Arnolfini is for the education of the public through the promotion and presentation of contemporary art, through exhibition, performance, dance, film, literature, poetry and music supported by an extensive education programme.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- to protect all children, young people and adults who receive Arnolfini’s services from harm.
- to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children, young people, adults and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and the
- protection of all children, young people and adults at risk
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Arnolfini including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.
We believe that:
All children, young people and adults at risk should never experience abuse of any kind.
We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all people, to keep them safe and to practice in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
- working in partnership with children, young people, adults at risk, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting everyone’s welfare.
- all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
- some children, young people and adults at risk are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
- extra safeguards may be needed to keep children, young people and adults at risk who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
We will seek to keep all children, young people and adults at risk safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing designated safeguarding leads, safeguarding officers and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk.
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
- recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance
- making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
- using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed 25 September 2023.
