We are committed to working in ways that protect children and young people from harm. Staff, Trustees, and volunteers associated with Stretford Children’s Theatre accept and recognise our responsibilities in this area and want to actively develop awareness of the issues which cause children and young people harm.

 

Our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy is based on the following principles:

 

• The welfare of the child is paramount

• All children - whatever their age, culture, disability, sex/gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, language, race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin), religion or belief - have the right to protection from abuse;

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

• Staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns to the Designated Person within SCT who has responsibility for child protection.

• Staff and volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to decide if abuse has occurred, and therefore we follow guidance which includes passing on information internally to our Designated Person, and then consultation or referral to a statutory child protection agency such as local Social Services or the NSPCC or the policy.

 

We will aim to safeguard children by:

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• Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

• Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents and carers, staff, and volunteers.

• Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.

• Carefully following the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers.

• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through support, supervision, and training.

• We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice regularly.

 

Our full Child Protection Policy sets out agreed guidelines relating to the following areas:

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• Responding to allegations of abuse, including those made against staff and volunteers. Procedures for the recruitment of staff and volunteers

• Supervision of activities

• Photography, publications, trips away and transportation

• Bullying

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Please find our full Child Protection Policy here