CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

CHAIRMAN: Gillian Peck

TREASURER: Wendy Shorrock

VENUES: Woodbridge School; The Methodist Church, Museum Street, Ipswich;

St John’s, Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich; The Angel Theatre, Rendlesham

DATES: 6^th- 21^st October 2007.

1. The object of the Festival is to encourage, promote and advance the study and practice of the performing Arts. The Festivals, held annually, provide performance opportunities, both competitive and non-competitive, for amateurs of all ages where they also receive expert advice from professionals.

2. We endeavour to create a friendly and well organised festival and in doing so we wish to make it absolutely clear here, in our policy, that we expect children under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults to be accompanied at the festival by parents/guardians/carers or their appointees, who may be teachers.

3. This policy is aimed at children under the age of 18 and those vulnerable adults of any age identified to the festival organisers, prior to their arrival at the festival.

4. All festival helpers are volunteers. The Festival holds the names and addresses of all festival personnel who are selected personally by committee members and existing festival helpers. All festival helpers are aware of, and support, the Child Protection Policy. All helpers will be identified by name badges and anyone wearing a badge can be approached and will be able to direct you to the Chairman or Section Secretary who will deal with your problem. All problems will be dealt with sympathetically, documented and dated.

5. This policy document is passed to all parents, guardians and carers in order to inform them that, where they are not attending with their children, it is their responsibility to ensure that their children are adequately supervised at the Festival by adults acting on their behalf. It is passed to parents directly, or via teachers, in time for them to make arrangements for their children to be supervised when attending the festival.

6. It should be noted that changing rooms, toilets, rehearsal and performance areas are unsupervised. The Festival Committee and volunteers do not supervise children at the Festival and therefore parents, guardians, teachers and carers remain responsible for those committed to their care at all times.

7. All photography and/or sound recording is forbidden during performances unless taken by an official photographer authorised by the Festival Committee (or by the Chairman on their behalf). All such officials will wear identity badges. Any individual or parent/guardian/carer on behalf of an individual may refuse permission for an official photograph or recording to be taken.

8. The organisers will review their policy periodically, improving and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.