Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Blonde Limited – Last reviewed: 12 May 2026 – Next scheduled review: 10 May 2027

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers, board members, employees, freelancers, contractors, volunteers, seasonal workers, agency staff, students, and anyone working on behalf of Blonde Limited.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is:

• To protect children and young people who receive or are involved with Blonde’s services, including the children of adults who use our services
• To ensure all staff, including contractors and freelancers, understand their responsibilities to safeguard children during production activities

Blonde Limited believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe, and to practice in a way that protects them.

Legal framework

This policy is based on UK legislation and guidance designed to safeguard children, including but not limited to:

• Children Act 1989 and 2004
• The Children and Social Work Act 2017
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (Statutory Guidance) 2018
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (Statutory Guidance) 2024
• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989

In line with the UNCRC, we uphold every child’s rights, including:

• Protection from harm and violence (Articles 6, 19, 34, 36)
• Education and development (Articles 28, 29, 32)
• Health and wellbeing (Articles 6, 31)
• Fair treatment and inclusion (Articles 4, 16)
• Freedom of expression and privacy (Articles 12, 13, 16, 23)
• Access to information in an understandable format (Articles 13, 17)

Our commitments

• The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
• All children — regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity — have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• Some children may be more vulnerable due to previous experiences, dependency levels, communication needs, or other circumstances
• Certain groups, such as young performers, are more vulnerable and require additional safeguarding measures
• Effective safeguarding relies on partnership with children, young people, parents, carers, and relevant agencies

Keeping children and young people safe

We are dedicated to keeping children and young people safe by:

• Valuing, listening to, and respecting them
• Implementing safeguarding practices, including procedures and a clear code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Strengthening digital safety through robust e-safety policies and proactive measures
• Providing staff and volunteers with supervision, training and support
• Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary background checks are conducted
• Sharing information about child protection best practice with children, staff and volunteers
• Reporting and addressing concerns promptly in collaboration with parents, carers and relevant agencies

E-safety

We protect children online by:

• Educating staff, volunteers and children about safe internet usage
• Regularly updating protocols to address emerging online threats, including cyberbullying, exploitation, and data privacy breaches
• Monitoring online activity where applicable, and ensuring the responsible use of technology

Safeguarding commitments

1. Ensuring safe working practices

• Adhering to child performance licensing requirements
• Scheduling age-appropriate working hours and ensuring proper breaks
• Providing appropriate chaperones for minors on set

2. Creating a safe environment

• Ensuring all locations and sets are risk-assessed to identify potential hazards
• Maintaining clear procedures for managing emergencies on set
• All staff must familiarise themselves with fire evacuation points and emergency procedures for each filming location

3. Training and support

• Providing safeguarding training to all employees and contractors
• Designating a Safeguarding Lead to oversee implementation and address concerns

4. Digital and social media safety

• Ensuring that content shared online complies with privacy laws and safeguarding principles
• Prohibiting unauthorised use of images or footage of minors

5. Recruitment practices

• Conducting enhanced DBS checks for all employed staff working directly with children or vulnerable adults
• Verifying the credentials of freelancers, contractors and chaperones

6. Reporting and responding to concerns

• Encouraging an open culture where concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal
• Following clear procedures for reporting and investigating safeguarding concerns

Practical safeguarding measures

1. Child performance licensing

• Obtain child performance licences where required
• Work with local authorities to ensure compliance with regulations

2. Parental consent

• Obtain written consent from parents or guardians for children to participate in productions
• Ensure parents and guardians are fully informed about the nature of the production

3. Chaperone standards

• All chaperones must hold a current Local Authority licence and have undergone enhanced DBS checks within the last three years

4. On-set supervision

• Assign a designated chaperone for all minors on set
• Limit access to production areas where minors are present
• Where filming involves members of the public, the Producer or Director must ensure a safe, controlled environment, and halt interactions immediately if language or behaviour becomes inappropriate

5. Post-shoot welfare check

• The chaperone and parent will be given the opportunity to debrief with production after filming to confirm the child’s comfort and wellbeing

6. Privacy and confidentiality

• Handle personal data in accordance with GDPR
• Ensure no identifiable information about minors is shared without consent
• Consent forms will specify whether footage may be used online or on social media. Children’s surnames will not appear in public materials

Reporting concerns

All concerns, no matter how minor, should be reported to the Safeguarding Lead.

The designated Safeguarding Lead for Blonde Limited is:

Benjamin Dawson Founder / Creative Director benjamin@weareblonde.com 07786 811 735

In cases where a child or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk, staff should contact:

• Police: 999
• Local Authority Children’s Services

Implementation and accountability

We ensure this policy is effectively implemented by:

• Establishing clear lines of responsibility and accountability
• Regularly reviewing and updating safeguarding practices to reflect legal changes and best practice
• Providing accessible formats of this policy for individuals with disabilities

This policy is reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with legal and practical requirements.

Policy review

• Last reviewed: 12 May 2026
• Next scheduled review: 10 May 2027

Signed

Benjamin Dawson Founder / Creative Director / Safeguarding Lead, Blonde Limited