The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the welfare, and prevent any abuse, of young and/or vulnerable people and adults who assist the Fringe Committee in the organisation and running of the Fringe, for example:
1. During workshops in Schools, Care Homes and Community Centres.
2. Whilst volunteering at the Fringe Information Desk.
3. On the Fringe Carnival Float.
A young person refers to someone in the upper age range of the legal definition of a child, that is to say someone aged up to 18, or 25 if the young person has Special Educational Needs (SEN). A vulnerable person can be of any age.
This policy applies to the Fringe Committee, all volunteers and all staff (including permanent, fixed term and short-term temporary appointments).
An assessment will be carried out for each post prior to appointment, to determine whether the successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check.
Staff and volunteers working on the Fringe Desk have a handbook and are given further guidance on safeguarding and good practice as part of their induction by the Fringe Desk Manager. The activities that work experience students will be asked to do will have been approved by the school prior to the work experience starting. Where practicable all work experience students will work in pairs.
Everyone to whom this policy applies is expected to read and follow the policy:
- To be aware of safeguarding issues and follow safe practices.
- To remember that young and/or vulnerable persons can regard adults as role models; adults should therefore ensure that their behaviour, language, gestures and the like are appropriate.
- To respect the wishes of a young and/or vulnerable person as one would an adult.
- To take all reasonable steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of any young person and/or vulnerable person or adult assisting the Fringe Committee.
- To seek to prevent any person, while assisting the Fringe Committee, being put in a situation where there is a significant risk to health and safety.
- To take appropriate action if any person, while assisting the Fringe Committee, is subject to physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
- To report any disclosure of abuse immediately to one of the Fringe Safeguarding Officers.
Any allegation of abuse of a child, young and/or vulnerable person should be reported immediately, where it will be kept in a secure form. If for any reason that is not possible or practical, the matter should be reported to a Trustee of the Fringe or any member of the Fringe Committee who will refer the matter to the Fringe Safeguarding Officers.
- When visiting outside organisations with young, and/or vulnerable persons, we will follow their safeguarding policies.
- The Fringe is not responsible for the safeguarding of performers or audiences during Fringe events organised by third parties.
This policy will be reviewed by the Fringe Committee annually with reference to current government guidelines prior to the Festival Fringe.
March 2024