CarFest Safeguarding Policy

CarFest is a family festival, and attracts a large number of families and young people, offering entertainment to appeal across the age spectrum and, in some instances, that is specifically produced for children.  We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people at the event, by a commitment to practices which helps protect them.

This policy sets out the key requirements and goals of the Event Orgainisers. It is designed to clearly communicate the safeguarding requirements for all Contractors, Exhibitors, and Content Providers at CarFest, and gives some simple definitions around safeguarding with the aspiration of making requirements clear and concise.

The policy also sets out the CarFest resource available to support with safeguarding at the festival and contact details. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and we thank you in advance for giving this due care and attention within your own operations and plans.

What is safeguarding?

“Safeguarding is protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect”

A child is anyone under the age of 18. A vulnerable adult is anyone over the age of 18 years who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, harm or exploitation, which may be by reason of illness, age, mental illness, disability or other types of physical or mental impairment.

Who is responsible for safeguarding?

All Event Organisers, Contractors, Exhibitors and Content Providers who are on-site at CarFest are responsible for safeguarding.

If a Contractor, Exhibitor or Content Providers activities at the event directly involve working with, and/or the participation, of children and/or young people under the age of 18 a valid DBS check certificate must be provided for for at least one member of the on-site team. The DBS check must have been carried out within 12-months of the CarFest event dates. This team member is responsible for overseeing the actions of all other team members and their activities whilst on-site at CarFest.

If the activity requires a member the on-site team to be alone with a child or young person at any time, this team member must be identified and their DBS check certificate provided.

In the event of a safeguarding concern

  • Interact yourself with the child/vulnerable adult, you may be their only chance

  • Log the incident/interaction with your supervisor or Event Control

  • Contact the Safeguarding team via email or by finding a member of the Event Orgainisers or Security Team with a radio

When logging the incident/interaction and contacting the Safeguarding Team, the below key information is required for a potential safeguarding case. The quicker this information is gathered and reported, the more support the Safeguarding Team can offer.

  • Time/Date

  • What is your concern?

  • What have you seen?

  • Where has this taken place (ideally a What3Words location would be provided)?

  • Who is this happening to?

  • How long ago?

  • Where are they now?

  • Who is involved?

  • Who reported it?

  • Who saw this happen?

  • Who have you contacted?

Remember, the quicker you react to the incident the better and make sure you have as much information as possible. You may be asked to speak to a police officer to relay the facts, if you have witnessed it yourself you may be asked to provide a statement. This is normal practice.

Safeguarding Team contact details

Dawn Grant - dawn@redwood.events - 07908 449936

Simon Robinson - simon@redwood.events

If your safeguarding concern is urgent, please find a member of the Event Organisers or Security Team and ask that they contact the Safeguarding Team or Event Control via radio.

The safeguarding team is available at all times during the event open hours, as well as overnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the event. If you have a concern, even if it seems minor, please ensure it is reported as soon as possible.

Safeguarding Scenarios

Below are some simple safeguarding scenarios, the rational being for you to work them through with you team and ensure that you can come up with the controls and answers required in each scenario. This is an extremely useful way to test best laid plans.

Scenario one: The father of a 14 year old female mentions that his daughter was sexually assaulted whilst in the main stage crowd.

  • What would you do?

  • Who would you contact?

  • What details would your record?

  • How would you make contact?

  • What steps do you carry out?

What are your thoughts as to what should happen now?

Scenario two: A 10 year old boy approaches you and says that he has lost his family.

What would you do?

  • Who would you contact?

  • What details would your record?

  • How would you make contact?

  • What steps do you carry out?

What are your thoughts as to what should happen now?