Safeguarding, Child Protection and Prevent Policies – updated October 2024
Blewbury Brass Band: Safeguarding Policy
This Safeguarding Policy was adopted by Blewbury Brass Band’s committee on 12 October 2024. It closely follows the Brass Bands England (“BBE”) sample policy found in its BandSafe resources pack and which was drafted in partnership with the NSPCC and funded by the Arts Council.
Overview
This policy applies to all members, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of Blewbury and District Brass Band (BBB).
The purpose of this policy is:
- To protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs who are members of the band or connected to the band in some other way.
- To provide members and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
BBB believes that a child, young person or adult with care and support needs should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults at risk.
Commitment to Safeguarding
Children and Young People
BBB recognises that:
- the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act (1989);
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues; and
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
Adults
In addition, BBB is aware that it has safeguarding responsibilities towards adult members, some of whom may be vulnerable at different times in their lives. The principles outlined above in relation to children, also apply to our work with adults. In terms of a legal framework, the arrangements for those over 18 are governed by the Care Act 2014. This Act stipulates that statutory safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:
- has care and support needs, and
- is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
- as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.
We will seek to keep children, young people and adults safe by:
- valuing them, listening to and respecting them, ensuring that, in the case of adults, we work with their consent unless ‘vital interests’ (as defined in the Data Protection Act (1998)) are at stake, or the person has been assessed as lacking mental capacity (as defined in the Mental Capacity Act (2005));
- adopting child protection and adult safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for and members and volunteers;
- ensuring that our governance arrangements reflect our commitment to safeguarding;
- ensuring that the Safeguarding Officer, Musical Director and any other band member who regularly supervises rehearsals has a valid Enhanced DBS clearance in place (and an Enhanced DBS check with a Children’s Barred List check carried out if engaged in regulated activity such as unsupervised teaching or instruction);
- working to ensure that there is a safe culture within our band;
- developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures;
- providing effective support and training for volunteers with responsibility;
- recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
- sharing information about child protection and adult safeguarding with children, parents, volunteers and members;
- sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately.
Useful contact details:
BBE Safeguarding Officer: Amanda Knight 07717 133048
Local police: 101 or in emergencies, 999
Local authority children’s social care department, including out of hours contact:Oxfordshire Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 0345 050 7666 or available here: Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) | Oxfordshire County Council or by emailing mash-children@Oxfordshire.gov.uk
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk
ChildLine: 0800 1111 (textphone 0800 400 222) or http://www.childline.org.uk
The Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Local authority adult social care department: MASH 0345 050 7666
Brass Bands England Safeguarding Officer: 01226 771015
Annual Review
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: 12 October 2024
Blewbury Brass Band 