Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
Our Policy with Advice to Society Members
Vulnerable Adults are defined as any person aged 18 or over who is in need of assistance because of any mental, physical or learning disability. A Vulnerable person is anyone no matter what age.As members of the 1605 Living History Society, you will find yourselves during events in a position of responsibility, which you must be careful to uphold at all times. Your continuing membership of the society depends on your behaviour being impeccable: Not only must you care for and protect all members of the public to the best of your ability, but your behaviour must at all times be irreproachable under the closest scrutiny. Please be aware that whereas actual abuse, either physical or sexual is completely unacceptable, anyone who becomes subjected to false allegations of abuse will find the consequences almost as harmful: therefore avoid any circumstance which could be misinterpreted or risk adversely affecting your subsequent lives. The following guidelines should help you deal with the kind of situations which need careful handling:
Scrupulously avoid all forms of abuse and maintain awareness of its possibility.
Abuse is generally agreed to involve violent behaviour, verbal or physical and/or any unwanted sexual advances, especially any act involving touching a person against their will. With this in mind, be circumspect in your own behaviour at all times, and vigilant to avoid unpleasant incidents both in respect of our own group and elsewhere on site. You do not need to become directly involved if you witness questionable behaviour elsewhere on the site but should alert someone in authority as quickly as possible.Avoid confrontation with abusive people.
Very rarely members of the public may be rude or unpleasant, but no matter what members of the public may do and say to you, never do or say anything in return which could be interpreted as verbal or physical abuse. Maintain your dignity - ignore all baiting and as soon as any unpleasant incident occurs, a member of the society should be quietly sent to fetch help from site staff.Avoid being alone with any vulnerable person.
Avoid being alone in close proximity with any unknown member of the public, especially a child, adolescent or vulnerable adult. (If you have been left alone guarding the camp, remain behind the barriers and if circumstances become difficult, pretend to be busy with some vital task.) If you find yourself alone with someone, walk with them towards someone else, preferably a society or site staff member.Try to cope sensitively and sensibly with the needs of children and vulnerable adults.
Often children and vulnerable adults will try to monopolize your attention. Please give them as much individual attention as possible, but it is desirable for more than one group member to be involved. Please look out for one another here: Be aware of what is happening to other group members, and ask for help if it is needed. Keep your eyes and ears open: Whilst you are answering one person's incessant questions, another may have crawled under the barrier and be at risk from fire etc. Always excuse yourself if you need to - all carers of children and vulnerable adults are likely to realize when you have had enough. A good ruse to “get rid" of anyone who has outstayed their welcome is to point out some other attraction.You are aware that all children or vulnerable adults should be safely accompanied.
In almost all cases a parent/carer or teacher will be at hand. If you are concerned that a vulnerable person seems to be alone, try to find their carer as soon as possible; another good reason to share responsibility. But you must also be very careful to make sure that the person claiming charge of the child or vulnerable adult is, indeed, the person responsible. Always ask "Is this your parent/carer/friend?" If they show any hostility towards that person, you should seek help from a site staff member/organiser. It is better to involve other people, even at the risk of seeming to make a fuss, than that you be complacent in such a case.Seek approval for any physical contact.
Sadly, it is wise to avoid all physical contact, especially if no adult or carer seems to be close at hand. Most children and many vulnerable adults will naturally take your hand if they feel comfortable with you. It needs only a "May I?" to reassure their parent/carer. Small children may need to be lifted up to see things. Again, if the parent is unable to do so, just ask if it will be alright. Always do these things in full view of everybody and never leave the company or sight of other people if you are with anyone at risk.You are aware that anyone distressed or out of control may need physical reassurance or restraint.
Sometimes a child has lost their parent and becomes panicky. If there are other people present, you may wish to reassure him/her by a touch on the shoulder or holding a hand. Similarly you may need to physically restrain a child who is in danger of hurting himself or someone else. Always try to join the company of other people so that any act of reassurance or restraint is both witnessed and reinforced by their approval. Again, never let a lost or distressed child be taken away by any member of the public, however well-intentioned. Keep them within our group enclosure, in full sight of the public; accompanied by at least two society members or a society member and a member of the public. Send for assistance to the site staff/ organizers. If, in the meantime, their parent/carer reclaims them, the obvious relief of both parties should make it quite clear that all is well.You are sensitive to people's individual needs regarding the sense of touch.
Sometimes people will want to touch you. Blind people can only appreciate your costume etc by touch. If you are aware that a person is blind or partially sighted and you feel comfortable to do so, offer them the chance to touch items of your dress. You may guide their hand to the feel of velvet, beadwork etc. This should always involve the agreement of everyone involved and you should be very careful not to embarrass anybody. Mentally handicapped people and children also often take great pleasure in tactile experiences. Whilst taking care that your clothes will not become soiled by sticky/dirty fingers, you may agree to their being touched but it should always involve the consent of you, the individual concerned and their carer, and it is desirable that other members of the society or public are present should a handicapped person or child become difficult to cope with.You aim to be aware of people's needs, and be hospitable.
Please be sensitive to the needs of all members of the public: A person using a walking stick is likely to tire easily or suffer pain. Invite them to sit down on one of our benches or chairs. In bright sunshine or rain, offer shade or shelter as appropriate. A drink of water in a clean cup can be offered to anyone suffering from thirst; dehydration can make people feel very ill. Always be ready to fetch aid for any member of the public who seems ill or distressed, but do not offer any medication yourself. It is always desirable for at least two members of the society to be within the camp at one time to make these situations as safe as possible. If you are alone you must trust to your instincts - don't invite anyone into the camp area unless you feel comfortable to do so.You do not try to cope with difficult situations unaided.
If you are ever worried about a particular person or an unpleasant situation which is developing, inform someone as quickly as possible; society member, site staff, or a member of the public who is not involved.You remain aware of the safety of the public at all times - not only during official performance hours.
Finally, please be especially careful during setting up and clearing away. Not all sites are closed to the public/children at these times and our circumstances may pose unforeseen threats to passers-by. Without the rope barrier in place, people may easily wander too close. Should this happen, do not try to continue any potentially dangerous occupation or task. Ask the person or people concerned to stand well back. Always be polite but insistent. Ask for help from organizers/site staff if your difficulties continue and cannot be resolved.All society members should help to protect one another from all forms of abuse.
As members of the 1605 Living History Society, I believe you can be trusted not to abuse anyone. If you follow these guidelines, it is highly unlikely that you should suffer any abuse yourself but if you do please inform all the members of the society as quickly as possible. If, during an event, you leave our company for any reason, please tell one of the others where you are going. If you promise to be back by a particular time, don't be late unless you can send reason why.
Please use your common sense in all these matters and if you become involved in any situation that we have failed to cover here, first agree with any other society members to hand on a course of action appropriate to our overall policy, and secondly bring the matter to my attention so that it can be included in future revisions.
