Safeguarding Policy – Bromley & Croydon Organists' Association

Bromley and Croydon Organists’ Association (BCOA) welcomes among its members and guests young people (i.e. under the age of 18) and vulnerable adults. BCOA therefore cooperates with young people, vulnerable adults, parents, carers and all members, in supporting the safeguarding rights of young people and vulnerable adults, by creating and maintaining a safe environment for them. The following statements apply to Student Members of the BCOA and to any young people or vulnerable adults attending or accompanying a member to an event or meeting.

We aim to achieve effective safeguarding in our meetings and events by:

Recognising that all young people and vulnerable adults have the right to freedom from abuse and harm;
Promoting joint working with parents and carers in the interests of the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults;
Designating a Safeguarding Officer, who takes specific responsibility for the protection, safety and well-being of young people and vulnerable adults;
Ensuring that our members are aware of and accept the responsibility for preventing abuse of young people and vulnerable adults;
Supporting our members in bringing concerns to the Safeguarding Officer;
Responding promptly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse;
Providing parents, carers, young people and vulnerable adults with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have;
Regularly reviewing the effectiveness of our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

It is the responsibility of all members present at a meeting to ensure that no-one present suffers physical, sexual, verbal or psychological abuse, particularly directed towards young people under the age of 18 or vulnerable adults.

Any concerns about abuse must be brought to the attention of the Safeguarding Officer, or another committee member. Concerns must then immediately be referred to the committee and, when appropriate, to the police.

Young people under the age of 18 are welcome to attend all our events, either accompanied by a parent or carer, or by another responsible adult acceptable to the parent or carer and to the BCOA. For unaccompanied attendance, subject to the agreement of the BCOA, the written consent of a parent or carer is required; a single communication may cover all attendances.

A parental consent form must be completed if deemed necessary.

Parental consent must be obtained in writing if a young person is to be shown in any photographs that are taken at a meeting and intended for publication in printed form or on-line.

Members are advised not to drive a young person to a BCOA meeting unless they are closely related to the young person, or unless an adult, not related to the driver, is present in the vehicle. Parental consent in writing should be obtained. In any case it is good practice for the young person to sit in a back seat of the vehicle.

Currently some officers and committee members have recent Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance, completing regular safeguarding training as part of their other roles outside the BCOA.

The committee reserves the right to terminate any person’s membership of BCOA with immediate effect, after a majority decision has been reached by a quorum of voting committee members, if any BCOA member’s conduct at a BCOA event or promoted activity is deemed inappropriate by the committee on safeguarding grounds.

Currently the nominated BCOA Safeguarding Officer is Jonathan Holmes, supported by the Secretary and other officers. Any concerns should be directed in confidence to them in the first instance.

This Safeguarding Policy Statement will be reviewed by the committee annually.

Agreed and ratified by the BCOA Committee / AGM on 13th April 2024.