1. Introduction 

 

I. DRAMA IN MIND CIC (the Company) is a company run for the following  purpose: 

Provides creative workshops for children and young people, exploring their  emotional wellbeing. Provide a creative space to meet and socialise. Support  children in an educational or activity programme setting. 

 

II. The Company is based at: 

27 Old Gloucester Street, 

London, 

WC1N 3AX 

Company Number: 13575908 

​

III. The Company has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects  every adult working or helping at DRAMA IN MIND CIC to support it and comply  with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees,  directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Company. 

 

2. Purpose of the Policy 

I. This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any  service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive  services from us. 

 

II. The Company believes that no child or young person should experience abuse  or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people and  this policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those  who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection  and safeguarding. 

 

3. The Risks to Children 

Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important  not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are  situations where children need protection including but not limited to: 

- Sexual abuse; 

- Grooming;

- Physical and emotional abuse and neglect; 

- Domestic violence; 

- Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers; 

- Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our schools  and campuses; 

- Victimisation; 

- Self-harm; 

- Unsafe environments and activities; 

- Crime; and 

- Exploitation. 

​

4. Universality of Protection 

The Company recognises that: 

- the welfare of the child is paramount; 

- all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age,  sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm; - some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their  

circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of  dependency; and 

- working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers  or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing. 

​

5. Safeguarding Children at Events/Activities 

I. There are three kinds of events/activities: 

(A). those open to adults and children of all ages; 

(B). those for children accompanied by a 'parent'; and 

(C). those for unaccompanied children, which are sometimes run alongside  other events/activities. 

 

II. At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be  accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the  child but also takes the child home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile  telephone number of one of their parents. 

 

III. At events and activities for children accompanied by a 'parent', children under  16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who  not only brings the child to the event but also takes the child home again  afterwards. If a lone adult brings more than one child, then the children will have  to stay together, so that the one adult can supervise them. Young people aged  16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile  telephone number of one of their parents.

​

IV. At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of  16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event  leader. The enrolment must record the child's name, age and address and the  names and addresses of the child's parents, plus the parents' mobile telephone  numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring  the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents. 

 

V. Both events and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions  where the Company will be providing a service. 

​

6. Disclosure and Barring 

I. The Company offers the following activities for children: 

Drama workshops 

Creative workshops 

1:1 Coaching 

School Holiday Programmes 

 

II. Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders  to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups  Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree  and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people's children. 

 

III. The Company will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part  of any member of the Company. A member of the Company who discovers  anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following: 

LUCILLE ONYEMA 

​

IV. Allegations will be appropriately reviewed and the likely risk to children and, if  appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his  or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and  procedures of the Company. 

​

7. Health and Safety Aspects of Safeguarding Children 

I. Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the Board will carry out  a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety.  Parents and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps  to be taken to minimise those risks. The Board will keep a record of all risk assessments. 

​

II. Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to  enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the  children not directly affected by the emergency. 

 

8. Prevention of Bullying​

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If  any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a the Company event, those  involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved  will be asked to deal with the matter. The Board will review all incidents of child on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the  Board will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance  with the rules and procedures of the Company. Allegations of adults bullying  children will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy. 

 

9. Photographing Children 

No photos will be taken or published of any child attending an event or activity  unless prior written permission is sought from a person with parental  responsibility. If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking  photos at an event or activity, that person should contact the Company  immediately. 

 

10. Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint 

I. Adults supervising children at the Company events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent  injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum  necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only. 

 

II. Unacceptable behaviour at the Company events for unaccompanied children  will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the  group. The miscreants will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as  possible to the care of their parents. 

 

III. The Company may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning  of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months. Any  such sanction would be determined and applied by the following officer: KEMI  BAMIDELE. 

 

IV. A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to the Company who will  hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of the Company is then final.  Any such appeals should be made to, and will be determined by the following  officer: KEMI BAMIDELE. 

 

11. Legal Framework 

This policy has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable  legislation and guidance available to the Company in the jurisdictions it operates  within in the United Kingdom. Chiefly, this policy operates in accordance with the: 

- Children Act 1989 

- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 

- Children Act 2004

- General Data Protection Regulation 

- Data Protection Act 2018 

This Policy is approved and robustly endorsed by DRAMA IN MIND CIC and is due for review every 1 year. 

Signed: LUCILLE ONYEMA (DIRECTOR) Date: 29th January 2022

​