Safeguarding Policy
V1.2
This document is a policy.
A policy is a formal statement of principles and commitment. It informs volunteers and employees why the organisation must take certain action. Compliance with policies is mandatory to protect the organisation, its personnel and service users from risk.
Version Details Date Author
1.0. Document Creation November 2024 Patricia Murray
1.1 Document Review June 2026 Dr Andrew Kerr
Section 1 - Introduction
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for everyone who participates in our programmes and activities. Our aim is to promote and celebrate the rich heritage of traditional music by providing high-quality learning experiences that encourage creativity, cultural appreciation, personal development, and community engagement. We welcome participants of all ages and backgrounds and are committed to ensuring that every individual is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility of the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music. We recognise our duty of care to protect children, young people, and adults at risk from harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation while they are participating in our activities. We believe that everyone has the right to enjoy music and cultural activities in an environment where they feel safe, valued, listened to, and supported.
This safeguarding policy sets out the principles, responsibilities, and procedures that guide our approach to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all participants. It applies to all staff, tutors, volunteers, committee members, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music.
Our safeguarding approach is underpinned by the following principles:
• To establish and maintain an environment in which the welfare of the child, young person or Adult at Risk is paramount.
• To ensure that its policies and procedures protect children, young people and Adults at Risk from harm regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs.
• To ensure that all concerns and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to appropriately.
Through effective safeguarding practices, appropriate recruitment and training, clear reporting procedures, and a culture of openness and accountability, the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music seeks to ensure that all participants can enjoy their experience with confidence, knowing that their safety and wellbeing are a priority
1.1 - Purpose
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• To protect children and young people who receive The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music’s services from harm.
• To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child
protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music including staff, tutors, volunteers, committee members, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music.
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music Board of Trustees hold the responsibility to make sure this Safeguarding Policy is implemented and working effectively.
The safeguarding panel for the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music comprises of the following members.
Lead Trustee (Safeguarding): Ray Morgan
Designated Safeguarding Officer: Patricia Murray
Nominated Welfare Officer for 2026 Summer School: Amanda MacLeod
1.2 - Policy Review
This policy will be formally reviewed at least every three years in line with Volunteer Now's safeguarding standards. In addition, the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will undertake an annual review prior to each Summer School to ensure safeguarding procedures, designated contacts, and relevant guidance remain current and effective. The policy may also be reviewed at any time following significant changes in legislation, organisational activities, or following a safeguarding concern or incident.
1.3 Fundamental Principles
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will seek to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk by:
• Valuing, listening to and respecting children, young people and adults at risk.
• Adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for trustees, employees, tutors and volunteers.
• Recruiting trustees, employees, tutors and volunteers safely ensuring all necessary checks are made
• Sharing information about safeguarding child protection and good practice with trustees, employees, tutors and volunteers.
• Providing appropriate support and training to trustees, employees, tutors and volunteers through supervision and training.
• Assessing risk in relation to all its activities, focusing on prevention and minimising risk.
1.4 Designated Safeguarding Officer
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer to oversee the implementation of this policy.
The responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Officer include:
Promoting a culture where safeguarding is recognised as everyone's responsibility.
Receiving, recording and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns or disclosures.
Seeking advice from statutory agencies where necessary and making referrals in accordance with regional safeguarding procedures.
Ensuring that safeguarding records are maintained securely and confidentially.
Supporting staff and volunteers in implementing safeguarding procedures.
Ensuring safeguarding training is appropriate and up to date.
Reviewing safeguarding policies and procedures regularly.
During the five-day Summer School, contact details of the nominated Welfare Officer will be communicated to all staff, volunteers, tutors, participants, and parents/carers before and available during each session.
Section 2 Recognising Abuse and Harm
The below section highlights key definitions and the legal framework for safeguarding in Northern Ireland
2.1 Definitions
1. Safeguarding:
Safeguarding refers to the proactive steps taken to protect children and adults from abuse, neglect, harm and exploitation, and to promote their welfare and well-being. It involves prevention, early identification of risks, and appropriate responses to concerns. Safeguarding is broader than child protection (which focuses on responses when harm has already occurred) and includes promoting safe environments and conditions for healthy development and autonomy.
2. Child:
Under Northern Irish law, a child is defined as a person who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. This is consistent with both domestic legislation and international standards such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
3. Adult / Adult at Risk:
An adult is anyone aged 18 years or over.
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over whose exposure to harm through abuse, exploitation or neglect may be increased by personal characteristics and/or life circumstances and who may be unable to protect their own well-being, rights or interests. These characteristics can include disability, age, illness, mental or physical frailty, isolation, or other factors that reduce a person’s ability to safeguard themselves.
4. Child in Need / in Need of Protection:
Within statutory child welfare frameworks, a child in need is one whose health or development is likely to be significantly impaired without support services. A child in need of protection refers specifically to a child suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. These definitions arise from key statutory duties on Health and Social Care Trusts to assess needs and act to protect children.
2.2 Legal Framework
Safeguarding in Northern Ireland operates through a combination of primary legislation, government policy, statutory guidance, and operational procedures that apply to both children and adults. Key policies include:
1.Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
This is the principal piece of child welfare legislation in Northern Ireland. It places duties on statutory agencies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and to provide services for children in need. It also underpins statutory child protection duties, including assessments, referrals, and interventions when significant harm is suspected.
2. Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015
This Act promotes cooperation between statutory bodies to improve services for children and young people, supporting early intervention and prevention in safeguarding practice.
3. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
This Order, implemented alongside the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, establishes a system of regulated activity and vetting and barring for individuals working with children and adults at risk. It defines what constitutes regulated activity with vulnerable groups and supports safeguarding through criminal records checks and barring decisions.
4. Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Definitions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
These regulations help define terms in the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Order, particularly in relation to personal care and the scope of services that make an adult “vulnerable” for safeguarding purposes.
5. Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership Policy (2015)
While there is no single statutory adult safeguarding Act in Northern Ireland akin to child protection law, this major policy framework sets out how government departments and agencies are expected to work together to prevent harm and protect adults at risk. It emphasises partnership working across statutory, voluntary, community, independent and faith sectors and promotes a culture where “safeguarding is everyone’s business.”
6. Related Legal Instruments
Other statutory instruments also contribute to the safeguarding landscape. These include:
Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008, which provides the legislative framework for sexual offences, including those involving children.
Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, which impacts decision-making and protection for adults who may lack capacity (often critical in safeguarding practice).
2.3 Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
Child abuse is not always identifiable and a child or young person may experience more than one type of abuse. The key areas of abuse include:
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Exploitation
Physical Abuse is deliberately physically hurting a child. It might take a variety of different forms, including hitting, biting, pinching, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating a child.
Sexual Abuse occurs when others use and exploit children sexually for their own gratification or gain or the gratification of others. Sexual abuse may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration or non-penetrative acts. It may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in the production of sexual images, forcing children to look at sexual images or watch sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via e-technology). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
Emotional Abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child. It is also sometimes called psychological abuse and it can have severe and persistent adverse effects on a child’s emotional development. Emotional abuse may involve deliberately telling a child that they are worthless, or unloved and inadequate. It may include not giving a child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them, or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. Emotional abuse may involve bullying – including online bullying through social networks, online games or mobile phones – by a child’s peers.
Neglect is the failure to provide for a child’s basic needs, whether it be adequate food, clothing, hygiene, supervision or shelter that is likely to result in the serious impairment of a child’s health or development. Children who are neglected often also suffer from other types of abuse.
Exploitation is the intentional ill-treatment, manipulation or abuse of power and control over a child or young person; to take selfish or unfair advantage of a child or young person or situation, for personal gain. It may manifest itself in many forms such as child labour, slavery, servitude, engagement in criminal activity, begging, benefit or other financial fraud or child trafficking. It extends to the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of children for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation can be sexual in nature
Some common signs may include:
unexplained changes in behaviour or personality.
becoming withdrawn.
seeming anxious.
becoming uncharacteristically aggressive.
lacks social skills and has few friends, if any.
poor bond or relationship with a parent.
knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age.
running away or going missing.
always choosing to wear clothes which cover their body.
These signs don’t necessarily mean that a child is being abused, there could be other things happening in their life which are affecting their behaviour. If you have any concerns you must contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
Adults at Risk:
Physical Abuse could include hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, burning, misuse of medication, inappropriate restraint or disciplining a person in an inappropriate way.
Psychological Abuse includes emotional or verbal abuse, humiliation, bullying or use of threats.
Financial or Material Abuse could include theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
Sexual Abuse covers direct or indirect sexual activity where the adult at risk cannot or does not give his/her consent.
Neglect or acts of omission is withdrawing or not giving the help that an adult at risk needs, so causing them to suffer.
Discriminatory Abuse is abusing a person because of their ethnic origin, religion, language, age, sexuality, gender or disability.
Institutional Abuse is abuse or mistreatment by a regime or by an individual within any building where care is provided.
Section 3 – Managing Risk
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to making sure that adults who volunteer within our organisation are appropriate candidates. Our priorities are to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk.
3.1 – Safer Recruitment
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to implementing safer recruitment practices to help protect children, young people, and adults at risk. We recognise that safeguarding begins with the recruitment and selection of suitable staff and volunteers. All recruitment processes will be carried out in line with Volunteer Now's Keeping Children Safe: Our Duty to Care guidance and will include clear role descriptions, an appropriate application and selection process, verification of identity, the taking up of suitable references, and, where required, an Access NI enhanced disclosure check.
The level of vetting undertaken will be proportionate to the role and the level of contact with children or adults at risk.
All staff, tutors, volunteers, and committee members who work directly with children or adults at risk will receive an induction that includes safeguarding responsibilities, the organisation's safeguarding policy and procedures, the Code of Behaviour, and reporting procedures for concerns or allegations. Safeguarding responsibilities will continue throughout an individual's involvement with the organisation through appropriate supervision, support, and training.
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to ensuring that only suitable individuals are recruited and retained to provide a safe and positive environment for all participants
3.12 Safer Recruitment - Access NI
All staff and volunteers will undergo an Access NI check relevant to their role. Applications must be renewed every 3 years. Enhanced Disclosure certificates cannot be transferred and certificates obtained through a workplace or other organisation are not valid.
3.13 Safer Recruitment - Training
All staff and volunteers will have training relevant to their role. All new staff will be required to attend induction training which covers safeguarding and overview of the roles and responsibilities of the staff member. Those staff and volunteers with designated welfare responsibilities at events will be required to undertake a level 2 safeguarding course every three years will all other staff and volunteers being required to undertake an introduction to safeguarding course every 3 years.
3.2 Managing Risks - Professional Boundaries
All staff, volunteers, and professionals working on behalf of the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music are expected to maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries at all times. Professional boundaries exist to safeguard children and young people, and to protect adults from misunderstandings or allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
Adults must ensure that their interactions with children and young people are respectful, transparent, and proportionate to their role and responsibilities. Relationships should always remain professional and must not become personal, secretive, or dependent in nature.
Therefore staff and volunteers must not:
Seek or form inappropriate emotional, social, or physical relationships with children or young people.
Show favouritism, offer gifts, or give special privileges that could be perceived as inappropriate.
Engage in behaviour that could be misinterpreted, including unnecessary physical contact or private communications outside agreed professional channels.
Share personal contact details or communicate with children or young people via personal social media accounts
Any concerns about boundary issues, whether relating to one’s own conduct or that of others, must be reported promptly in accordance with the organisation’s safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures.
3.3 Managing Risks – Code of Behaviour
Everyone representing the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is expected to maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct. Staff, tutors, volunteers and committee members must always act in the best interests of children, young people and adults at risk, treating all participants with dignity, respect and fairness.
Those working on behalf of the organisation will:
Provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
Treat all participants equally and without discrimination.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.
Listen to participants and take any concerns seriously.
Use positive and appropriate language and behaviour.
Avoid situations where they are alone with a child or adult at risk whenever possible.
Obtain appropriate consent for photographs, recordings and online communication.
Wear Belfast TradFest branded clothing as provided/relevant for identification
Challenge and report poor practice or inappropriate behaviour.
Individuals must not:
Engage in any behaviour that could be interpreted as abusive, intimidating or exploitative.
Develop inappropriate personal relationships with participants.
Exchange personal contact details or communicate through private social media accounts unless authorised by the organisation.
Consume alcohol or illegal substances while responsible for participants.
Ignore, dismiss or fail to report safeguarding concerns.
3.4 Managing Risks - Supervision Ratios
When working with children and young people it is important to have enough appropriate adults for supervision. Wherever possible for a mixed gender group, the supervising adults should reflect the gender mix. All adults who are supervising children and young people should understand and follow the safeguarding policy.
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will ensure that appropriate supervision is provided for all activities involving children and young people. Supervision arrangements will be determined through risk assessment, taking account of the age, maturity and individual needs of participants, the nature of the activity, the venue, travel arrangements and any identified risks.
As a guide, the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will normally work to the following minimum supervision ratios:
Children aged 8–12 years: 1 responsible adult to every 8 children.
Young people aged 13–18 years: 1 responsible adult to every 10 young people.
There will always be a minimum of two responsible adults present during organised activities involving children and young people. Higher levels of supervision will be provided where required following risk assessment, including where participants have additional needs or activities involve travel, performances, public events or other increased risks. Staff, tutors and volunteers will avoid situations where they are working alone with an individual child or young person.
Depending on the needs and abilities of the children, and the nature of the activity, you may need to have more adults than the minimum.
If young people are helping to supervise younger children only people aged 18 or over should be included as adults when calculating adult to child ratios.
3.5 Managing Risks – Sign in / Sign Out Procedures
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to ensuring the safe arrival and departure of all children and young people attending its activities. Clear registration and collection procedures help to safeguard participants and ensure that responsibility for their care is appropriately managed.
At the beginning of each session or day, all participants will be registered using an attendance register. Parents or carers are responsible for ensuring that children are signed in where required and that the organisation has up-to-date emergency contact details, medical information and details of any person authorised to collect the child.
Children under the age of 18 will only be permitted to leave the Summer School:
with a parent, carer or another adult authorised in advance by the parent or carer.
independently where written parental permission has been provided in advance and agreed by the organisation.
as otherwise agreed through specific arrangements communicated to staff and volunteers.
Staff, tutors and volunteers will ensure that participants are signed out at the end of each session where appropriate and that the identity of any unfamiliar adult collecting a child is verified before the child is released into their care.
If a child has not been collected at the agreed time, reasonable efforts will be made to contact the parent or carer and any emergency contacts provided. The child will remain supervised by at least two responsible adults until suitable collection arrangements have been made. If it is not possible to contact a parent, carer or emergency contact, or if there are concerns about the child's welfare, the Nominated Welfare Officer will be informed and appropriate advice will be sought from the relevant statutory agencies where necessary.
Attendance registers will be maintained throughout the Summer School to account for all participants during activities, breaks, performances, excursions and emergency evacuations. Any unexplained absence or unexpected departure will be reported immediately to the Nominated Welfare Officer and managed in accordance with the organisation's missing participant procedures.
3.6 Managing Risks - Alcohol
During Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music events attended by young people under the age of 18, the following rules apply:
Under 18s must not drink alcohol under any circumstances.
There must be the correct ratio of adults responsible for young people at all times.
If you are responsible for young people and counted within supervision ratios, you must not drink alcohol at any time while on duty.
If you are drinking when ‘off duty’, you should consider how alcohol may affect your ability to carry out your duties when back on duty.
Young people must know who is responsible for them at all times.
Any staff, volunteers, tutors or contractors considered by the course director to have consumed excess alcohol on any one occasion will be subject to disciplinary action.
3.7 Managing Risks – Smoking
To protect children and young people at The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music events, it is important that no adult staff or volunteer smokes around them. Under UK law, smoking is banned in public places. Smoking is therefore banned in all Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music buildings, including premises which are rented and vehicles.
3.8 Managing Risks – Drugs
Under UK law, it's a crime to possess, deal or produce what is termed an illegal drug. If any member of The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is concerned that a young person or adult's behaviour is being affected by substance misuse, they must report this to the Nominated Welfare Officer.
If you suspect that a young person or adult is in possession of illegal drugs, you must contact the police by calling 999 or 112, and then inform the Nominated Welfare Officer.
3.9 Managing Risks – Risk Assessments
All activities undertaken by the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music must have a documented and approved risk assessment.
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what could cause harm, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken sufficient precautions, or should do more to prevent it. The aim is to try to make sure that no one suffers harm.
A hazard is anything which can cause harm. Risk is the likelihood or chance of that happening. So, the important thing you need to decide is whether the hazard is significant and what action you can take so that the risk is minimised, or whether the activity should be discontinued.
3.10 Managing Risks – Photography
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music recognises the positive role that photography and digital media play in celebrating participants' achievements while acknowledging the need to safeguard children and adults at risk.
Photographs or video recordings will only be taken where appropriate consent has been obtained. Images will be used respectfully and only for agreed organisational purposes. Personal information that could identify or locate a participant will not be published alongside images.
Staff, tutors and volunteers must not use personal devices or personal social media accounts to communicate with participants unless authorised as part of their role and in accordance with organisational procedures.
Section 4- Responding to a Cause of Concern
SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY: IGNORING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN IS NOT AN OPTION
The first point of contact for reporting a concern is the Designated Safeguarding Officer. They can be contacted using the following contact details:
Summer School Nominated Welfare Officer (for contact during the 2026 edition)
Name: Amanda MacLeod
Telephone Number: +447717 904 132
Email: amanda@belfasttradfest.com
Designated Safeguarding Officer:
Name: Patricia Murray
Telephone Number: +4428 9031 4981
Email: patricia@belfasttradfest.com
It is your duty to report all safeguarding concerns, whether you are told about them directly or indirectly, as soon as possible (always within 24 hours). If you are not sure what to do, or you are not sure if a concern has been reported, contact the Nominated Welfare Officer.
1. Gather the necessary information. Make sure that you have the name, date of birth, address and phone number of each person involved with the concern.
Listen to what is said without displaying shock or disbelief. Do not ask direct questions.
• Accept what is being said.
• Allow the child, young person or adult at risk to talk freely.
• Re-assure the young person but do not make promises.
• Re-assure that what has happened was not the fault of the young person.
• Stress that it was the right thing to tell.
• Explain what has to happen next and who has to be told.
• Record facts and statements only.
Ensure the safety of the young person
2. Contact the Safeguarding Team. Use the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music Reporting form to report the concern to the Nominated Welfare Officer. Include as much information as possible.
3. Follow the Nominated Welfare Officer’s advice and take no further action unless they tell you to.
4. Ask questions if you’re not sure what to do. If a child or young person is at immediate risk of harm call 999 or 112 and ask for Police. You then must contact the Nominated Welfare Officer. Imminent risk of significant harm means that a child or vulnerable adult is in danger at that moment and to do nothing would result in actual harm.
5. The Nominated Welfare Officer will inform the Designated Safeguarding Officer who will the inform the Chairperson of the Board
6. If individuals are concerned that the response to their report of a safeguarding concern is unsatisfactory, given the level of concern, they can contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line on 0800 028 0285.
4.2 Confidentiality:
Sharing information is vital to protect children, young people and adults at risk from suffering or being likely to suffer significant harm. However, information will only be shared with the relevant people and otherwise will be treated with the strictest of confidence to make sure that all individuals involved have trust in the handling of any safeguarding concerns.
4.3 Whistleblowing:
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to the highest standards of conduct and takes poor practice seriously. Staff or volunteers with concerns about misconduct, abusive practices or practice that could cause harm or risk of harm should contact the Safeguarding Trustee. This includes situations where a staff member or volunteer’s concerns are not acted upon by the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
4.4 Complaints
Any individual who is dissatisfied with how a safeguarding concern has been managed or who wishes to raise concerns about the conduct of staff, volunteers or the organisation may do so through the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music's complaints procedure.
Complaints will be investigated fairly, promptly and confidentially. Raising a complaint will not prevent safeguarding concerns from being referred to the appropriate statutory authorities where required.
4.4 - Additional Support
Within The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music support is available from the Designated Safeguarding Officer or the Trustee with Safeguarding responsibility.
Additional support is also available from the following organisations:
1. Social Services
Normal Working Hours (Mon-Fri: 9.00am-5.00pm, excluding Bank Holidays and weekends)
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or young person you can contact the relevant Health and Social Care Trust Children's Services Gateway Single Point of Entry Team (Mon-Fri: 9.00am-5.00pm) during normal working hours.
Contact details are as follows:
Belfast HSC Trust Tel: 028 9050 7000;
South Eastern HSC Trust Tel: 0300 1000 300;
Northern HSC Trust Tel: 0300 1234 333;
Southern HSC Trust Tel: 0800 7837 745 / Freephone: 028 3741 5285;
Western HSC Trust Tel: 028 7131 4090.
Outside normal working hours and in an emergency (Friday 5.00pm – Monday 9.00am, including Bank holidays):
Regional Emergency Social Work Service Tel: 028 9504 9999
2. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI)
If you, or someone you know, has been the victim of abuse, or if you are the parent of a child this has happened to:
Report the matter directly to the police service the Central Referral Unit on 101, the non-emergency number, and you will be put in contact with a specially trained police officer who will speak to you confidentially. Opening times are:
Monday to Friday (8.00am – 5.00pm);
Saturday and Sunday (9.00am – 5.00pm).
In an emergency situation dial the police emergency number 999.
3. NSPCC
Anyone can call 0808 800 5000 or e-mail help@nspcc.org.uk to report concerns about a child/young person.
Children/young people can contact ChildLine for advice on 0800 1111 or e-mail them by visiting www.childline.org.uk.
4. Lifeline
If you, or someone you know, is in distress or despair, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow-up with other support if necessary. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the Lifeline website at www.lifelinehelpline.info.
Appendix 1:Missing Child/Young Person Procedure
Purpose
The Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music is committed to providing a safe environment for all participants. This procedure outlines the actions to be taken if a child or young person cannot be located during any Summer School activity. The safety and welfare of the child or young person is the overriding priority, and all concerns will be treated seriously and responded to promptly.
Immediate Action
If a child or young person is discovered to be missing:
1. Remain calm and immediately inform the person in charge of the activity and the Nominated Welfare Officer (or Deputy).
2. Confirm the child's identity, check the attendance register and establish when and where they were last seen.
3. Carry out a prompt search of the immediate area, including classrooms, rehearsal spaces, toilets, communal areas and any other relevant locations.
4. Ensure that the remaining participants continue to be supervised safely and are not left unattended during the search.
5. If the child is not located within a short period of time (normally no more than 10 minutes, or immediately if circumstances suggest they may be at significant risk), the Nominated Welfare Officer will assess the situation and contact the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) without delay.
6. The child's parent or carer will be informed as soon as possible, unless advised otherwise by the PSNI or another statutory agency.
7. Continue to support the police and provide all relevant information, including:
the child's full name and age;
a description of their clothing and appearance;
any known medical conditions or additional needs;
the location and time they were last seen;
any information that may assist in locating them.
If the Child or Young Person Is Found
When the child or young person is found:
Ensure they are safe and assess whether they require medical attention or other immediate support.
Inform the parent or carer and the PSNI (if they have been contacted) that the child has been located.
Record the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the actions taken and the outcome.
Consider whether the child wishes to speak with a trusted adult about what happened.
Review the incident to identify any learning that could improve future safeguarding arrangements.
Recording and Reporting
The Nominated Welfare Officer will ensure that:
A written record of the incident is completed as soon as possible.
Any safeguarding concerns arising from the incident are managed in accordance with the organisation's safeguarding procedures.
The Committee is informed where appropriate.
Risk assessments and procedures are reviewed if improvements are identified.
Preventative Measures
To minimise the risk of a child or young person becoming separated from the group, the Belfast Summer School of Traditional Music will:
Maintain accurate attendance registers throughout each session.
Carry out regular head counts, particularly before moving between venues or activities.
Ensure participants understand arrangements for breaks, collection and movement around the venue.
Maintain appropriate supervision ratios based on risk assessment.
Clearly identify staff, tutors and volunteers.
Ensure participants know who to approach if they become separated from the group.
Complete appropriate risk assessments for off-site activities, performances and excursions.