CHILD PROTECTION POLICY implemented from 15 December 2005 and subsequently updated regularly
FULL NAME OF ORGANISATION: Birmingham Music Festival
CHAIRMAN: Olga Maleva
TREASURER: Anna Penlington
SECRETARY: James Allen
VENUE: Ruddock Performing Arts Centre (King Edward’s Schools), Edgbaston Park Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham
B15 2UA
DATE: 10 and 11 October 2026.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT: The safety of children and vulnerable adults is paramount and all, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately and all the Festival’s committee and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns.
1. PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF ORGANISATION: To hold an annual music festival to create an atmosphere that motivates competitors or entrants to perform to their highest standard. To gain experience of public performance and be assessed by a relevant professional adjudicator.
2. THE FESTIVAL ENVIRONMENT: Our policy is to provide as far as is reasonably practicable a safe and suitable environment at the festival for children, young people and vulnerable adults to perform. The festival is run entirely by volunteers and is independent of the venue in which it takes place. Parents / guardians / carers and teachers remain responsible at all times for those under 18 and vulnerable adults. Parents, teachers and others who are responsible for entering minors to the Festival are advised that it could be a stressful experience for a minor to rehearse for and then play in several classes at a single festival. This is especially the case in open classes where players have normally reached at minimum the higher examination grades, and some are experienced festival performers.
3. TO WHOM THIS POLICY APPLIES: This policy relates to children under the age of 18 years and those vulnerable adults of any age who are identified to the organisers prior to their arrival at the festival. This should be done by contacting the address or telephone number at the foot of this document. In recognising the needs of children from all ethnic groups and children who are disabled, the festival actively seeks to meet needs notified to the festival by parents / guardians / carers and/or teachers.
4. FESTIVAL PERSONNEL: All committee members and volunteer helpers are recruited by personal recommendation of the committee or other regular helpers. Records of all helpers are maintained by the Festival Secretary. All helpers wear an official badge on Festival days. Anyone wearing a badge may be approached in case of a problem and will be able to direct you to someone who can help. In addition, a clearly marked office is open throughout the Festival. All problems will be dealt with sympathetically and documented.
5. PREPARATION FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE FESTIVAL: This Policy is included on the Festival’s website www.birminghammusicfestival.co.uk . All concerned should be fully aware you are clearly informed that Birmingham Music Festival helpers are not responsible for supervision of children under the age of 18 years. This Policy makes it clear that, where parents / guardians / carers are not personally attending with their children, the Birmingham Festival requires them to be satisfied that their children will be accompanied to the Festival and adequately supervised by responsible adults acting on their behalf. Children must not be dropped off at the Festival and left to fend for themselves.
6. PERFORMANCE AREAS AND CHANGING AREAS: All performances are in public and unsupervised public warm up rooms are available. Though public toilets are on site they are unsupervised and we do not provide dedicated changing facilities which are not necessary for a piano competition anyway. We would therefore remind parents and other responsible adults that they are responsible for their children and vulnerable adults at all times.
7. PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEOTAPES and PRESS PHOTOGRAPHY: In accordance with the rules stated in our syllabus the use of cameras, video or any type of recording equipment, including mobile phones, is prohibited. A press photographer may attend our Festival by invitation and any parents / guardians / carers who do not wish their children to be photographed should ensure that he/she is not photographed individually or as part of a group.
The presenter at the beginning every class will remind attendees of this important restriction, which is for the protection of all children attending. We cannot allow any exceptions. Persons breaching this reasonable request will cause the player to be disqualified and the performer and his or her family will be asked to leave the Festival immediately for the rest of the weekend, without compensation.
8. THE LEGISLATION AND GUIDANCE THAT SUPPORTS THIS POLICY: The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; The Children Act 1989; The Police Act 1997; The Data Protection Act 1998; The Human Rights Act 1998; The Protection of Children Act 1999; The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000; The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
9. POLICY REVIEW: The organisers will constantly review their policy revising and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this they will look to The British & International Federation of Festivals for support and that body, in turn will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC and Arts Council of England policy guidelines.
10. CONTACT DETAILS Chairman: Olga Maleva, contact.us@birminghammusicfestival.co.uk