WORDS IN WATCHET 2027

WORDS IN WATCHET FESTIVAL Child Protection Policy

Words in Watchet Festival is committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind.

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them. This policy applies to our Words in Watchet Committee, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of the Words in Watchet Festival.

We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
  • all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
  • working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

 The purpose of the policy:

  • to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in Words in Watchet Festival.
  • to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk, of harm

 We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

  • valuing them, listening to and respecting them
  • adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff and volunteers
  • providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance.

At any Words in Watchet Festival events that involve children and young people Words in Watchet will ensure that:

  1. A designated Words in Watchet Festival Safeguarding Officer is present at each event. 
  2. No Words in Watchet Festival personnel are permitted to be alone with a child except in cases of emergency (e.g. first aid is required), or the child would otherwise be in danger.
  3. All Words in Watchet Festival personnel wear an official Festival identity lanyard at each event.
  4. All teachers/parents/guardians /carers are asked to report all incidents of any nature to anyone wearing a Words in Watchet Festival lanyard.
  5. All reported incidents will be handled in accordance with the Health and Safety Policy.
  6. For the duration of events involving children or young people, all teachers/parents/guardians/carers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their own children/pupils.
  7. No unauthorised photography, audio or video recording of children and young people is allowed at Words in Watchet Festival. Where parents/guardians/carers do not wish photos to be taken at all, then the responsible adult attending should ensure that their child is not included in official photos.
  8. Some children and vulnerable adults may have specific needs in order to take part. If this is the case we ask the responsible teachers/parents/guardians/carers to contact a member of the Words in Watchet Committee, at time of booking. Words in Watchet Festival will actively seek wherever possible to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support or to advise that help cannot be provided on this occasion.

 

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Words in Watchet Committee.

 Next Review date: January 2027