Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Child Policy
for
Smash Arts Theatre Company LLP

Introduction

 

SMASH ARTS THEATRE COMPANY LLP (Smash Arts) is a for-profit organisation run for the following purpose:

 

Smash Arts is a professional youth theatre company working with young people ages 9-22 to create high quality, professional, theatre and film projects.

 

II. Smash Arts is registered at:

 

8 South Street, Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 8DY

 

III. Smash Arts has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at SMASH ARTS THEATRE COMPANY LLP to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Smash Arts.

 

2. Purpose of the Policy

 

This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any services from us, including this are the children of adults who may receive services from us.

 

II. Smash Arts believes that no child to young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff and to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

 

3. The Risks to Children

 

Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are some situations where children need protection including but not limited to

 

Sexual abuse;

Grooming;

Physical and emotional abuse and neglect;

Domestic violence;

inappropriate supervision bu staff or volunteers;

Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our organisation;

Victimisation;

Self-harm;

Unsafe environments and activities;

Crime; and

Exploitation

 

4. Universality of Protection

 

Smash Arts recognises that:

 

– the welfare of the child is paramount; 

-all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have the right to equal protection from harm; 

-some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency;

-and working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing .

 

5. Disclosure and Barring

 

Smash Arts offers the following activities for children:

 

2 week instensive ‘West End Summer Experience’, Theatre Workshops, Performing Arts Group Classes in Dance, Drama, Singing and Music, Private Lessons in Dance, Drama, Singing & Music

 

II. Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants and adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks untie the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access give to other people’s children.

 

III. Smash Arts will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of Smash Arts. The member of Smash Arts who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following:

 

DANI ACORS, Designated Safeguarding Leader (DSL)

SARAH ACORS, Deputy Safeguarding Leader (DSL)

 

IV. Allegations will be appropriately reviewed and the likely risk to children and, if appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of the Smash Arts.

 

6. Prevention of Bullying

 

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at any Smash Arts event, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. The Team will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Team will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of Smash Arts. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with in accordance with this policy.

 

7. Photographing Children

Smash Arts will adopt the following policy towards taking and using photographs at events or activities:

 

Participants must expect to have their photograph taken at many of our events and we reserve the right to publish suitable photographs of those attending. Names of the participants will only ever be shared with permission from a parent and/ or Guardian.

 

8. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint

 

Adults supervising children at any Smash Arts events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used – but for that purpose only.

 

II. Unacceptable behaviour at Smash Arts events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The miscreants will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to the care of their parents.

 

III. Smash Arts may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months.

 

IV. A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to Smash Arts who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of Smash Arts is then final.

 

V. Due to the nature of dance it may be necessary to use physical contact when training young dancers and performers.

 

9. Other Policies

This safeguarding policy should be read together with the following policies and resources found on our website:

 

Terms and Conditions, Code of Conduct, Health and Safety, Privacy Policy

 

10. Legal Framework

 

This Policy has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable legislation and guidance available to Smash Arts in the jurisdictions it operates within the United Kingdom. Chiefly, this policy operates in accordance with the:

 

Children Act 1989

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Children Act 2004

General data Protection Regulation

Data Protection Act 2018

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015

 

This Policy is approved and robustly endorsed by SMASH ARTS THEATRE COMPANY LLP and is due for review in 3 years.

 

Signed

 

Dani Acors – Co-Founder Smash Arts Theatre Company, August 5th 2023