Safeguarding
Ashington and District Male Voice Choir (established 1916)
Safeguarding Policy
Introduction
Safeguarding is about keeping people, especially vulnerable people, safe from harm: it’s about protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, and allowing people to live free from harm, neglect and abuse.
Vulnerable people include children and young people: the Children Act defines “child” as anyone under the age of 18. Vulnerable people also include those adults who need care and support because of illness, disability, frailty, mental health problems, substance misuse, homelessness or immigration status, whether or not known to local authority agencies.
Types of maltreatment or abuse
Vulnerable people can be abused in terms of physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse. coercive control, psychological abuse, or neglect. Abuse may also include bullying and harassment, including sexual harassment or workplace abuse, and includes exploitation, trafficking of children and adults, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, extremism, and radicalisation.
Raising Concerns
When members are concerned for the wellbeing of any vulnerable person, they must raise those concerns as soon as possible with the Safeguarding Lead [or in his absence, Deputy].
Responding to Concerns
1. Concern is raised by member: is this an Emergency?
a. If so, call Police on 999
b. If not, report to Safeguarding Lead within 24hr
2. If Safeguarding Lead agrees that concerns are substantial, report to statutory agencies:
a. Vulnerable Child or Adult Onecall 01670 536400
b. https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Children/Safeguarding/What-can-I-do-if-I-suspect-a-child-or-young-person.aspx
3. Both members and Safeguarding Lead are designated in legislation/guidance as non-professionals.
Training
The Safeguarding Lead will undertake regular Safeguarding Training.
Choir members will have familiarisation with issues around Safeguarding at the Choir AGM.
Disclosure & Barring Service checking
The Safeguarding lead will check annually the status of employees, volunteers, and members of the Choir in respect of requirement for DBS checking.
Recording
The Safeguarding Lead will keep a record of:
1. Any incidents where Safeguarding concerns are raised
2. Training undertaken by Choir employees and officers
3. Training delivered to members at the AGM
For a period of not less than five years.
Declaration
Ashington & District Male Voice Choir is committed to keep people safe: it’s officers, its members, and its audiences.
Our Safeguarding Policy will be regularly updated and agreed annually at the Annual General Meeting of the Choir.
Our Safeguarding Policy will be available on our Choir website for people to see.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: in this, we will be led by our Safeguarding Lead
<strong>First Adopted by the Committee Date: 08 September 2022
First Adopted by the Choir Date: AGM 9th March 2023
Version 1 September 2022 Version
DBS check status verification 9th March 2023 https://www.gov.uk/find-out-dbs-check/y/none-of-these/none-of-these/none-of-these
Reviewed Date: 9th March 2023
Next Review Date March 2024
Safeguarding Lead Ian Hurford
Deputy Andrew Mowat
Updated April 2023