Vulnerable Adults at Risk Protection

The British and International Federation of Festivals for Music, Dance and Speech (BIFF) works for amateur festivals everywhere to help create thousands of educational performance opportunities for adults, children and young people each year.

BIFF and our member Festivals, are committed to ensuring safe environments for vulnerable adults at risk and believe that it is always unacceptable for a vulnerable adult at risk to experience abuse of any kind.

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all vulnerable adults at risk, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them.

This policy applies to our board of trustees, paid staff, adjudicator members, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of BIFF and our member festivals. It has been drawn up on the basis of relevant law and guidance that seeks to protect vulnerable adults at risk, and its purpose is to set out the overarching principles that guide our approach.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the vulnerable adult at risk is paramount
• all vulnerable adults at risk, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• working in partnership with vulnerable adults at risk, their relatives, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.

The purpose of the policy:

• to provide protection for the vulnerable adults at risk who participate in our festivals.
• to provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a vulnerable adult may be experiencing, or be at risk of harm.
• to actively promote the empowerment and well-being of vulnerable adults who participate in our festivals

We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a Federation Head of Safeguarding and, for each festival, at least one Festival Safeguarding Officer
• adopting vulnerable adults at risk guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff and volunteers
• working within the legislation and guidance that specifically addresses the needs of vulnerable adults at risk.
• adopting a safe and balanced approach to the issue of creating and using photography and images of vulnerable adults at risk at our festivals and in our communications
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• sharing information appropriately about adults who are at risk, with their consent
• if consent is refused and there are considered to be serious concerns of abuse for the individual concerned or others, then consent may be overridden in line with guidance, and only shared appropriately with those who need to know
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.

BIFF will review this policy each year in January or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance.

Last reviewed: March 2025.