MARKET DRAYTON COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE
POLICIES AND SAFETY STATEMENTS

1. HEALTH & SAFETY STATEMENT

Our aim is to have a proactive safety culture. We will make sure we equip our volunteers with the right tools, knowledge and skills to work safely and deliver safe activities. If guidance or training is needed, we will provide it. Volunteers will have our full support in improving health and safety. We seek to foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

Before you start work, stop and think. If you believe a task is unsafe, stop. If you see something unsafe, take action to rectify it. Speak out, step up and share ideas.

We will strive to manage workplace issues that, if not properly addressed, can be associated with poor health and wellbeing, including stress at work. We believe that no person should experience abuse of any kind. Market Drayton Community Enterprise (MDCE) is committed to safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all people.

Face-to-face engagement is essential. We expect our trustees to take an active part in conversations about wellbeing and safety so that everyone can work together to improve health and safety continuously. Work together, work safely.

Every two years, we will review and update our plan identifying practical steps to improve safety and wellbeing. MDCE trustees will receive annual updates on health and safety performance to enable them to carry out their governance responsibilities.

Through this statement, our policies and compliance with health and safety legislation, we will work to provide safe activities and environments for our colleagues, volunteers and visitors.

2. SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT

Market Drayton Community Enterprise believes that no one should suffer abuse of any kind.

We are committed to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of everyone who comes into contact with our organisation, particularly children and adults at risk.

MDCE will:

• Recognise that the welfare of children is paramount.
• Value, listen to and respect children and adults at risk.
• Identify and minimise safeguarding risks across our activities through safer recruitment practices, training and risk assessments.
• Promote inclusion and diversity, recognising that all children and adults at risk have an equal right to protection from harm or abuse.
• Promote an inclusive and respectful environment, set clear standards of expected behaviour, and have procedures to deal with bullying or other inappropriate behaviour.
• Take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond promptly.
• Foster an organisational culture that prioritises safeguarding and continually improves our safeguarding practices.
• Promote the importance of safeguarding to other organisations with which we work.

Any safeguarding concerns must be reported to an MDCE trustee and acted upon promptly and transparently, with clear written records.

3. SCHOOLS CALENDAR PROJECT
SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR VULNERABLE CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS

General responsibilities

Market Drayton Community Enterprise (MDCE), on behalf of the Schools Calendar Project, has a responsibility and duty of care to safeguard vulnerable children, young people and adults during the annual programme of monthly art workshops in local schools and throughout the public Schools Calendar art exhibitions held in the last week of October and first week of November each year.

All school art workshop and event leaders working with children, vulnerable young people and adults require DBS certification.

In this policy, the term “child” means anyone under 18, including those commonly referred to as young people. “Adult” means anyone aged 18 or over. References to children, young people and adults in this policy concern people who may be vulnerable.

Guidelines for event, workshop and exhibition leaders

These guidelines apply to adults planning and organising activities with children, young people and adults in indoor and outdoor locations.

• Ensure that your contact with children and adults is appropriate and relevant to the activity.
• Ensure that all participants feel safe, valued and respected.
• Recognise that every participant has individual needs and brings something valuable to the activity.
• Respect differences in gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, disability and religious belief, and provide sensitive protection from abuse.
• Whenever possible, ensure that more than one adult is present during activities with children.
• If you are alone with a child, remain within sight or hearing of other adults.
• If a child or adult asks for or needs individual time with you, ensure that other staff or volunteers know where you both are.
• Provide personal care only in an emergency and, if possible, with more than one adult present.
• Do not form inappropriate relationships with children or adults. Do not give them your personal phone number, email address or postal address, or contact them through a personal social media account.

Organised events and activities

The nominated leader has a duty of care. They must ensure that the event and its activities are safe for children and adults and comply with the event’s risk assessment.

If an event register is required, event leaders, parents or guardians should record the following on arrival:

• Name of the child or adult
• Address
• Emergency contact phone number
• Relevant health problems or allergies
• Name of parent or carer

Children under five, children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and vulnerable adults attending public events remain the responsibility of their parents or carers, who must ensure they are accompanied and supervised at all times.

Children and vulnerable adults must not be left unsupervised during workshops or public events. Starting and finishing times must be clearly stated in briefing documents and publicity material and adhered to.

When outside speakers or entertainers are involved, a leader must ensure that someone remains with the group throughout the session.

Further advice and reporting concerns

If you have a concern about a child’s welfare, make a written note with the relevant details. An urgent concern includes physical injury to a child or vulnerable adult, a disclosure of abuse, or an emergency in which a child or vulnerable adult is at risk.

• For immediate danger, call 999.
• For non-emergency police contact, call 101.
• For safeguarding advice, contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000.

At the close of an event, leaders should ensure that all participants have departed safely. Any concerns should be recorded, acted upon as described above and brought to the attention of a member of the Festival admin group.

Revised 2026
Suzanne Edwards
Market Drayton Schools Calendar Project Coordinator

Original document footer: Market Drayton Community Partnership, July 2014