DWC Ltd - Child Protection Policy

 

Click Here to download the full ‘Safeguarding Policy’ for the 2026 finals in Dublin.

 

Introduction

DWC Ltd (DWC) is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its entrants involved in our dance event. Our Policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and parent volunteers working at DWC. All staff are expected to work within this policy to safeguard children and young people (under 18 years of age).

 

Underlying principles.

  • All Children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
  • All Children have the right to be safeguarded from harm.

Responsibility for protecting children must be shared because children are safeguarded only when all relevant agencies and individuals accept responsibility and cooperate.

  • Each child entering and visiting DWC is the responsibility of their own parent or carer including the time spent on stage/side of the stage where they are supervised by their dance teacher or parent helper. DWC staff will also be present.
  • All DWC personnel wear name badges.
  • Gender specific changing rooms are identified.
  • Public areas, such as dining rooms and toilets, are unsupervised.
  • DWC does not supervise changing areas. The teachers at each school are responsible for the children in their changing rooms.
  • No professional photography whatsoever is allowed in the auditoriums. Parents/carers who take photographs with their phones should ensure that no other children are included in their photographs.

 

Creating a Safer DWC for Everyone

DWC will use the following policies and procedures to create a safer event for everyone:

 

A single, definitive Child Protection Policy adopted by all DWC Competitors.

 

One or more designated Safeguarding Persons (DSPs) have been appointed for the Event.

Name: Events Manager - Eliana Livesey - DWC Ltd.
Name: Event Organiser – Tracy Robinson – DWC Ltd.

 

Best practice advice in the form of Safe Working Practice and Child Protection, with support and training for all DWC staff and volunteers who are working directly with children, including clear reporting procedures for anyone concerned about a child.

 

Appropriate recruitment and induction procedures for all new staff and volunteers responsible for providing safe environments for everyone attending/performing at DWC.

 

All DWC personnel wear an official identity badge.

 

Teachers/parents/guardians/carers are asked to report all incidents to anyone wearing a DWC badge at the event. All reported incidents will be handled in accordance with Safe Working Practice and Child Protection best practice guidelines. In addition, we will ensure the availability of a quiet area /room where concerns can be expressed in private.

 

For DWC, all teachers/parents/guardians/carers are responsible for the continuous care and supervision of their children/pupils. If they cannot attend personally, they must delegate their responsibilities to an identified adult and ensure that their children/pupils know the identity and name of the person responsible for their care. This includes supervision throughout the venues and changing areas that may be provided. Fire doors in the changing rooms, leading out of the building, must always be closed for security reasons.

 

Professional photography, audio, or video recording of children and young people is prohibited by the public at all times. This does not include DWC’s appointed photographers and videographers.

 

Some children may have specific needs to take part. If this is the case, we ask the responsible teachers/parents/guardians/carers to contact DWC at the time of entry.

 

DWC’s Child Protection Policy and approach to Creating Safer Events for Everyone are published on our website and also the teacher and country organiser portal. By registering for the event, all parents/guardians/carers, teachers and performers under 18 (or vulnerable adults of any age) confirm that they give (or have obtained) the necessary consent for the performers to participate in DWC and to be photographed and have photographs published on our social media platforms. Without permission, entry to DWC cannot be accepted.

 

POLICY REVIEW

The organisers will constantly review their policy, revising and enhancing it as necessary. In doing this, they will look to the British and International Federation of Festivals for support. That body, in turn, will look to other agencies for good practice, most notably the NSPCC guidelines.

Contact Name: Events Manager – Eliana Livesey – DWC Ltd.