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 charity's trustees, staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.

Throughout this policy, where "children" are mentioned this also refers to other vulnerable groups

Purpose and Function of organisation:

• To hold annual competitive festivals of Visual Arts, Original Writing and of Music, Dance and Speech with an educational element of adjudication provided by professionals in each field.
• To present public performances, concerts and recitals.

The Festival Environment:

We aim to provide a caring, safe environment with the highest possible protection for children and vulnerable adults, in partnership with parents and teachers.

To whom does this policy apply?

This policy relates to children under the age of 18 and vulnerable adults of any age, irrespective of ability, race, religion, culture and gender. The Festival organisers actively seek to meet needs notified to them by parents, guardians, carers and/ or teachers.

Festival Personnel:

The Festival holds details of all helpers and they all support this policy. All helpers must sign in and out at venues and must wear the form of identification provided. They are advised on how to direct people with difficulties to the section secretaries.

Preparation for Attendance at the Festival:

For individual entrants, parents, guardians and carers will be informed of their responsibility in implementing this policy in the syllabus and on the entry form. These parents, guardians and carers should be satisfied that their children are adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf.

Where entries are made by schools, teachers are responsible for making parents, guardians and carers aware of this policy.

All entry forms will be signed by the responsible person.

Performance Areas and Changing Areas:

Parents, guardians and carers are responsible for ensuring the safe arrival / collection / departure of children or vulnerable adults at Festival venues. Adequate supervision will be provided in performance areas. Public toilets will not be supervised. Dressing and changing room areas will be supervised by those responsible adults attending with the children / vulnerable adults and not by Festival personnel.

Photographs, videotapes and press photography:

No type of photography is allowed during performances. Press photographs will be allowed and may be used for publicity purposes. If any parent, guardian, carer or teacher has any objection to this he / she should inform the section secretary. Any officially engaged photographer will be sited in a public place.

The Legislation and Guidance that supports this policy:

Policy Review:

The organisers will constantly review their policy, improving and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to The British & 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 policy guidelines.

Nuneaton Festival of Arts, 63 Leaward Close, Nuneaton CV10 7DG

updated 11/20087.