Registered Charity 1215032
The SAFEGUARDING OFFICER of Barnt Green Choral is
JONATHAN TREML
who is a member of the Board of Trustees.
If you have a safeguarding issue which is causing you concern then please contact Jonathan in total confidence at:
safeguarding@barntgreenchoral.org
Commitment to safeguarding: Barnt Green Choral believes that a child, young person or adult at risk should never experience abuse of any kind. We recognise that we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of any child, young person or vulnerable adult in connection with the activities of Barnt Green Choral.
The law requires any organisation involving young people and vulnerable adults to take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risk of harm to their welfare is minimised and, where there are concerns, to share them with other agencies, as appropriate.
This policy applies to; all members, trustees, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Barnt Green Choral or taking part in Barnt Green Choral activities.
The purpose of this policy is to provide members, trustees and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of all vulnerable people
This policy recognises vulnerable people as:
Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
Adults aged over 18 at risk as defined by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity. This policy also recognises risk is determined by the activity an adult is taking part in and not solely on the personal characteristics or circumstances of the adult, as such any adult can be at risk, and the risk can be temporary.
This policy aims to:
Protect children, young people and adults at risk who are; members of, receive services from, or volunteer for Barnt Green Choral.
Ensure members, trustees and volunteers working with children, young people and adults at risk are carefully recruited and understand and accept responsibility for the safeguarding of those vulnerable individuals they are interacting with.
Ensure that safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk is a primary consideration when Barnt Green Choral undertakes any activity, event or project.
How Barnt Green Choral might work with vulnerable people: membership is open to those over 18 years of age. We run regular rehearsals for members and put on concerts for the general public. As such our involvement with vulnerable people might include, but is not limited to:
Members of the group who attend rehearsals and concerts
Relatives and friends of members who attend rehearsals and concerts in a volunteering capacity
Children and others who join us to rehearse and perform at our Concerts.
Audience members at public concerts
Safeguarding officer: The Board of Trustees designates a trustee or member to be the Safeguarding Officer. The current Safeguarding Officer is Jonathan Treml who can be contacted in total confidence on safeguarding@barntgreenchoral.org . The Safeguarding Officer shall undertake appropriate training as required and will be identified to children as the principal person they should turn to if they have any concerns or queries. Contact details for the Safeguarding Officer will be given in the enrolment form and on the website. All queries and concerns relating to safeguarding should be referred to the Safeguarding Officer in the first instance.
Any projects, events or other activities that will involve vulnerable people must be planned with the involvement of the Safeguarding Officer and in line with Safeguarding Procedure.
Procedures and ground rules: A further document – ‘Safeguarding Procedure’ is available and forms part of this policy.
Policy review: This policy will be reviewed and amended (if necessary) on an annual basis by the Barnt Green Choral Board of Trustees. It will also be reviewed in response to changes in relevant legislation, good practice, or in response to an identified failing in its effectiveness.
This document forms part of the Barnt Green Choral Safeguarding Policy
The policy applies to; all members, staff (whether employees or freelances), volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Barnt Green Choral or taking part in Barnt Green Choral activities.
The purpose of this policy is to provide members, trustees and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of vulnerable people.
This policy recognises vulnerable people as:
Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
Adults aged over 18 at risk as defined by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity.
This document includes:
Recruitment practices around safeguarding
Ground rules and ways for working regarding safeguarding of vulnerable people
Procedures for raising safeguarding concerns and incidents of abuse
Procedures for dealing with concerns and incident of abuse
If an existing or potential new member, trustee or volunteer will be working with vulnerable people on a regulated activity as part of the Barnt Green Choral activities the appropriate level of DBS will be requested before that work is undertaken.
The level of DBS check required will be decided by the Safeguarding Officer and in line with DBS rules regarding regulated activity. The results of any check to inform a decision will be used confidentially and in line with the Barnt Green Choral equal opportunities policy.
When Barnt Green Choral organises an activity or event where they will be responsible for vulnerable people they will ensure:
Planning is carried out in line with this policy and procedures.
There should be no need for a member of the choir to be alone with a child or vulnerable adult, other than the usual responsible adult for them.
There is a main contact for safeguarding on the day - this will be the Safeguarding Officer or another nominated trustee who has been DBS checked.
The main contact has access to emergency contact details and other relevant details (e.g. information about picking up arrangements for vulnerable people).
That if vulnerable people of different gender will be taking part in activities adults of different gender will be in attendance too.
Any concern regarding a child, vulnerable adult, adult choir member, or any other adult associated with the choir must immediately be reported to the Safeguarding Officer (or in their absence to the Chair of the Board of Trustees) who will take the lead on responding to information that may constitute a safeguarding concern.
Working with children and their parents/guardians: If a child wishes to take part in Barnt Green Choral activities at least one parent/guardian, and/or their school teacher in cases where the child is part of a school choir, will always be present and directly responsible for the child. Where a school teacher alone is present then they should obtain written permission (email is fine) from parents/guardians where appropriate, and before the activity takes place. Written permission should include: emergency contact details of any relevant pick-up arrangements – including permission for another adult to pick up the vulnerable person after the activity has finished
If any member, staff or volunteer in Barnt Green Choral witnesses, suspects or is informed of a witnessed or suspected case of abuse they should immediately report it to the Safeguarding Officer.
If the Safeguarding Officer is not available, or is involved in or connected to the suspected abuse, it should be reported to the Chair of Trustees or any other Trustees of the charity.
If an individual wishes to report an incident of abuse against themselves they should report it to the Safeguarding Officer.
If a vulnerable person is in immediate danger, or needs emergency medical attention, any trustee or member should call the police and/or ambulance service.
If a person at the centre of the allegation is working with vulnerable persons at the current time they should be removed in a sensitive manner from direct contact with vulnerable people pending further investigation.
The Safeguarding Officer (or person reported in their absence) will be responsible for:
Receiving and recording the information from the person expressing the concern
Assessing and clarifying the information
Consulting with and informing the Chair of Trustees or their nominee to agree on the appropriate action
Making referrals to statutory organisations (e.g. the local authority child protection services/the Police, etc.) as appropriate
Storing and retaining records according to legal requirements and in accordance with GDPR
Maintaining confidentiality, subject to the principle of the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult being paramount which means that information may have to be shared (but only with people who need to know about it).
Where cases are escalated the Board of Trustees will cooperate with the police or local authority in dealing with the reported incident.
If abuse is found to have taken place any final resolution or decision will be taken in the best interest of the person who has suffered the abuse and the best interests of Barnt Green Choral.
Any disciplinary action will be taken in line with the Barnt Green Choral constitution.
This Safeguarding Policy was approved and adopted by the Board of Trustees of Barnt Green Choral on 20 November 2025
Signed: Peter W Bould
Position: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Date: 20 November 2025