Safeguarding

At the English Folk Dance and Song Society we believe everyone participating in folk music, dance or other arts should be able to do so safely and without fear of oppression or abuse.

We work to promote best practice in safeguarding, to support those in the sector by signposting helpful sources of advice, and to facilitate honest discussion and positive action.

Anyone in a paid or voluntary leadership or organiser role within the folk arts has a duty of care towards people involved in their activity.

Please read our current Safeguarding Policy and our Safeguarding Guidelines for Online Learning, which are both on our Policies page. You are welcome to adapt them when creating safeguarding policies for your own activities, although bear in mind it is essential that each group or organisation creates its own policies based on its unique situation. All organisers need to ensure that their group or organization has its own safeguarding policy, which should be reviewed and updated annually.

A Code of Conduct, for your venue or activity, clearly displayed, shared, and implemented, is another important tool in challenging and eradicating abusive and oppressive behaviour. Read our Code of Conduct.

Another example is Music Industry Code of Practice which is a set of principles to tackle and prevent bullying, harassment, discrimination and other forms of inappropriate behaviour for all those working in the music sector. The English Folk Dance and Song Society, and many other music organisations, support and promote this.

Below are some resources that may help young people and adults learn more about the complex area of Safeguarding, and how to take effective action to prevent and report concerns.

 
Advice, Information and Training

Brass Band England’s Bandsafe resources and training have been developed in partnership with the NSPCC and are aimed at volunteer-led, multi-generational contexts. bbe.org.uk/BandSafe

Childline supports anyone under 19: childline.org.uk/info-advice/bullying-abuse-safety/abuse-safety/

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) provides advice on who needs a check, at what level, and how to get one. See this section on the Government website gov.uk/criminal-record-checks-apply-role

FPA, the sexual health company, produced this useful summary of the law regarding sexual abuse and sexual misconduct across the UK. It is still current even though produced in 2015. fpa.org.uk/factsheets/law-on-sex

LawStuff provides information for young people with a section on physical, sexual and mental health: lawstuff.org.uk/sex-health-drugs/rape-and-other-forms-of-abuse/

The NSPCC is the authoritative source of information and advice on safeguarding children and young people. learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection

Rape Crisis has information to help victims/survivors understand about consent and suggests options for next steps rapecrisis.org.uk

SAFEcic provides a wide range of thorough and cost-effective safeguarding training, resources and advice safecic.co.uk

The Social Care Institute for Excellence contains information on safeguarding adults scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults

Stop it Now works to prevent child sexual abuse. It provides information, confidential advice, and reporting for anyone concerned about their own behaviour or the behaviour of others; and for people who have experienced abuse. stopitnow.org.uk

Professional Support

Rape Crisis have a free one-to-one live chat helpline providing confidential emotional support for people who have experienced sexual violence. They can also help victims to think through options and next steps rapecrisis.org.uk

Victim Support provides support and advice to help victims (and their concerned friends) recover from the effects of crime and traumatic events. There is a free helpline or online support. They can give expert advice and will help you whether or not you decide to report the crime. This may give you more confidence if you do decide to report to the Police. victimsupport.org.uk

Reporting

Report to the police

The most important step that can be taken is to report crimes or concerns to the Police.

There are statutory reporting duties and pathways for those in positions of responsibility (see EFDSS’ Safeguarding Policy for example). However, you may be the victim or witness to a crime and not sure whether or how you want to report the crime. Or the colleague or friend of a victim, or even perpetrator.

We recognise that reporting to the Police can feel a big and worrying step to take. However, there are multiple ways this can be done, and to the level that you feel able to go to. Remember, there are organisations that can help advise and support you in this process, for example Victim Support.

Bear in mind, the Police will not necessarily act against the perpetrator unless the victim wishes to press charges. This depends on the age of the victim, the nature of the crime, and the relationship between the victim and perpetrator. Reporting can also be done in stages, depending on what the person reporting the crime, and the victim themselves feel, and how far they want to take things. 

In an emergency dial 999.

Non-urgent matters can be reported by calling 101.

Most police forces also offer multiple methods of reporting including via text message, email, and online chat.

Crime Stoppers enable crimes to be reported anonymously by calling on 0800 555 111. They will pass the information to the police. crimestoppers-uk.org

Musician’s Union’s Safe Space exists to provide a safe space for all musicians to share instances of sexism, sexual harassment, and sexual abuse in the music industry. They provide an email address for reporting concerns. musiciansunion.org.uk/safespace   

Folk Specific Information and Support

EFDSS’ Folk Educators Group is free to join and provides access to a peer support network for people working and volunteering in folk arts learning and participation. efdss.org/folkeducatorsgroup

Safe Space Folk is an email address recently set up by The BIT Collective, with support from the Musicians’ Union, for people to report sexual harassment, assault and abuse in the folk and traditional music scene. There is a range of information and advice on The BIT Collective's website. www.thebitcollective.co.uk/safe-space-folk  

FairPlé aims to achieve gender balance in the production, performance, promotion, and development of Irish traditional and folk music. They advocate for equal opportunity and balanced representation for all. They have advice on tackling sexual harassment in this area of music in the Republic of Ireland. Much of this is relevant to the situation in the various nations of the UK. fairple.com/sexual-harassment

For our Safeguarding Policy and Online Learning Guidelines see efdss.org/policies

For our Code of Conduct see efdss.org/code-of-conduct

[Last updated November 2020]