Safeguarding
The Faversham Literary Festival is committed to the safeguarding and care of children and adults at risk of harm at its events (to encompass those who have a Learning Disability, Mental Health issues or are vulnerable by way of disability, illness or addiction). All persons attending Faversham Literary Festival, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. Any allegations of abuse will be taken seriously, responded to swiftly and appropriately, and all the organisers, venue hosts and other volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.
We are also committed to the relevant statutory legislation and guidance for the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk of harm.
PAID WORKERS AND/OR VOLUNTEERS
Paid workers and volunteers do not undertake work with children and/or adults at risk of harm where they do not have their own parent or appropriate adult with them.
CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
Children aged 12 and under who wish to attend Faversham Literary Festival events will not be allowed to attend unless accompanied by a parent or appropriate adult.
Consideration will be given at all times for the health, safety and welfare of each child, young person and vulnerable adults.
ACTION
If anyone representing the Faversham Literary Festival is concerned that someone at one of the events is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others they should immediately report the matter to the Venue Manager at that event.
PERSONAL PROPERTY
Faversham Literary Festival takes no responsibility for personal property at any of its venues.
Child Protection
We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them. This policy applies to our directors, paid staff, volunteers, sub-contractors, students or anyone working on behalf of the Festival.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
- to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in our Festival
- to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk, of harm
We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:
- valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff and volunteers
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision and support
This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance.
At any Festival events that involve children and young people the Festival will ensure that:
- A designated Festival Safeguarding Officer is present at each event.
- No Festival personnel are permitted to be alone with a child except in cases of emergency (eg first aid is required), or the child would otherwise be in danger.
- All Festival personnel wear an official, visible Festival identity badge at each session.
- All parents/guardians /carers are asked to report incidents of any nature to a person wearing a Festival badge. All reported incidents will be handled in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy.
- Children under age 12 must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian while attending Faversham Literary Festival events. This is stipulated on the terms of each ticket for children's events, and unaccompanied children under 12 will not be admitted. For the duration of any events involving children or young people, all parents/guardians/carers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their own children.
- No unauthorised photography, audio or video recording of children and young people is allowed at our Festival. Where parents/guardians/carers do not wish photos to be taken at all, then the responsible adult attending should ensure that their child is not included in official photos.
- Some children and vulnerable adults may have specific needs in order to take part. If this is the case we ask the responsible parents/guardians/carers to contact the Festival Director, Amanda Dackombe, at the time of booking. The Festival actively seeks wherever possible to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support or to advise that help cannot be provided on this occasion.
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Festival Directors.
This policy was reviewed on 1 October 2023; Next Review date: 1 October 2024