1. Introduction:
Ashford Choral Society (‘ACS’) is a registered charity (number 1041943) which promotes music in the local community by providing its members with the opportunity to learn and perform choral works to a high standard through rehearsals in Ashford and public performances in Ashford, Canterbury and 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 ACS. Events are organised by the Committee, members of ACS, 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
a. It is the objective of the Society to create, so far as is reasonably practicable, an environment which is safe as regards children under the age of 18 and vulnerable adults at each Event.
b. However, ACS regards it as the responsibility of all parents or guardians, or carers of vulnerable adults to ensure the safety of their children or charges while attending any Event organised by ACS and, especially if they are not attending the Event personally, that their children or charges are accompanied and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf at all times. This applies equally to cloakrooms, changing rooms and refreshment areas at Events, and the periods of time between a rehearsal and a public performance, which are not necessarily supervised by ACS members or volunteers.
c. Where it is not reasonable to expect that a child or vulnerable adult can be accompanied by a responsible adult as envisaged in (b.) above, the Child Protection Lead will undertake the responsibility for the supervision of the individuals concerned.
d. The Committee will keep a record of all volunteers who are not members of ACS who are acting in any official capacity at any Event.
4. Responsibility of ACS
ACS 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 a child or vulnerable adult to the appropriate agency for investigation.
ACS recognises that:
– the welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount;
– all children and vulnerable adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial 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 ACS have a responsibility to report concerns to an appropriate member of the Committee.
Any concern about a child or vulnerable adult directly relevant to attendance at an Event will be referred to the Child Protection Lead who will record the concern and take appropriate action.
5. Child Protection Lead
The Society shall appoint a member of the Committee as Child Protection Lead, who will ideally hold a current DBS clearance, and who will be responsible for the monitoring of developments in Child protection issues, and for dealing with any matters relating to, or concerns of, any child or vulnerable adult.
The current lead member is Dominic Urand.
6. Notification of Policy
The policy will be brought to the attention of members of ACS on an annual basis and will be
available on the ACS website.
7. Policy Review
The Committee will formally review this policy at least annually.
Agreed by the Committee October 2023
A PDF of this policy can be downloaded here.