This safeguarding policy applies to everyone involved with the City Chamber Choir, including the trustees, committee members, volunteers, and performers.

The purpose of this policy is:
• To protect children and young adults who participate in any way at the City Chamber Choir.
• To protect vulnerable adults who participate in any way at the City Chamber Choir.
• To provide trustees, committee members and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

The City Chamber Choir believes that a child, young adult or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young adults and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:
• The welfare of a child is of paramount importance.
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, the level of dependency, communication needs and other issues.

We will seek to keep children, young people and vulnerable adults safe by:
• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children, young people and vulnerable adults, who will report directly to the Committee.
• Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for volunteers.
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and where appropriate training.
• Recruiting volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made where appropriate.
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice where appropriate.
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know.
• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against volunteers appropriately.
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, vulnerable adults and volunteers.
• Liaising with the appropriate people in the venues that we use for our performances, in particular the churches of the City of London, schools and village halls, and maintaining a level of supervision by a member of the Committee at all performances undertaken by the City Chamber Choir.
• Applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

Children will normally attend City Chamber Choir performances accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Performances for vulnerable adults will be attended by a carer or family member with the vulnerable person.

If there is a workshop or performance where children are alone with the performing artists, the safeguarding policy of the performers will be obtained, the Committee will ensure that appropriate checks have been undertaken on all performers and volunteers, and a designated member of the Committee, or Safeguarding Officer, will supervise the proceedings appropriately; in person if the event is taking place outside local schools.

DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING OFFICER (DSO)

Contact details:  Mirjam James
Email: citychamberchoir@gmail.com

On behalf of the City Chamber Choir Committee
Approved by Committee: 19 May 2026

RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

If a volunteer, committee member, child, vulnerable adult, carer or member of the public raises a concern:
• They are asked to report to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (see above), and the concern is recorded.
• The concern is reported to the Committee.
• The concern is investigated by the Designated Safeguarding Officer, who then informs the Committee.

If it is a possible serious concern, further advice is sought from:
• City of London Adult Social Care CHSAB on 020 8356 8855.
• City of London Child Protection on 020 7332 3621 / 020 8356 2710.
• The police.