Policy

LINCOLN MUSIC & DRAMA FESTIVAL
(Affiliated to the British & International Federation of Festivals)

Charity No: 509415

Chairman: Mr Paul Hill, Greenways, Grantham Road, Harmston, Lincoln LN5 9SJ; Tel: 01522 723967

Hon. Gen Secretary: Mrs Glenys Gage, 15 Somerville Close, Waddington, Lincoln LN5 9QP; 01522 880179

CONTACT: Stewards' Co-ordinator: Mrs Marian Leetch, Bridge Cottage, 46 High Street, Ruskington, NG34 9DW; 01526 830840

VENUE: Central Methodist Church & Millennium Studio Theatre, High Street, Lincoln LN5 7PR

DATES: First two weeks in March each year

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
(implemented from 1st March 2012)

Throughout this Policy, references to 'children' should be taken as covering children and vulnerable adults.
Also references to 'parents' includes guardians and carers.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The safety of children 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.

All the Festival's volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.

PURPOSE OF THE LINCOLN MUSIC AND DRAMA FESTIVAL

To provide a competitive and public platform for amateurs of all ages to perform the Arts:
music, speech and drama with the educational benefit of encouragement and guidance
from internationally recognised and qualified specialist adjudicators.

FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT

It is the policy of our Festival to inform and involve parents and teachers in order to ensure,
as far as it is reasonably practicable, a safe environment at our Festival.
We do this by sending you a copy of this policy at the time you are making
arrangements to attend our Festival.

The church catering facilities are shared with the Church Luncheon Club
on one occasion during the Festival.

TO WHOM THIS POLICY APPLIES

This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and members of vulnerable groups of any age
whose needs are identified to the Festival organisers prior to their arrival at the Festival.
We actively seek, wherever possible, to meet these needs but must know beforehand in order
to prepare support - or let you know if we are unable to help.

FESTIVAL PERSONNEL

The Stewards' Co-ordinator, (see contact details at the top of this document)
is responsible for implementing this Child Protection Policy.

She will ensure that stewards have either been associated with the Festival for several years,
or are appointed only after careful consideration of their suitability
for the tasks involved, and taking references.

The Festival holds addresses of all personnel, and all job descriptions are reviewed
in order to ascertain whether disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureau are required.

All those who help to run the Festival are unpaid volunteers and all are identified by coloured badges.

In the case of a problem, anyone wearing a badge can be approached and
will be able to direct you to someone who will be able to help.

A private area is at our disposal where concerns can be expressed.

All stewards receive a copy of the Policy and agree to be involved in its implementation.

Stewards are vigilant in surveying the Festival area and will challenge
unusual or suspicious behaviour and report it to the Stewards' Co-ordinator.

Every problem will be taken seriously and will be documented and dated.

PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL

The Festival does not accept responsibility for the supervision of children under the age of 18.

Where parents are not personally attending with their children, 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.

(Persons acting in a supervisory capacity will be expected to pay the normal
admission fee but tickets giving free admission to school teachers in charge
of groups will be issued by the Entries Secretaries in advance).

You will have received this Policy with your performer's ticket
so that you have time to make arrangements to attend the Festival.

If the entry has been submitted by a school, parental permission will have been obtained.

PERFORMANCE AREAS

Festival stewards control only the auditorium of the Millennium Theatre
and the main body of the Church during sessions.

Children must be supervised in all other areas including changing and warm-up rooms
by parents or responsible adults attending on their behalf.

AUDIO AND VISUAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT

The Festival is bound by copyright law and the use of such equipment
during performance is strictly forbidden, as is flash photography.

In certain circumstances, still photographs may be taken at the end of a session
if the permission of the Session Manager is obtained first.

The Festival encourages the press to attend and, where parents
do not wish their children to be photographed,
then the parent with those children should
ensure that they are not included in the photograph.

LEGISLATION SUPPORTING THIS 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 Children Act 2004,
The Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

REVIEW OF THE POLICY

The organisers will review this policy annually.

In doing this they will follow the guidance of
The British and International Federation of Festivals for support
and that body, in turn, will look to other agencies for good practice,
most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England.