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Safeguarding Policy

The Don Valley Festival acknowledges its duty of care in accordance with the Children & Young Persons Act 1963, the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, the Child (Performances) Regulations 2014, the Protection of Children Act 1999, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, and the Data Protection Act 2018/UK GDPR.

This policy also follows the principles set out in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).

We recognise that abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect. The Festival is committed to creating a safe environment where children are protected from harm. All trustees, committee members, volunteers and participants share responsibility for raising awareness and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.

1. Core Principles

• The welfare of the child is always paramount.
• Every child, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity, has the right to protection from abuse.
• All suspicions, disclosures or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and acted upon promptly, sensitively, and appropriately.
• Everyone involved in the Festival must know how to respond to safeguarding concerns.
• Safeguarding applies to all Festival activity, whether in-person or online (e.g. official website and Facebook posts).

2. Our Pledge

• All children are treated with dignity, equity and respect.
• The welfare of children takes precedence over all other considerations.
• Bullying and inappropriate behaviour are not tolerated.
• Adults act as positive role models and give constructive feedback.
• A register of all participants and volunteers is maintained, with emergency contacts.
• Trustees and committee members are subject to enhanced DBS checks; casual weekend volunteers provide references before involvement.
• Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO): (contactus@donvalleyfestival.org.uk).
• Children have clear channels to raise concerns.
• The Festival works in partnership with local safeguarding agencies where necessary.
• Whistleblowing: safeguarding concerns about adults may be raised externally via the Federation of Festivals.
• This policy is communicated to all members, parents and volunteers, who are expected to commit to it.

3. Safeguarding Procedures

3.1 Responsibilities of the Festival

• Carry out risk assessments and monitor risk throughout the Festival.
• Publicise the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
• Ensure children are supervised at all times.
• Maintain clear processes for contacting local authority safeguarding teams if required.

3.2 Parents

• Parents are responsible for the supervision and collection of their children before and after sessions.
• The Festival does not act in loco parentis and is not responsible for transporting children.

3.3 Unsupervised Contact

• The Festival aims to avoid situations where adults are left alone with children.
• Ideally two adults will be present.
• If unavoidable, contact must take place in a public area or room with an open door.

3.4 Physical Contact

• Adults will maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Physical contact will only occur where necessary for the activity, with consent wherever possible.

3.5 Information Management

• Parental consent will be sought before photographs or recordings of children are used.
• Festival social media and website content will be carefully monitored.
• Safeguarding records will be stored securely and retained in line with UK GDPR for up to six years, unless required longer for legal or safeguarding reasons.

4. Reporting Abuse

1. Stay calm and listen carefully.
2. Do not ask leading questions.
3. Do not promise confidentiality — explain you must share the concern.
4. Reassure the child they did the right thing.
5. Inform the child what will happen next.
6. Report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (Nick Moss).
7. Make a written record using the child’s own words, including date, time, names, and who the information was given to. Sign and date the record.

5. Rights and Confidentiality

• If a complaint is made against a member of the Festival, they will be informed of their rights.
• Both the child and the individual accused have a right to confidentiality, subject to safeguarding law.
• In criminal law, the presumption of innocence applies until proven guilty.

6. Accidents

• All participants are advised of health and safety “house rules”.
• If a child is injured, a first-aider will treat them and record the incident in the accident book, countersigned by the DSO.
• If a child arrives with a pre-existing injury, this will be recorded as evidence.

7. Review

This policy is reviewed annually by the Executive Committee to ensure compliance with current safeguarding law and guidance.
Reviewed: 1 September 2025

8. Simplified Reporting Process

• Stay calm and listen.
• Reassure the child.
• Report immediately to the DSO (contactus@donvalleyfestival.org.uk).
• Write down what was said.

9. External Resources

If you have concerns about a child in the Doncaster area, please visit:
Doncaster Children’s Trust – Worried About a Child