Designated Safe Guard Lead - Zoë Valentine 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT:

The safety of children and members of other vulnerable groups is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously, responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the organisers and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.

1. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF ORGANISATION:

To promote and encourage the study and practice of the arts of Dancing and singing.

To present and promote public performances of amateurs. 

To develop greater awareness, participation and appreciation of the arts of dance and song in the wider community.

2. THE SHOWCASE ENVIRONMENT:

Star Showcase is mindful of the need to safeguard all children involved in the performances. Venues used are open to the public during the showcase. 

It is the policy of our organisers to inform and involve parents / guardians / carers and teachers in partnership with Star Showcase, in order to ensure it is a safe environment. We do this by ensuring that you receive a copy of this policy at the time you are making arrangements to attend our events.

3. TO WHOM DOES THIS POLICY APPLY

This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and members of vulnerable groups of any age whose needs are identified to the event organisers by parents / guardians / carers and/or teachers prior to their at the performance day. 

This should be done by contacting the address or telephone number at the foot of this document. Star Showcase organisers actively seek, wherever possible, to meet these needs, but must know beforehand in order to prepare support & any specific arrangements. 

4. THE SHOWCASE PERSONNEL

Where Star Showcase personnel will be in one-to-one contact with children at our event ,where they will be holding children’s records or making decisions about how people interact with children, they will have an enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to the start. 

We will ensure that all volunteers working at showcase events will be required to submit contact details and references, the details of which we will hold on file and keep to hand during the showcase event. Staff and volunteers will be identified by badges &/or star showcase t shirts.

In case of a problem, Star Showcase staff should will be able to take you to someone who can help. All problems will be dealt with discretely, documented and dated.

5. PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE

This Policy is sent to parents/ guardians/ carers via the teacher, at the time of making arrangements to attend a Star Showcase event. It can also be requested via email or viewed on our website and social media.

Where parents / guardians / carers are not personally attending with their children, this policy requires them to be satisfied that their children will be accompanied to the event and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf.

Children under 16 yrs must be supervised at all times.

6. PERFORMANCE AREAS AND CHANGING AREAS

Star Showcase will provide separate girls and boys changing rooms during the event.

All dressing rooms will be supervised by teachers, parents and any chaperones appointed by the

schools entering the showcase.

All performers and supervising adults are required to sign in & out at the event reception.

Star showcase will not accept any responsibility whatsoever for supervising toilet and communal facilities.

7. PHOTOGRAPHS & VIDEOGRAPHY

Star Showcase will arrange official photographers and they will be taking photographs from the audience at times. 

If a parent or guardian does not wish their child to be photographed, this must be noted on the entry forms sent by the teacher. 

Audience members may not take photographs or videos during performances or judging. 

A photo area will be available in the event entrance for anyone to take their own photos

Announcements will be made at the event to remind the audience of the no photo and filming rules. 

8. THE LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; The Children Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, The Children Act 2004, The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The Protection of Freedom Act, 2002.

9. POLICY REVIEW

The organisers will constantly review their policy revising and enhancing it as necessary. Star Showcase will use NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.

Contact Zoe Valentine info@starshowcase.co,uk 

Reviewed March 2025