Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama

Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama

Before you can register for access to the online entry system, you must first accept our terms and conditions.
Please read each of the policies below, and then enter your name and confirm you accept these policies.

Child Protection Policy (download Here)

BEDFORDSHIRE FESTIVAL OF MUSIC SPEECH AND DRAMA

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Important Note: Please read the following before completing and signing the entry form.
Implemented on 1st November 2007.

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.  Mission Statement
The Festival aims to advance and encourage the study and practice of the arts of Music, Speech and Drama by providing a platform for amateur performance combined with an educational element from professional adjudicators.  By working in partnership with parents, carers and teachers, we seek to provide a caring environment with the highest possible protection for children and vulnerable adults.

The Festival will not act in Loco Parentis.  It is therefore the responsibility of parents to ensure the adequate supervision of their child/vulnerable adult during their attendance at the Festival.

2.  To Whom Does this Policy Apply?
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. Identification of vulnerable adults should be done by contacting the Administrative Secretary on the 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 the needs notified to the Festival by parents/guardians/ carers and/or teachers.

3.  Who will receive a copy of this Policy?
All teachers and schools entering pupils in the Festival. (Private teachers are required to send a copy of the policy to the parents/guardians of all children entered by them).
All individual entrants.
All members of the Festival (committee, stewards, accompanists).
Any other person who requires a copy.
A copy of this Policy will appear in the annual syllabus and on the Festival website.

4.  Festival Personnel
4.1 All persons working with children/vulnerable adults have a responsibility to protect them.  There are, however, key people within the Festival who will have specific responsibilities under child protection procedures.
Dr Elisabeth Slack, Chairman – Child Protection Officer (CPO)
Mrs Julia Smith, Administrative Secretary – responsible person
Mr Robert Trunchion, Treasurer – responsible person
Mr Jonathan Keep, Chief Steward – responsible person

4.2 During Festival week at least two of the persons named in paragraph 4.1 will be on duty at all times that the Halls are open to the public.

4.3 All Festival Personnel will be required to wear a badge indicating their name and their position within the Organisation.  Committee members will have blue badges, all other volunteers will have white badges and those listed under 4.1 will have yellow badges.

4.4 In all cases where abuse is suspected or an allegation is made, the CPO or a responsible person must be contacted immediately.  The CPO or responsible person will then assume control of the incident.

4.5 All Festival Personnel, with the exception of the Administrative Secretary, are volunteers.  For all trustees and official accompanists including those in a position of specific responsibility under this Policy, as defined in paragraph 4.1, the Festival will obtain the appropriate Certificate from the Criminal Records Bureau.
Stewards are appointed on the personal recommendation of members of the Festival and subject to written references.
The Festival will supply the management of the Corn Exchange Complex with a copy of this policy. Prior to each Festival, the Festival will liaise with the management of the Corn Exchange Complex to ensure that, where appropriate, the implementation of the requirements of the policy by Festival personnel will be supported by the management and staff of the Corn Exchange Complex.

5.  Performance Areas, etc.
The Festival takes place within the Corn Exchange Complex, St Paul’s Square, Bedford. Other venues in the Town may be used for specialist classes.
The Festival will seek confirmation from the Corn Exchange staff that their Health and Safety policy at work is fully implemented.
Entry to the Corn Exchange and Howard Rooms is restricted to the main entrances.  Entry to the Harpur Suite is from the main door.  Both buildings are either supervised or secured at all times.  Disabled access is available to both buildings.  The Entrance Foyer of the Harpur Suite is open to the public for access to the venue Box Office.  Public access to the Festival venues is regulated at all times.

The Festival cannot take responsibility for the supervision of children and vulnerable adults when moving between venues or at times when the Festival is not in progress.

Toilets, changing areas and practice rooms are available within the Corn Exchange complex but they are NOT directly supervised by Festival or Corn Exchange Staff.

6.	Photographs, Videos, Audio Recordings and Press Photography
All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that NO photographs, video or audio recordings will be taken during any performance at the Festival.
The Festival may arrange to have photographs taken for publicity purposes.  Consent will be obtained from the parents, carers or teachers of each child/vulnerable adult at the time the photograph is taken.

7.	Complaints against Festival Staff
Any complaint made against any member of the Festival must be reported immediately to the Chairman who will institute an immediate enquiry.
If the complaint relates to an allegation against the Festival Chairman, the complaint should be reported immediately to the Vice Chairman of the Festival who will institute an immediate enquiry.

8.	Facilities for Confidential Discussions
The Festival will ensure the availability of a room for confidential discussions. Every problem will be taken seriously and be documented and dated.

9.  Policy Review
The Festival will constantly review its Policy, improving and enhancing it as necessary.  In doing this they will look to other agencies for good Practice, in particular the NSPCC, Arts Council of England Policy Guidelines and the British and International Federation of Festivals.  The Policy will be considered in detail at the meeting of the Committee immediately prior to the Festival each year to review and remind the Committee of the Policy and its requirements.

10. The Legislation and Guidance That Supports This Policy 
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 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
The Children Act 2004

11. Contact Details

Mrs Julia Smith, Administrative Secretary 
Tel: 07733 113652
Website: www.bedsfestival.org.uk

Equal Opportunities Policy (download Here)

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY STATEMENT

The Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama is committed to 
an equal opportunities policy in respect of all aspects of its activities and functions.

We actively promote equality for all with the right mix of talent, skills 
and potential, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability or illness, religion or beliefs (this is not an exhaustive list).

Our Equal Opportunities Policy has been developed to ensure that all 
users of the Festival are fully aware of our commitment to provide equal opportunities in all of our activities and functions.

Furthermore, the Festival will monitor the implementation and application of our Equal Opportunities Policy and ensure that it reflects and meets of the increasingly diverse community, which we seek to serve.

A copy of our complete policy is available from the Secretary/ website.

Policy – January 2008

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY POLICY

The Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech & Drama (“The Festival”) wishes to secure genuine equality of opportunity in all aspects of its activities. This applies to entrants to the Festival as participants (“Entrants”), Adjudicators, Accompanists, Stewards, Committee Members and any other volunteer or user of the Festival. The policy will be implemented within the framework of current legislation.

The Festival is a Registered Charity and a voluntary organisation. It is a member of The British & International Federation of Festivals (“The Federation”). It is run by a Committee of volunteers who are responsible for the introduction, maintenance and enforcement of the policy. The Committee is led by a Chairman.

It holds an annual festival in many areas of the performing arts where Entrants are required to perform in their respective areas. All performances are held in appropriate accommodation to which the general public are admitted. The performances are adjudicated by independent, appropriately qualified persons (“Adjudicators”). Prizes and certificates may be awarded. Depending on the performing art, in accordance with Federation Guidelines and concepts of fairness, the entrants may therefore be split into different classes either by area, age or technical ability or combination of these factors. The Festival issues a syllabus each year outlining the classes into which entrants can be entered and the conditions of entry appertaining thereto.

Policy

The Festival recognises that in society, many types of discrimination may arise and is committed to achieving equal opportunities in all aspects of its work.

Our policy is that entrants and volunteers are able to participate and enjoy the Festival without discrimination.

The Festival will aim to ensure that all persons involved with the Festival, either current or potential, are not discriminated against either directly or indirectly on the grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, colour, nationality, cultural origin, religion, belief, disability, experience of mental distress, HIV status, caring responsibility, class, education, employment status, political belief or criminal conviction (this is not an exhaustive list).

The Festival believes that all persons involved with the Festival, either current or potential, should not be excluded from any opportunity without due reason.

The Festival is committed to making this Equal Opportunities Policy effective. Our policy aims to ensure that all persons involved with the Festival:

-	Receive no less favourable treatment on the grounds of any of the matters outlined above
-	Are not disadvantaged by conditions and/or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

We will ensure that the syllabus, selection criteria, procedures and all aspects of the running of the Festival are frequently reviewed to ensure that all persons involved with the Festival are treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and in accordance with any relevant legislation.

Entry, Recruitment and Selection

It is the intention of the Festival that entry and recruitment decisions are based solely on the relevant merits and abilities of candidates. The Festival will require, therefore, that those involved with establishing the syllabus and selection of adjudicators, accompanists, Committee members and other volunteers do not discriminate, whether directly or indirectly, in the making of those decisions.

Literature, including the syllabus, shall not imply that there is a preference for one group of applicants unless this is relevant to either the post for which an exemption from relevant legislation is available or the class is governed by the standard criteria for fairness such as age or grade of attainment to promote fairness.

Any application forms for any involvement with the Festival shall be as clear as possible and shall not be phrased in too narrow or restrictive terms. They shall be free of personal questions except those addressed to an entrant.  With respect to volunteer helpers, the Festival may make such checks with external authorities as may be necessary for, say, working with children, given the nature of the Festival.

Application forms for entrants may ask personal questions such as age and/or ability so that the Festival can ensure the entrant has applied for the right class for their performance. The Festival reserves the right to refuse entry if it would appear that there are breaches of the conditions for classes contained in the syllabus. The Festival also reserves the right to refuse applications that may give rise to performances which may not be suitable for a mixed-age audience or which would be offensive under the Festival’s Equal Opportunity Policy.

The Festival will encourage members of groups from all sectors of the community to offer themselves as volunteers or for election to the Committee.

All persons involved with the Festival shall be informed that the Festival operates an Equal Opportunities Policy. Such information will be conveyed in all relevant documents such as the syllabus, guidance to Stewards and Adjudicators and in any advertisements or press releases. The Policy shall be available through our website. A copy of the policy statement will be provided to all persons involved with the Festival on request and it shall be displayed in a prominent place in any Offices used by the Festival during the Festival itself. A copy of the Policy shall be given to all new members of the Committee.

The Festival - Syllabus and Programme Setting

In setting the syllabus and in its planning and programming for the Festival, Equal Opportunities will be considered in rules setting, timing of classes, allocation of resources.

The Committee will set the syllabus with a view to welcoming entrants from members of groups from all sectors of the community. The Committee will use their best endeavours to consult widely regarding the setting of the syllabus to ensure that it reflects the developments in the performing arts that are necessary to achieve the Festival’s Policy.

Discrimination

Various statutes make it unlawful to discriminate, either directly or indirectly, on the grounds of sex, race, disability and age. The definitions are very widely drawn and the Festival’s policy is not a suitable vehicle for outlining these. All syllabus setting and other activities must be undertaken in a way that they do not inadvertently, directly or indirectly discriminate against a group on the grounds of age, sex, race, religion etc. 
Indirect discrimination can occur when everybody is treated the same but in a way, which results in some people not being able to comply where others from a different grouping can.

Harassment

The Festival wishes to make it quite clear that harassment on the grounds of sex, race religion, age and disability may be unlawful and views harassment of any type very seriously.

Examples of harassment could include (this not an exhaustive list):-

1.	sexually discriminatory remarks which may be offensive to the recipient
2.	repeated or unwanted verbal advances, oral or physical, of a sexual nature
3.	racial insults/jokes/name calling
4.	graffiti/other written insult of a racial, sexual or other offensive nature
5.	provocative behaviour which could be offensive to a mixed age audience or other entrants
6.	offensive (under the terms of our policy) literature of any form or in any medium, brought to any of the Festival’s activities or premises.

Monitoring

All members of the Committee will be responsible at all times during the Festival and during the Festival’s other activities for implementing the Festival’s Policy and monitoring its adherence. Stewards, adjudicators, accompanists and other volunteers have a duty to see that the Festival runs in the spirit of the Policy. In particular, adjudicators or members of the committee who are designated as either Child Protection Officers or Responsible Persons under the Festival’s Child Protection Policy may feel that a performance may be offensive under this Policy and will be at liberty to ask the performer/s to stop immediately. Such a performance will not be adjudicated and the entrants shall not be entitled to any refund of entry fee.

Complaints

Any complaint or grievance under the policy should be made to any committee member who will refer the matter to the Chairman for investigation. The Chairman shall, within the rules of natural justice, investigate the matter, allowing witnesses etc as appropriate. If, as a result of the investigation, the Chairman considers that the complaint or grievance is reasonable, they shall recommend to the committee that appropriate action shall be taken.

If the complaint is to the conduct of an entrant, committee member, steward or other user of the Festival, that action may take the form of a verbal or written warning or for repeated or serious complaints, resignation from or discontinuance of involvement with the Festival.

Any complaint, if upheld by the Chairman’s investigation, about the conduct of a Federation adjudicator will be referred directly to the British and International Federation of Festivals.

If requested, the Chairman shall institute an appeal process that shall be chaired and conducted by a Vice President or Vice Chairman of the Festival whose decision shall be final. Where a complaint is made against the Chairman, the matter shall be investigated by the Vice Chairman. Should an appeal from that process be necessary, this shall be chaired and conducted by a Vice President.

Review and Responsibility

The Committee will be responsible for the monitoring and implementing the content of the Policy. The equality and diversity policy will need to be reviewed annually by the committee. All aspects of the policy will monitored as an ongoing practice.

Adopted by the Committee on …10 January 2008………………………….

Signed by the Chairman …………E Slack…………………………

Date of Next Review ……………January 2009…………………………

I apply for membership of the Bedfordshire Festival of Music, Speech and Drama and have read the rules and regulations contained in the syllabus. I do not object to my personal data, as supplied, being held on the database in accordance with the Festival rules and regulations.

By entering your name in the box below, you are confirming that you have read and understand the Child Protection Policy and the Equal Opportunities Policy. If you are under 18, you must ask a parent or guardian to sign here.

Name of Entrant (if under 18, name of Parent/Guardian) :