Safeguarding Policy

Policy statement

It is the policy of Riding Mill Drama Club that the welfare of the children and young people is paramount regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity and that everyone who may use or visit the theatre, has a right to protection from physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Children and young people are defined as under the age of 18. We also acknowledge our responsibilities in respect of adult volunteers or visitors who might be deemed to be ‘at risk’ because they are ‘vulnerable’. (A Vulnerable Adult is defined in accordance with The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 2002 as a person aged 18 or over who has a condition of the following type: (i) a substantial learning or physical disability; (ii) a physical or mental illness or mental disorder, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs; or (iii) a significant reduction in physical or mental capacity.

Riding Mill Drama Club is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults. It recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to promote best practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation.

Riding Mill Drama Club acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse. Its volunteers will Endeavour to work together to encourage the development of an ethos that embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of all children, young people and adults.

The Trustees and Management Committee of Riding Mill Drama Club  will therefore:

1. Ensure that volunteers working with children understand their legal and moral obligations to protect children and young people from harm, abuse and exploitation

2. Develop best practice in relation to the recruitment of such volunteers. Riding Mill Drama Club is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for children, volunteer staff and visitors and promoting a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns which they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.

3. Ensure that volunteers understand their responsibility to work to the standards detailed in the club’s Child Protection Procedures

4. Ensure that volunteers understand their obligations to report care or protection concerns about a child/young person, or a volunteers’ conduct towards a child/young person, to the theatre’s designated person for child protection

5. Ensure that all procedures relating to the conduct of volunteers are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner

6. Ensure that the designated child protection person understands his/her responsibility to refer any child protection concerns to the statutory child protection agencies (i.e. police and/or children’s social care)

7. Provide opportunities for volunteers to develop their skill and knowledge particularly in relation to the care and protection of children and young people and adults at risk.

8. Ensure that children and young people are enabled to express their ideas and views on a wide range of issues in connection with the theatre’s services.

9. Facilitate involvement of parents or carers in the work of the club and make child protection procedures available to them.

10. Ensure that written permission is received from parents/carers for their children to engage in club activities and that specific information is provided in relation to the specific needs of children (eg medical need, allergies, special educational needs)

11. Endeavour to keep up-to-date with national developments relating to the care and protection of children and young people.

12. Take seriously any allegation or suspicion of abuse towards a child with whom Riding Mill Drama Club is in contact and recognise that any child can be subject to abuse and that any matter arising from this will be dealt with appropriately following a clear set of procedures.

13. Ensure that volunteers who are in positions of trust in respect of children and young people, are aware of the law relating to sexual activity with under 18s.

Vulnerable children

Particular vigilance will be exercised in respect of children and young people who could be vulnerable by virtue of disability, special educational needs, homelessness, refugee/asylum seeker status, the effects of substance abuse within the family, those who are young carers and those who are ‘looked after’ or ‘in the care’ of a Local Authority. In addition we acknowledge that children who are affected by abuse or neglect may demonstrate their needs and distress through their words, actions, behaviour, demeanour or other children. We will work hard to promote a strong positive ethos through our club activities and will have high expectations of the behaviour expected of all participants.

Responsibilities within this policy

1. All volunteers are responsible for the operation of the Child Protection Policy and they should act upon any concern no matter how small or trivial it may seem.

2. All volunteers recognise the position of trust in which they have been placed.

3. In every respect, employees and volunteers ensure that the relationships they form with children and young people are appropriate.

4. The Trustees and Management Committee of Riding Mill Drama Club  ensure that volunteers working directly with children and young people have a Disclosure and Barring Service. Volunteers requiring DBS disclosures are:

• Youth Theatre leaders

• Chaperones on specific productions in which children perform

• Directors of productions in which children are involved (under 18)

• The Designated and Deputy Designated persons

• All members of the management board of the committee of the club

1. In cases where there is an allegation or suspicion of child abuse, the Designated Person(s) will take steps immediately to ensure that no child or adult is placed in a position which could cause further compromise.

2. Any allegation or suspicion of child abuse is reported to Northumberland Children’s Services

3. Where urgent issues of child protection are involved, the Trustees and the Management Committee have, as appropriate, the authority to suspend volunteers from working in the club

4. Riding Mill Drama Club will work with the appropriate local agencies, in particular Northumberland  Children’s Services and the local Police, to ensure that children are safeguarded through the effective operation of Riding Mill Drama Club’s child protection procedures.

5. Riding Mill Drama Club is committed to reviewing our policy and good practice at regular intervals.

Required actions

All volunteers working within Riding Mill Drama Club are required to report instances of actual or suspected child abuse to the Designated Person(s) with responsibility for child protection.

The Designated Person is:  Helen Mason email  helen1mason@aol.com

The Deputy Designated is: Angela Routledge email  south.lea@tiscali.co.uk

When an individual concern/incident is brought to the notice of the Designated Person(s), they will seek advice from Northumberland Children’s Services in relation to child protection issues.

All parents/ carers of children involved in theatre activities will be informed of our safeguarding responsibilities and the existence of this policy. In situations where children or young people sustain injury or are otherwise affected by an accident or incident whilst they are the

responsibility of the theatre, parents will be notified of this as soon as possible.

The role of the Trustees

The Trustees have formally adopted this policy and will review its content and the office holders annually or sooner if there are any legislative changes or new good practice guidance.

The Trustees will receive an annual report from the designated person(s) to monitor both the volume and progress of cases where a concern has been raised to ensure that the theatre is meeting its duties in respect of safeguarding.

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Riding Mill Drama Club

NOV 2022