Safeguarding at Elevate Youth Theatre

At Elevate Youth Theatre, the safety, wellbeing and happiness of every child and young person in our care is our highest priority.

We want Elevate to be a place where young people feel safe, respected, included and able to be themselves while developing their confidence and creativity through performing arts.

Our Commitment

Elevate Newquay CIC has comprehensive Safeguarding & Child Protection procedures covering our classes, rehearsals, performances, trips, community events and other activities.

Our safeguarding arrangements apply to everyone working with or on behalf of Elevate, including directors, teachers, employees, volunteers, freelancers, visiting practitioners and chaperones.

We are committed to creating a culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and where concerns about a child's welfare are listened to and acted upon appropriately.

Our Safeguarding Leads

Elevate has designated members of the team responsible for safeguarding.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Emily
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL): Rebecca

Safeguarding concerns can be raised with either safeguarding lead.

If a concern relates to one of our safeguarding leads, it can be raised with the other safeguarding lead. Our full Safeguarding & Child Protection procedures also set out arrangements for escalating concerns externally where appropriate.

Safer Recruitment & DBS Checks

We are committed to ensuring that adults working with children through Elevate are suitable for their roles.

Appropriate safeguarding and suitability checks are undertaken according to the person's role and responsibilities, including DBS checks where eligible and appropriate.

Staff and volunteers are also expected to understand and follow Elevate's safeguarding expectations and Staff & Volunteer Code of Conduct.

Creating a Safe Environment

Our safeguarding arrangements include procedures relating to:

• child protection and responding to concerns or disclosures;
• staff and volunteer conduct;
• safer recruitment and DBS checks;
• bullying and child-on-child harm;
• appropriate physical contact and professional boundaries;
• photography, video and social media;
• safe collection and children leaving sessions;
• missing children;
• toilets, changing and personal care;
• medical needs, first aid and accidents;
• performances, trips and backstage environments;
• online communication;
• whistleblowing and allegations or concerns about adults.

We also maintain appropriate health and safety procedures and risk assessments for our activities.

Photography & Social Media

Theatre is a visual and creative environment, and photography and video can be an important part of celebrating what our young people achieve.

However, promotional consent is not assumed simply because a child attends Elevate.

Parents/carers are provided with choices about the use of their child's photograph or video for purposes such as our website, social media and promotional material.

We respect the permissions recorded for each child.

Listening to Young People

We want children and young people to feel comfortable speaking to us if something doesn't feel right.

They will be encouraged to talk to a trusted adult if they feel worried, unsafe, uncomfortable or upset — whether their concern relates to something happening at Elevate or elsewhere.

Concerns will be taken seriously and handled sensitively.

We cannot promise to keep safeguarding information secret where sharing information may be necessary to protect a child or another person.

Raising a Safeguarding Concern

If you are a parent, carer or young person and have a safeguarding concern relating to Elevate, please speak to Emily (DSL) or Rebecca (DDSL) as soon as possible.

You can also contact us at:

hello@elevatenewquay.com

Please mark your email Safeguarding Concern where appropriate.

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services on 999.

Safeguarding concerns may be shared with appropriate safeguarding agencies where this is necessary and lawful to protect a child.

Our Full Safeguarding Policy

Elevate maintains a comprehensive Safeguarding & Child Protection Pack, which is reviewed regularly and whenever relevant safeguarding guidance or our activities materially change.

Parents and carers can request a copy by contacting:

hello@elevatenewquay.com

Elevate Newquay CIC
Trading as Elevate Youth Theatre
Company No. 17418307