Established 1941. Registered charity No. 1039442.

1. PREAMBLE.

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 Festival’s trustees and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.  This policy is intended to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of those persons under the age of 18 years (children) and of vulnerable adults who are participating in the Festival;  where applicable below read “vulnerable adult/s” for “child/children” and “carer/s” for “parents/guardians”.

2. THE FESTIVAL.

The festival will discharge its duty of care towards these children through the institution and maintenance of recognised good practices by means of a Festival Handbook in the respect of: suitability, recruitment, instruction and preparation of all the all-volunteer personnel: records; reports; retention of documents; photography.  Personnel will be identified by badge and may be approached by any person, child or adult, with a problem to be directed to someone who can help but neither the Festival nor the management of the hired premises in which the Festival is held accept any responsibility whatsoever for the proper supervision of any children attending the Festival in any capacity.

3. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY.

The responsibility for the supervision of any child attending the Festival muss remain with the parents or their appointed representative and any adult entering, bringing or sending or  in any other way permitting a child to attend the Festival shall therefore be responsible for their adequate supervision at all times; where they are not personally attending they must satisfy themselves that those children will be adequately supervised at all times; where they are not the parent/guardian they must make proper arrangements with the parents/guardians to ensure such supervision.  For all entrants supervisory responsibility shall include any children accompanying that entrant.

4. ACCEPTANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY

All entry forms fill contain a statement to the above effect which must be signed by an adult to signify they understand and accept the supervisory responsibility.

5. DISSEMINATION OF THIS POLICY.

This Policy will be implemented through the Rules of the Festival in each Section Syllabus, in the Entry Form, in Programmes and by notice at venues.  It will be displayed on the Festival Websites and available on request accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope

6. UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN.

Children apparently not accompanied by a supervising adult will be admitted without prejudice to this Policy but only because refusing them entry would expose them to greater risk.  However should this result in financial loss for any reason, the Festival will seek compensation from the parents/guardians concerned.

8. POLICY REVIEW.

This policy and its implementation will be reviewed after each Festival.