The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra is a charitable organisation whose core function is to support Gateshead pupils actively involved in musical activities organised by the Gateshead Music Service. It aims to seek financial support through a wide range of fund-raising activities.

The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra acknowledges that it has a responsibility for the safety of young people, and recognises that good safeguarding and child protection policies are of benefit to everyone involved with its work, so they can protect them form erroneous or malicious allegations.

The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra will endeavour to safeguard children by:

1. adopting safeguarding and child protection policies and a code of practice for all involved  in the organisation

2. reporting concerns to the authorities

3. providing all necessary support and training

The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra is also committed to reviewing its Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Code of Practice at regular intervals.

It is The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra’s policy that:

1. All those working on behalf of The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra accept responsibility for the welfare of    children who come into contact with The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra in connection with its tasks and    functions, and that they will report any concerns about a child or someone else’s behaviour, using the    procedures laid down.

2. There is a designated Safeguarding Person (DSP) within FOGYO who will take action following any expression of    concern and the lines of responsibility in respect of child protection are clear. The DSP is the Head of    Gateshead Music Service, who is chair of The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra.

3. The DSP knows how to make appropriate referrals to statutory child protection agencies.

4. All those who are involved with children on behalf of  The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestrashould adhere to    the Code of Practice in relation to children.

5. Information relating to any allegation or disclosure will be clearly recorded as soon as possible, and there is    a procedure setting out who should record information and the time-scales for passing it on.

6. The Children’s Act of 1989 states that the ‘welfare of the child is paramount’. This means that considerations of confidentiality which might apply to other situations should not
be allowed to over-ride the right of children to be protected from harm.

7. However, every effort should be made to  ensure that confidentiality is maintained when an allegation has been made and is being investigated.

8. The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra  policies are openly and widely available and actively promoted within the organisation.

9. All those within the organisation will be vetted appropriately.

10.It is part of The Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra acceptance of its responsibility of duty of care towards    children that anybody who encounters child protection concerns in the context of their work on behalf of The    Friends of Gateshead Youth Orchestra will be supported when they report their concerns in good faith.

Updated July 25th 2011

John Treherne – MBE MA LTCL Teachers Cert