Glos Folk

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THIS PAGE CURRENTLY CONTAINS  JUNE 2008 COMMITTE MEETING MINUTES & GLOSFOLK CHILD PROTECTION POLICY.

GlosFolk Committee Minutes (19.06.2008)

GlosFolk Committee Minutes of Meeting: Thursday 19th June 2008 at 4 The Oakfield, Cinderford, GL14 2DE by kind permission of Jen & Tony Davis.

Present:  Gwilym Davies (GD) Tony Davis (TD) Veronica Lowe (VL) Charles Menteith (CM) Peter Cripps (PC) and Jen Davis (JD)

Apologies for Absence: had been received from Terry Haines (TH) Sophie Lake (SL) and James Young (JY) .

The minutes of the committee meeting 6.3.08 were approved, and the minutes of the AGM 15.5.08 were noted.

Matters Arising: GD would be winding up the Yahoo! Group, after giving group members one months notice, as it had failed to attract many members. PC would ask the e-mail distribution list for possible venues (free or cheap) for a free Ceilidh for teachers. TD would approach Gloucestershire Music to discuss re-staging ‘Singing for the Terrified’ and perhaps support for the teacher’s Ceilidh.

 Financial position After donations from Lionel Parkhouse, England’s Glory, and Peter & Astrid Cripps, we had approximately £500 in hand

 Appointment of Officers: After much discussion, it was agreed that all officers would continue in post for a further year – GD as Chairman, TD as Vice-Chairman, PC as Secretary/PR, VL as Treasurer, CM as Membership Secretary, and JD as Webmaster. We would seek people to concentrate on fund raising, and business development.

 Programme/Priorities for next few months: GD would speak to SL about the ‘Myspace’ site, and also speak to music shops about listing on the Glosfolk web site. PC had invited Duncan Lean of University of Gloucestershire Student’s Union, to address the next committee meeting on 28.8.08, about student involvement. PC would contact Minchinhampton and Forest FCs, and Square Folk Dance Club, with a view to giving the Powerpoint presentation on a suitable occasion. TD would co-ordinate MASAD for next May (2009) which would incorporate the AGM. GD would check with SL about the progress of autumn Guildhall music sessions. We would all look for opportunities for display of the new Glosfolk Stand at suitable events. We would set ourselves a target to raise the funds during the year to cover the cost of the stand. VL would ask Geoff Wyatt for ideas. GD would co-ordinate the Brockweir Carols project, and CM the Gloucestershire Folk Map project. JD would work on some developments for the web site. (There was now a ‘hit counter’ which showed an encouraging number of visits)

 Committee co-options: Names mentioned were Jo Heatley, Bill Taylor, Master of None, and Tinker’s Cuss. We would set ourselves a target to recruit two new committee members during the year.

 Children’s Issues:  TD and JD had been to a presentation on the new ‘Independent Safeguarding Authority’ and the various issues for folk music when this comes into force in October 2009. Volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults will need to be registered, this will be free for volunteers. Full details from http://www.isa-gov.org.uk

Any other business:  Next meetings 28.8.08 at GD, 23.10.08 at PC, 4.12.08 at TD & JD. 15.1.09, 5.3.09, and AGM/MASAD 12/19/26 April or other date to be fixed. The meeting closed at 10.15 pm.

Glosfolk

Child Protection policy

GLOSFOLK believes that the safety of children and young people is paramount on all occasions. GLOSFOLK will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all children and young people involved in the activities of GLOSFOLK

GLOSFOLK is committed to protecting children and young people from the following:

Harm

• Injury • Abduction • Attack • Emotional distress

Abuse

• Verbal • Physical • Sexual • Bullying

Exposure to inappropriate

• Attitudes • Language • Materials • Actions

GLOSFOLK is committed to ensuring all possible situations in which children and young people are involved with them are risk assessed to ascertain the level of risk involved. GLOSFOLK will endeavour to establish suitable control measures to reduce risks to acceptable levels. All members of GLOSFOLK have a responsibility to be aware of this policy, any risk assessments and control measures in place in any situation in which children and young people are involved.

This child protection policy will be available for all participants and interested parties for inspection.

 Protecting children from harm and abuse.

Venues will have

•Adequate heating, lighting and ventilation •Access to toilets and running water   • Clearly labelled exits and fire exits • A No Smoking policy during all GLOSFOLK events that involve children and young people• Appropriate safety glass, handrails and non-slip floors  • Suitable levels of adult supervision at all times• Suitable furniture for the age of the young people present    • Clear arrangements around young people leaving the building

Activities

• Age guidelines will be defined for all activities   •Each activity will have an agreed maximum number of children   • GLOSFOLK  seeks to encourage children and young people of all levels of ability to join in their activities in a safe manner

Adult supervision

 • People working with children and young people will not be under the influence of alcohol  or  drugs • GLOSFOLK will ensure that arrangements for dealing with minor first aid needs and more major injuries are clear to all members of GLOSFOLK          • No single adult will be left in charge of children       • No child under 8 will be left alone at any time; children under the age of 10 should not be left alone except in using the toilet.    • Child will not be allowed to leave the event without the express permission of a parent. •All members of GLOSFOLK will be aware that unnecessary touching of young people is inappropriate.  • All those working with children and young people will be briefed on the child protection policy

 Behaviour management of children

• Corporal sanctions (smacking, slapping, shaking) are not acceptable in any circumstances    •Sanctions that threaten, frighten or humiliate young people are not acceptable    •Bullying or threatening behaviour between children will not be tolerated  •GLOSFOLK will not accept disruptive or unruly behaviour from any child, which spoils the enjoyment of others.   •Decisions regarding the behaviour management of children regularly involved in GLOSFOLK activities will be discussed at ‘notices’ and a consensus reached.

Protection from sexual abuse

GLOSFOLK is totally committed to protecting young people of all ages from sexual abuse by any adult.    

•No single adult will be left in charge of children.     • If any person reports any incident of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour towards any child GLOSFOLK is committed to taking immediate and appropriate action to ensure the safety of any children present and, if the behaviour warrants it, to report the matter to the authorities. • GLOSFOLK will be aware of the members who have had a CRB clearance in the preceding three years. GLOSFOLK will endeavour to ensure that one CRB cleared member is present at all activities when children and young people are involved.

Protection from inappropriate behaviour, language and materials

• All members of GLOSFOLK will refrain from the use of swear words, lewd actions or making inappropriate references to sexual or illegal activities.   • All members will avoid racist and sexist attitudes and comments.   • When children and young people are involved in any GLOSFOLK activity the use of sarcasm or overt criticism directed at children will be avoided.

Review and monitoring of this policy

An item ‘Child Protection policy’ will be added to the agenda of the GLOSFOLK AGM each year, to allow a review and discussion of the working of this policy if needed and for changes to be made to it.

Responsible Officer

An officer of GLOSFOLK will be appointed as ‘Child Protection Officer’ at the AGM each year with the responsibility of reviewing the policy and recommending changes in the light of legislation, developing good practice, and experience.