Buckinghamshire Organists’ Association Safeguarding Policy
(This policy was approved by the committee at their meeting in July 2020, and ratified at the 2020 AGM ).
The Buckinghamshire Organists’ Association (BOA) works with children, parents, vulnerable adults and our members, to support the rights of children & vulnerable adults, in creating and maintaining a safe environment for them.
We do this in our events by:
- Having a Safeguarding Officer, who takes specific responsibility for the protection, safety & well-being of children & vulnerable adults
- Recognising that all children and vulnerable adults have the right to freedom from abuse and harm.
- Working with parents/carers in the interest of the welfare of children & vulnerable adults
- Ensuring that our members are aware of and accept responsibility for helping to prevent the abuse of children & vulnerable adults
- Supporting our members in bringing concerns to the Safeguarding Officer
- Responding quickly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse
- Providing parents/carers, children & vulnerable adults with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have
- Reviewing when necessary the effectiveness of our Safeguarding Policy
It is the responsibility of all members present at a meeting to ensure no-one present suffers physical, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse, particularly directed towards young people (under the age of 18) or known vulnerable adults.
Any concerns about abuse must be brought to the attention of the Safeguarding Officer, or another Committee member if they are not present at a meeting. Concerns must be referred to the Committee for review as soon as possible.
Young people under the age of 18 are welcome to attend our events either accompanied by a parent/carer, or attending with the consent of their parents or carers. A parental consent form must be completed if deemed necessary. Parental consent must be obtained to have a young person shown in any photographs that are taken at any meeting.
Unless a young person is a relative of a member, members must not volunteer to drive a young person to a BOA meeting unless also bringing another adult with them, who is not related to the driver. It is good practice for the young person to sit in the back of a car.
(Note:- This document was approved at a committee meeting on 22nd July 2020, which will be reviewed periodically and amended as necessary.)