This policy is designed to ensure the safety and welfare of all participants, staff, and volunteers at Bi-Camp UK, explicitly addressing the presence of children under parental supervision, the anti-discriminatory environment, and the specific considerations of the designated 18+ area.

Section 1: Policy Statement and Commitment

1.1 Aims and Objectives

• To create a safe and inclusive environment where all participants (adults, children, and young people) feel respected and protected from harm.

• To establish clear procedures for all staff, volunteers, and attendees to follow regarding welfare, consent, and reporting concerns.

• To comply with all relevant UK legislation, including the Children Act 1989/2004, the Sexual Offences Act 2003, and the Equality Act 2010.

1.2 Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Commitment (Equality Act 2010)

Bi-Camp UK has zero tolerance for discrimination, abuse, or harassment based on any protected characteristic, including:

• Zero Tolerance for: Racism (race), Ableism (disability), Sexism (sex), and Transphobia (gender reassignment).

• Commitment: Equal priority will be given to the safety of all individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Section 2: Roles, Responsibilities, and Legal Framework

2.1 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Contact

• Designation: Yasmyn Nettle - bicampconcerns@gmail.com
  
  DSL Responsibilities: To act as the first point of contact for all safeguarding concerns, liaise with statutory agencies (Police/Children’s Social Care) when necessary, and ensure all records are kept securely.

2.2 Staff and Volunteer Suitability (Vetting)

• Code of Conduct: All staff and volunteers must read, sign, and adhere to a Staff/Volunteer Code of Conduct.

• DBS Checks: State that DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks are completed for any roles involving regulated activity or unsupervised contact with children, even if supervision is generally parental.

2.3 Risk Assessment

• Mandatory requirement to undertake a specific, written Children's Risk Assessment prior to the event, covering general camp risks and the specific risk posed by the 18+ area.

Section 3: Safeguarding Children and Young People (Under 18)

3.1 Principle of Parental Supervision

• Clear Rule: All children and young people attending Bi-Camp UK must remain under the direct supervision of their designated parent or legal guardian at all times. Bi-Camp UK staff are not providing childcare or statutory supervision unless a child is separated or in immediate danger.

• Lost Child Procedure: Clear, publicised procedure for locating and reuniting a separated child with their parent/guardian.

3.2 Information and Consent

• Registration: Require full emergency contact and medical information (allergies, disabilities) for all children during the registration process.

• Parent Briefing: Parents must sign an agreement confirming they understand and accept the parental supervision policy and the risks associated with the event (including the presence of the 18+ area).

3.3 Protection from Exposure

• Licensing Act Compliance: Procedures must ensure that children are protected from early exposure to inappropriate material, strong language, and sexual expletives, particularly in relation to the 18+ area (as required by the Licensing Act 2003, Section 182).

• Vulnerability: Recognise that children from marginalized families (e.g., bisexual, trans, or disabled families) may face additional vulnerabilities, and the policy must address these intersectional risks.

Section 4: Adult Safeguarding, Consent, and the 18+ Area

4.1 Adult Safeguarding (Adults at Risk)

• Define an ‘Adult at Risk’ (e.g., due to disability, mental health issues, age, or temporary impairment like intoxication).

• Policy commitment to protect Adults at Risk from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

4.2 Sexual Consent Policy (Sexual Offences Act 2003)

• Definition: Consent is defined as clear, enthusiastic, and freely given agreement to engage in a specific sexual activity.

• Capacity: State that a person cannot legally consent if they are asleep, unconscious, significantly impaired by alcohol or drugs, or lacking capacity to make the choice.

• Revocation: Consent can be withdrawn at any time, for any reason. Silence, hesitation, or non-response is NOT consent.

• Responsibility: Clearly state that the person initiating or continuing sexual activity is responsible for ensuring ongoing consent.

4.3 Management of the 18+ Area

• Physical Segregation: Detailed requirements for the 18+ zone: high-visibility signage, clear physical barriers (cordons), and controlled access points.

• Monitoring: Event staff/volunteers must actively monitor the perimeter to ensure no one under 18 attempts to enter or is exposed to activities inside from the outside.

• Rule Enforcement: Any breach of the consent policy or attempt by an adult to take a child into the 18+ area will result in immediate removal from the camp and reporting to the Police/statutory authorities.

Section 5: Code of Conduct and Anti-Discrimination Procedure

5.1 General Conduct

• All attendees must agree to behave respectfully and responsibly, upholding the camp’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

• Policy to prevent bullying, harassment, and verbal abuse targeting race, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

5.2 Specific Anti-Discrimination Procedures

• Definition of Abuse: Clearly define what constitutes racism, ableism, sexism, and transphobia (including microaggressions, misgendering, deadnaming, use of slurs, and exclusion).

• Action: Any complaint of discriminatory behaviour will be treated as seriously as a safeguarding concern.

5.3 Consequences of Policy Breach

• Outline a disciplinary process (e.g., verbal warning, immediate exclusion from the camp, notification to Police/Authorities).

Section 6: Procedures for Reporting Concerns

6.1 Reporting Pathways

• Clear process for adults/parents to report concerns about:

  • The welfare of a child (including child-on-child abuse).

  • The behaviour of an adult (staff, volunteer, or attendee).

  • A breach of the Code of Conduct (discrimination).

  • A breach of the consent policy.

6.2 Recording and Confidentiality

• Record Keeping: All concerns, allegations, and incidents must be recorded accurately, dated, and signed by the DSL.

• Confidentiality: Information sharing is restricted to the DSL and relevant statutory agencies only, unless there is a 'need to know' in order to prevent serious harm.

6.3 External Referral Points

• Contact details for key external agencies (e.g., Local Authority Children's Social Care, Police/999, NSPCC).

• The procedure for escalating serious allegations against a volunteer or staff member (LADO - Local Authority Designated Officer).