent or unspent. To ensure confidentiality we ask you to return information about any criminal record you may have, spent or unspent, in a sealed envelope, marked Private and Confidential For The Attention of the Chief Steward (c/o Chairman). We will ensure that all our voluntary staff involved in the recruitment process are aware of this policy and have received relevant training and support on all those procedures documented by the Criminal Records Bureau.
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, ex-offenders have the right not to reveal spent convictions. However, the same Act makes it clear that, where the nature of the work involves contact with children or vulnerable adults, people may be asked to declare all criminal convictions, including those which are spent.
We must make it clear that, while it is necessary to ask for information on convictions, we will not necessarily exclude people from volunteering should they have convictions which are not relevant to the work carried out. Should the Festival receive disclosure information which shows a conviction, we will take into consideration:
Whether the convictions is relevant to the post being offered
The seriousness of the offence revealed
The length of time since the offence took place
Whether the applicant has a pattern of offending behaviour
Whether the applicant’s circumstances have changed since offending took place
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival is committed to the fair treatment of its volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background. We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talents, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for voluntary positions based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
The Mary Wakefield Westmorland Festival 2013
This document is reviewed after each Festival and updated as required