Shefford Community Hall

Children and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy

The Shefford Community Hall Management Committee has a duty to safeguard children and vulnerable adults who utilise the hall and those who may come into contact with vulnerable users.

All children and vulnerable adults without exception have a right to protection from abuse, whether physical, verbal, bullying, exclusion or neglect. Bullying, shouting, physical violence, sexism and recism towards children and vulnerable adults who use Shefford Community Hall will not be permitted or tolerated.

The policy is in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith.

Policy Statement

Any suspicions or allegations of abuse against a child or vulnerable adult will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately.

Shefford Community Hall Management Committee has nominated Elsa Tattersfield as the Child Protection and Vulnerable Adult Officer to whom suspicions or concerns must be reported within 24 hours. Her details can be found on the website www.sheffordcommunityhall.co.uk or on the hall's notice board. The officer has the responsibility for immediately reporting concerns to the relevant Authority.

The Management Committe will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use by children and vulnerable adults. The Committee recognises that a higher standard of safety is required where the use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled adults.

No member of the Management Committee, employees, contractors or volunteers will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless appropriately vetted in accordance with current regulations, legislation and good practice guidance.

Procedures

All members of the Committee will sign the Declaration of Acceptance of Office for Trustees & Committee Members which includes a declaration that they have no conviction in relation to abuse.

All members of the Management Committee, contractors and any volunteer will be given information about child & vulnerable adults protection and made aware of this policy and understand their responsibilities.

Hirers of the hall for activities which include children or vulnerable adults other than private parties arranged for invited friends and family, will be required before their first booking to show their safeguarding enhanced DBS disclosure to the Booking Officer. The certificate number will be recorded.

To ensure continued suitability, users will be required to renew their DBS disclosure every three years in accordance with the recommended guidelines and submit renewed documents to the booking officer for inspection.

Any delegation of the hirer to other people to supervise the children or vulnerable adults is the reponsibility of the hirer and the Management Committee will not vet these people for disclosure.

The hirers safeguarding policy must state that no person under 18 years of age will be left in charge of any children or vulnerable adults.

The Management Committee will ensure that hirers are made aware that alcohol should not be consumed by those under the age of 18.

The Management Committee will ensure that hirers are aware that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film.

Children shall not be permitted to attend activities or events involving gambling or entertainment of an adult or sexual nature on the premises.

A copy of this document will be displayed on the notice board together with other policy documents.

This policy was adopted at a meeting of the Shefford Community Hall Management Committee held

on 17 February 2024.

Review of Children and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy.

The Shefford Community Hall Management Committee will review this policy annually or when changes occur in national or procedures. The next review is due in February 2024.

Registered Charity No. 1081570                                                                                                                                                                                            

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Health & Safety Policy

It is our policy to -

* Provide healthy and safe working conditions, equipment and systems for our employees, volunteers         committee members,  hirers and contractors

* To keep the Community Hall and equipment in a safe condition for all users

* To provide information as is necessary to staff, volunteers and users.

It is the intention of the Shefford Community Hall Management Committee to comply with all health and safety legislation and to act positively where it can reasonably do so to prevent injury, ill health or any danger arising from its activities and operations.

The Shefford Community Hall Management Committee considers the promotion of the health and safety of its volunteers and employees, including contractors who may work there, and all others who use its premises to be of great importance. The Management Committee recognises that the effective prevention of accidents depends as much on a committed attitude to safety as on the operation and maintenance of equipment and safe systems of work. To this end, the Committee will seek to encourage employees, contractors, volunteers, committee members and users to engage in the establishment and observance of safe working practices.

Employees, contractors, volunteers, hirers and visitors will be expected to recognise that there is a duty on them to comply with the practices set out by the committee, with safety requirements set out in the hiring agreement and with safety notices on the premises and to accept responsibility to do everything they can to prevent injury to themselves and others.

It is the duty of all employees, contractors, volunteers, hirers and visitors to take care of themselves and others who may be affected by their activities and to co-operate with the Management Committee in keeping the premises safe and healthy, including the grounds.

This policy was adopted at a meeting of the Shefford Community Hall Management Committee held on

November 2023 and signed on behalf of the Committee by the Chairman and a Committee Member.

Review of Health & Safety Policy.

The Shefford Community Hall Management Committee will review this policy annually. The next review is due in November 2024.

Committee members with responsibility for aspects of health and safety will report to the Committee regulary, including any accidents, faults, miuse by hirers or other matters which could affect the health and safety of employees, volunteers or users.

Registered Charity No 1081570