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