CHILD PROTECTION POLICY - Approved October 2008

ISLE OF WIGHT MUSICAL COMPETITION FESTIVAL

CHAIRMAN - Barry Allen	Fairmead, 2 Culver Way Yaverland, Sandown Isle of Wight PO36 8QG	Tel: 01983 408137 barryjallen@btopenworld.com
SECRETARY - Janet Coates	4 Stanley Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31 7DW	Tel: 01983 609555 coatesjanet@hotmail.com
TREASURER Victoria Maynard-Sibley	25 St. Paul’s Crescent, Shanklin, Isle of Wight PO37 7AN	Tel: 01983 861343 Victoria204@hotmail.co.uk
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER Christina Booth	4 The Lanterns, Sherbourne Street, Bembridge, PO35 5RU	Mobile: 07966 392246 chrissy@iwmcf.co.uk

VENUES: Methodist Church Hall, Garfield Road, Ryde;

Methodist Church, Garfield Road, Ryde;

All Saints’ Church, Queen’s Road, Ryde;

Sts Thomas’ Church, Newport;

Shanklin Theatre, Shanklin (TBC);

And other such venues as the Festival Committee from time to time deem suitable;

DATES: Various, between 5^th March 2012 and 24^th March 2012, inclusive.

The safety of children and members of other vulnerable groups 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 of the Charity’s officials and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.

Throughout this Policy, where ‘child’ or ‘children’ are mentioned, this also includes members of other vulnerable groups. Throughout this Policy, where ‘parents’ are mentioned, this also includes guardians, carers and teachers.

1. The Isle of Wight Musical Competition (IWMCF) is established to advance, promote and encourage generally and by means of the Competition Festival Movement, in particular, the study and practice of the arts of Music, Dancing, Elocution, Literature and Acting in all their branches. The IWMCF provides a platform for amateur performance combined with an educational element from professional musicians, dancers and speakers.

2. This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and members of vulnerable groups of any age who are identified to the organisers prior to their arrival at the Festival. This should be done by contacting one of the addresses at the beginning or end of this document. In recognising the needs of children from all ethnic groups and children who have special needs, the IWMCF actively seeks to meet those needs if similarly notified in advance by parents.

3. Practices and procedures at the IWMCF are geared towards working in partnership with parents to create a safe environment for children.

4. Where parents are not personally attending with their children or members of vulnerable groups, the IWMCF draws these parents’ attention to all aspects of this Child Protection Policy and requires these parents to supervise their child’s attendance at the Festival or be satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made.

5. All parents of individual competitors under the age of 18 or members of vulnerable groups, will be sent a copy of the IWMCF Child Protection Policy, in sufficient time for them to make arrangements for their child’s attendance at the Festival.

6. Teachers entering students under 18 years of age or members of vulnerable groups will make their own arrangements to send all parents, guardians and carers of competitors under the age of 18 or members of vulnerable groups, a copy of the IWMCF Child Protection Policy, in sufficient time for them to make arrangements for their child’s attendance at the Festival.

7. IWMCF Officials are volunteers and the IWMCF holds records of all their addresses and demands references for all volunteers. IWMCF Officials will be provided with short job descriptions, and where necessary, Officials will be required to undertake an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.

8. All Festival personnel will be identified by the special IWMCF badge, which bears those letters and British Federation of Festivals logo. In case of a problem, anyone wearing an IWMCF badge will be able to direct you to someone who will be able to help. Any issues or complaints relating to Child Protection will be referred to the senior IWMCF Official on duty in the competition room and will be taken seriously and recorded.

9. IWMCF Classes are held in the venues listed above and there may be occasions when children need to move between venues. All IWMCF venues are open to members of the general public to attend as spectators.

10. Backstage areas, changing rooms, toilets and practice rooms are not supervised by IWMCF personnel and therefore parents must be responsible for their own children when the latter are using these facilities, or be satisfied that appropriate arrangements have been made. The IWMCF draws parents’ attention particularly to the fact that at some venues, changing rooms and performance areas have several entrances and exits which are open to the general public and not supervised by IWMCF Officials.

11. Changing rooms are to be considered as ‘family areas’ – open to all children and parents. Single-sex areas cannot be guaranteed.

12. The Press may wish to take photographs of prize-winners. This Policy makes it clear that, where parents do not wish photos to be taken, it is these parents’ responsibility to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to ensure that their children are not included in press photographs.

13. The names of all competitors are usually printed in the Reports of Results in the local press. This Policy makes it clear that, where parents do not wish their child’s name to be reported, it is such parents’ responsibility to ensure that appropriate arrangements are made to ensure that their child’s name is not included in press reports, by contacting one of the names at the bottom or top of this document.

14. The IWMCF Committee will review this policy annually, enhancing it as necessary. In doing this, the IWMCF is supported by the British and International Federation of Festivals, which in turn looks to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and The Arts Council of England policy guidelines.

This policy is informed by:

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.