CODDINGTON VILLAGE HALL

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

  1. Responsibility for safeguarding rests with the hirer (see standard booking conditions), however, Trustees also have a duty of care and are committed to the protection and safety of everyone who enters the premises including children, young people and adults at risk.
  1. Coddington Village Hall Trustees do not normally organise or hold events where children, young people or adults at risk would attend without the presence of a parent or guardian.
  1. Children and young people are defined as persons under 18 years old. For the purposes of this policy, an adult at risk refers to someone over 18 years old who is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect as a result of their care and needs and is unable to protect themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
  1. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. This policy is aimed at Trustees, volunteers, visitors, contractors and all those holding and /or attending any activity or event at Coddington Village Hall. All reasonable action must be taken to protect children, young people and adults at risk of abuse.
  1. All Trustees will have signed the Trustees/ Eligibility Declaration Form. Coddington Village Hall Trustees have a zero tolerance approach to abuse and are committed to responding effectively if concerns are raised. Trustees should be familiar with the advice from the Charity Commission regarding safeguarding responsibilities and ensure that the basic principles are understood. Trustees, helpers or other volunteers will not have unsupervised access to children or adults at risk unless appropriately vetted.
  1. The Chairman of the Village Hall will be responsible for child and adult at risk safeguarding matters. He/she will have responsibility for reporting concerns that arise, as a matter of urgency, to the relevant safeguarding agency Nottinghamshire Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 03005008090.
  1. All suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child or adult at risk will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately. An allegation could relate to a person who may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to a child or adult at risk.
  1. The Trustees will ensure that all hirers of the hall have signed a hiring agreement. This will require all hirers who wish to use the hall for activities which may include children and adults at risk – other than for hire for private parties arranged for invited friends and family – to have a copy of their safeguarding policy available on request.
  1. This policy will be reviewed annually at the January Trustee meeting.

 

Signed: …………………………………  Date………………………….