Our Safeguarding Policy
1. Introduction:
The Wealden Consort (TWC), which is registered with HMRC as a charity, promotes music in the local community by providing its members the opportunity to learn and perform choral works to a high standard through rehearsals at Marlborough House School and other venues. Also to perform public performances at other, mainly local, venues.
2. Events:
‘Events’ comprise the rehearsals and public performances referred to above, together with any other musical activities such as choral workshops or charitable activities, or any social functions organised by TWC. Events are organised by the Committee, members of TWC, and others acting on a voluntary basis together with, where applicable, a conductor, soloists, orchestral players and official accompanists providing their services on a professional basis.
3. Policy:
It is the objective of TWC to create, so far as is reasonably practicable, an environment at every event which is safe for everyone including children and adults regardless of their age, gender, gender identity, sexual identity and ethnic identity etc. (See Para 4)
TWC regards all parents, guardians and carers responsible for the safety of their charges while attending any event organised by TWC. If they are not attending the event personally, their charges must be accompanied and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf at all times. This applies equally to toilets, changing rooms and refreshment areas at events which are not necessarily supervised by TWC members or volunteers.
Where the parents, guardians and carers cannot accompany their charges to an event, the Safeguarding Lead will undertake the responsibility for the supervision of the individuals concerned, having been notified in advance.
The Committee will remind members that, whilst attending rehearsals or concerts at a school during term time, they may encounter pupils at that school. They must avoid any one-to-one contact with such pupils and keep any incidental contact to a minimum. They should not enter any areas of the school, and particularly boarding houses, other than those specifically made available to TWC for the event concerned.
4. Responsibility of TWC:
TWC is a voluntary organisation with no statutory responsibility to investigate allegations of child abuse. It has, however, responsibility to refer any concerns regarding the safety of anyone who attends an event to the appropriate agency for investigation.
TWC recognises that all people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, gender identity, language, racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
All members of TWC have a responsibility to report concerns to the Safeguarding Lead or to an appropriate member of the Committee. Any concern about any person directly relevant to attendance at an event will be referred to the Safeguarding Lead who will record the concern and take appropriate action.
5. Safeguarding Lead:
The TWC Committee has appointed Barbara Robertson as Safeguarding Lead. She holds a current Safeguarding qualification and will be responsible for the monitoring of developments in Safeguarding issues, and for dealing with any matters relating to, or concerns of, anyone connected to TWC as outlined above.
6. Notification of Policy:
The policy will be brought to the attention of members of TWC on an annual basis and will be available on the TWC website.
7. Policy Review:
The Committee will formally review this policy annually.
Date: 1.6.24