The purpose and scope of this policy statement is to keep Children and Young People safe while putting on a charity Pantomime.
Our aims are:
1. To raise money for the James Hopkins Trust
2. To put on a Pantomime to entertain families in the local area
3. To provide a fun sociable activity for children, young people and adults
Our Activities:
- Hold auditions and rehearsals for the show
- Stage a Pantomime
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• to protect children and young people who receive The Dramatic Villagers services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of The Dramatic Villagers, including volunteers, adults, children, cast members, technical volunteers, crew and front of house members.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that
seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.
Supporting documents
This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures,
guidance and other related documents:
• role description for the designated safeguarding officer
• dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
• managing allegations against staff and volunteers
• recording concerns and information sharing
• child protection records retention and storage
• behaviour codes (called Our Values) for adults, children and young people
• photography and sharing images guidance
• adult to child supervision ratios are to be 1 adult to 12 children
We believe that:
• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young
people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or
belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types
of harm or abuse
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
Find out more about:
• safeguarding children who come from Black, Asian and minoritised
• safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people
• safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people
• safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities
We will seek to keep children and young people
safe by:
• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people
• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies,
procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,
support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and
volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes
confidently and competently
Research and resources
• recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary
checks are made
• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line
with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is
available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/for
organisations]
• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and
their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go
for help if they have a concern
• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and
relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children,
young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers
appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we
have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that
does arise
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in
place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young
people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in
accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young
people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable
about sharing concerns.
Contact details
Nominated child protection lead
Name: Gareth Howell
Phone/email: 07787970421 Garethatwitsend@hotmail.com
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: 4/4/26
Signed:Gareth Howell
Date: 4/4/2026