126th Annual Competition 2012
(Founded in 1882)
Chairman: Ronald Skillett
Hon.
Secretary: Maureen
Westcott
Hon.
Treasurer: Richard
Small
Venues: Redbridge
Music Service, Hainault
The Parish Church of
St Mary's, South Woodford
Dates: During the month of February
Preliminary
Statement
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.
1 Purpose
and Function of the Festival
The aims of the Stratford and East London Music Festival
are to advance, promote and encourage, generally and by means of an annual
competitive festival, the study and practice of the arts of Music, Elocution
and Acting in all their branches.
These aims are achieved by providing a platform for performance combined
with an educational element from professional adjudicators.
2 The
Festival Environment
The Festival is organised by an unpaid Music Council,
assisted by voluntary helpers, in the Greater London Borough of Redbridge. The
Festival aims to provide a safe environment for all who participate and to make
every possible effort to inform and involve parents, guardians, carers and
teachers in partnership with the Festival.
3 To
whom this policy applies
This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years
and those vulnerable adults of any age who are identified to the organisers
prior to their arrival at the Festival.
This should be done by contacting the address or telephone number at the
foot of this document. In recognising the needs of children from all ethnic
groups and children who are disabled, the Festival actively seeks to meet needs
notified to the Festival by parents/guardians/carers and/or teachers.
4 Festival Personnel
All Stewards and Helpers at the Festival are known to, or
recommended by members of the Festival’s Music Council and are provided with
short job descriptions. All jobs are reviewed in order to ascertain whether the
helper is required to undertake an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal
Records Bureau. The Festival Secretary keeps a list of all names and addresses
and referees. All Festival personnel
wear an identity badge and assist in general matters. The Festival Supervisor for the Day is available to answer
queries and deal with problems. Any
concerns that arise are taken seriously, documented and dated.
5 Preparation for attendance at the Festival
All parents should receive and read this policy document.
It is essential that parents are aware of the responsibilities of the Festival
and of their own responsibilities so that they are partners in implementing
this policy.
Children under 18 years and vulnerable adults of any age
should be accompanied by one or more responsible adults at all times while on
Festival premises. Under no
circumstances will the Festival act in loco parentis.
6 Performance
Areas and Changing Areas
If a competitor deems a change of clothing necessary, the
only facilities available are the Ladies’, Men’s and Disabled Persons’
Toilets. None of these areas nor the
Practice Rooms are supervised by Festival Personnel. The Section Convenor, assisted by Stewards, supervises each
Performance Area. The entrance to the
Festival is manned at all times.
7 Photographs,
Visual Recording and Press Photography
In the Choral, Orchestras and Bands Sections, photographs
may be taken of each group at the end of a performance. The group’s director
must comply with the parents’ wishes and/or the individual school’s policy on
this matter.
In all other Sections, only officials of the Festival may
take photographs and these may be used for Festival publicity. Parents, or
their representative, are given the opportunity to indicate that they do not
wish their child to be included in any photographic record.
The Festival requires any Press photographer to obtain
permission from the parent at the event.
No form of recording is allowed at any of the Festival
events.
8 The
Legislation and Guidance that supports this policy
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; The Children
Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights
Act 1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court
Services Act 2000; The Children Act 2004; The Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
9 Policy
Review
The Festival organisers will constantly review this
Policy, revising 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.
10 Contact
Any queries regarding this
document should be addressed to the Festival Secretary,
Mrs Maureen Westcott, 446
Upper Brentwood Road, Gidea Park, Romford, Essex RM2 6JB