THE GAP ARTS FESTIVAL – CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
reviewed 21.08.21 – and annually thereafter
The Gap Arts Festival provides arts events and workshops for adults, families, and for children.
It is registered as a Relevant Organisation in accordance with the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012-2016.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.
The Gap Arts Festival follows the HSE Vulnerable Persons Policy, and operates a ‘No Tolerance Approach to Any Form of Abuse’.
Central to the Festival’s Code of Behaviour is the belief that all children have the right to be protected from harm when using our services.
To this end, we have appointed a Designated Liaison Person, Siobhán O’Sullivan. Any complaints or allegations can be reported to her at gapartsfest@gmail.com; and/or to the authorities listed below.
All staff, volunteers, artists and performers are made aware of our Child Safeguarding procedures; any persons interacting with children are garda vetted; and where required we observe the ‘second adult in the room’ policy.
That DLP will have direct contact with the Child and Family Agency, Gorey Health Centre, 053-9430100, and with Gorey Garda Station, 053-9430690. And with the Child and Family Protection Service, Wicklow, 076-6958400; and Tinahely Garda Station, 0402-38102.
In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:
Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service;
Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children;
Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;
Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;
Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons;
Procedure for appointing a relevant person.
