1. Our Commitment
 

At Creative Heritage, children and young people are at the heart of what we do.
 

We want every child who rehearses, performs, creates, volunteers or takes part in a Creative Heritage activity to feel safe, respected, included and able to be themselves.
 

We recognise our responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and to protect them from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying and discrimination.
 

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Everyone involved with Creative Heritage – including board members, volunteers, project leaders, mentors, contractors and visiting professionals – is expected to play their part in creating a safe and supportive environment.
 

2. Who This Policy Applies To
 

This policy applies to all Creative Heritage activities involving children and young people under the age of 18, including:

• weekly classes and rehearsals;

• Bulgarian Choir "Maghiya";

• Creative Heritage Performing Arts;

• Young Creator Studio and other creative projects;

• concerts, festivals, competitions and community events;

• trips, performances and external activities;

• work experience and youth volunteering;

• online project spaces and communications;

• photography, filming, recording and social media activities;

• activities involving guest professionals, mentors, partners and contractors.
   

The policy applies to all Creative Heritage board members, volunteers, project leaders, contractors, mentors, visiting professionals and anyone acting on behalf of Creative Heritage.
 

3. Our Safeguarding Principles
 

Creative Heritage believes that:

• every child has the right to be safe and protected from harm;

• every child should be treated with dignity, respect and kindness;

• safeguarding is everyone's responsibility;

• the welfare of the child is our primary consideration when making safeguarding decisions;

• children should be listened to and taken seriously;

• no child should experience discrimination because of their culture, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, sex, gender, family circumstances or any other characteristic;

• safeguarding should never prevent children from having exciting, creative and challenging experiences – our responsibility is to make those experiences as safe as reasonably possible;

• concerns should be acted upon promptly and appropriately;

• safeguarding information should be shared only with those who need it in order to protect a child.

We recognise that some children may be more vulnerable to harm or may face additional barriers to speaking up. We aim to create an environment in which every child feels that they have a voice and that there is an adult they can approach if something does not feel right.
 

4. Designated Safeguarding Lead
 

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):
Aneta Kokalanova

Email:
creativeheritageuk@gmail.com
 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for overseeing safeguarding within Creative Heritage, supporting volunteers and project leaders, responding to concerns, maintaining appropriate safeguarding records and contacting external safeguarding agencies where necessary.
 

If the Designated Safeguarding Lead is unavailable, or if a concern relates to the DSL, it should be reported to the Alternative Safeguarding Contact - Mariella Blago.
 

If a safeguarding concern relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it must not be reported only to that person. The concern should be raised with another Creative Heritage board member and, where appropriate, directly with the relevant safeguarding authority.
 

5. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns
 

Safeguarding concerns can take many forms and may include:

• physical abuse;

• emotional abuse;

• sexual abuse;

• neglect;

• bullying and cyberbullying;

• child-on-child abuse or harmful behaviour;

• harassment or discrimination;

• online abuse or grooming;

• sexual or criminal exploitation;

• coercive or controlling behaviour;

• inappropriate behaviour by an adult towards a child;

• unsafe behaviour or environments;

• concerns about a child's physical or emotional wellbeing.
   

A child does not need to directly disclose abuse for a concern to exist. Changes in behaviour, appearance, emotional wellbeing, relationships or participation may sometimes indicate that a child needs help or support.

Volunteers are not expected to diagnose abuse or investigate concerns. Their responsibility is to notice, listen, record and report.
 

6. If a Child Tells Us Something
 

If a child or young person tells a Creative Heritage volunteer or representative something that raises a safeguarding concern, the adult should:

• Listen. Give the child time and allow them to explain what has happened in their own words.

• Stay calm. Take what the child says seriously and avoid expressing shock or disbelief.

• Reassure. Let them know that they did the right thing by speaking to someone.

• Do not investigate. Do not interrogate the child, ask leading questions or attempt to establish whether an allegation is true.

• Do not promise secrecy. Explain that information may need to be shared with people whose job it is to help keep them safe.

• Record. Make an accurate written record as soon as possible, using the child's own words wherever possible and distinguishing facts from observations.

• Report. Pass the concern promptly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

If a child is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical attention, safeguarding the child comes first. Emergency services should be contacted on 999.

​

7. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns
 

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will consider the information available and determine the appropriate next steps.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• speaking with the child and/or parent or carer where appropriate;

• seeking safeguarding advice;

• referring the concern to Children's Social Care;

• contacting the police;

• contacting the Local Authority Designated Officer where the concern relates to an adult working with children;

• taking immediate steps within Creative Heritage to protect the child.

Creative Heritage will not attempt to conduct its own investigation into suspected abuse where this should properly be handled by statutory safeguarding agencies.
 

Parents and carers will normally be involved where appropriate. However, information may be shared without parental consent where doing so is necessary to protect a child or where informing a parent or carer could increase the risk to the child.
 

8. Concerns About Adults Working With Children
 

Any concern about the conduct of a Creative Heritage volunteer, board member, project leader, mentor, contractor, guest professional or other adult working with children must be taken seriously.
 

This includes behaviour that may:

• have harmed a child or put a child at risk of harm;

• constitute a possible criminal offence involving a child;

• indicate that the person may pose a risk to children;

• breach appropriate professional or safeguarding boundaries.
   

Concerns should be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, unless the concern relates to the DSL.

Creative Heritage will seek advice from the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where appropriate and will not attempt to resolve serious allegations informally.
 

9. Safer Recruitment and Volunteers
 

Creative Heritage aims to ensure that people entrusted to work with children are suitable for their roles.

Depending on the nature of the role, this may include:

• an application or expression of interest;

• discussion or interview about the role;

• references where appropriate;

• identity checks;

• appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for eligible roles;

• safeguarding induction;

• clear role descriptions and expectations;

• ongoing supervision and support.

A DBS check is one part of safer recruitment and does not replace appropriate supervision, safeguarding procedures or professional boundaries.
 

Guest speakers, creative professionals, photographers, mentors and other visitors will be appropriately supervised or checked according to the nature and frequency of their contact with children.
 

10. Our Expectations of Adults

Adults working with Creative Heritage must maintain appropriate and professional boundaries with children and young people.
 

They should:

• treat every child fairly, respectfully and with dignity;

• use appropriate language and behaviour;

• provide positive encouragement without favouritism;

• avoid unnecessary one-to-one situations;

• work in open and observable environments wherever reasonably possible;

• avoid inappropriate physical contact;

• respect children's personal boundaries;

• never engage in sexualised, intimidating, humiliating or discriminatory behaviour;

• never develop inappropriate personal relationships with participants;

• follow Creative Heritage procedures for communication with children;

• report behaviour or situations that raise safeguarding concerns.

Where physical contact is reasonably required for teaching, choreography, positioning, costume adjustment, first aid or safety, this should be appropriate, explained to the child and carried out respectfully.
 

11. Online Communication and Project Spaces
 

Creative Heritage uses digital communication as part of our activities and community. This may include WhatsApp, email, Google Classroom and other agreed platforms.
 

Parents and carers choose whether they wish to join Creative Heritage's WhatsApp communication group and are separately asked whether they consent to their child being added. Participation in the WhatsApp group is optional.

Creative Heritage may communicate directly with young people where appropriate as part of their participation in our community. This may include communication about rehearsals, performances, competitions, individual creative work and project responsibilities, as well as occasional appropriate messages recognising achievements or important occasions, such as congratulating a young person on an award or wishing them a happy birthday.

Communication with young people should always:

• remain professional, appropriate and respectful;

• be proportionate and not unnecessarily frequent;

• take place through agreed communication channels;

• respect the young person's boundaries;

• avoid inappropriate, overly personal or secretive conversation;

• be of a nature that the sender would be comfortable for the young person's parent or carer and another Creative Heritage representative to see.
   

Individual communication may sometimes be appropriate. For example, a project leader may need to discuss a young person's solo performance, competition entry, creative contribution or individual project responsibility directly with them. This is permitted provided the communication remains appropriate and connected to the young person's participation in Creative Heritage.
 

Creative Heritage representatives must not use direct messaging to develop inappropriate private personal relationships with children, encourage secrecy, create inappropriate emotional dependency or communicate in ways that cross appropriate adult–child boundaries.
 

If a conversation with a young person becomes sensitive or raises a concern about their safety or wellbeing, the adult should respond appropriately and follow Creative Heritage's safeguarding procedures where necessary.
 

Online project spaces, including Google Classroom, should be treated with the same safeguarding expectations as face-to-face Creative Heritage activities. Communication should remain appropriate and project-related, and any bullying, harassment, inappropriate content or safeguarding concern arising through an online space should be reported.

Creative Heritage recognises that digital communication is an important part of how young people communicate and participate. Our aim is not to prevent positive relationships between young people and the adults who support them, but to ensure those relationships remain safe, appropriate, transparent and respectful.

​

12. Photography, Filming and Recording
 

Photography, video and music production are an important part of Creative Heritage. Our children perform publicly, participate in competitions and festivals, and may create professional-quality music and video content through projects such as Young Creator Studio.
 

We therefore aim to balance celebrating children's achievements with protecting their privacy and safety.

Creative Heritage will:

• obtain appropriate consent for organisational photography, filming and publication;

• explain where and how content may be used;

• respect children and families who do not consent to photography or filming;

• ensure external photographers and videographers receive appropriate safeguarding guidance;

• avoid publishing unnecessary personal information alongside children's images;

• store organisational images and recordings appropriately;

• review the use of children's images where safeguarding circumstances change.

Consent to participate in an activity does not automatically mean consent to photography, filming or publication.

Where a child indicates that they do not wish to be photographed or filmed, their wishes should be respected even where wider consent has previously been provided.

Parents and visitors attending Creative Heritage events should also be mindful that photographs or recordings may include other people's children and should not publish identifiable images of other children without appropriate permission.

13. Performances, Events, Competitions and Trips

Creative Heritage regularly participates in events outside its normal rehearsal environment.

Appropriate safeguarding arrangements will be considered when planning these activities, including:

• supervision;

• arrival and collection arrangements;

• venue safety;

• emergency contacts;

• medical or accessibility requirements;

• changing and costume arrangements;

• photography and filming;

• transport where applicable;

• contact with external organisations and members of the public.

Parents and carers remain important safeguarding partners and will receive relevant information about activities involving their children.

14. Work Experience and Young Volunteers

Creative Heritage believes strongly in giving young people meaningful opportunities to develop professional, creative and leadership skills.

Young volunteers and work-experience participants remain children for safeguarding purposes if they are under 18, even when they are undertaking responsibilities within the organisation.

They will therefore receive appropriate supervision and will not be placed in situations where they carry safeguarding responsibility for other children without suitable adult oversight.

Young volunteers will be told who they can speak to if they experience or witness something that concerns them.

15. Bullying, Discrimination and Inclusion

Creative Heritage exists to bring people together through culture and creativity. Bullying, harassment, racism, discrimination or deliberate exclusion are incompatible with our values.

Concerns may arise between children as well as between adults and children.

We will respond to bullying and discriminatory behaviour appropriately and consider the wellbeing of everyone involved. Serious or repeated behaviour may be treated as a safeguarding concern.

We encourage children to celebrate their own identity while approaching the identities, cultures, traditions and beliefs of others with curiosity and respect.

16. Confidentiality, Information Sharing and Records

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is a legitimate safeguarding reason to do so.

Creative Heritage will maintain appropriate records of safeguarding concerns, including:

• what was reported or observed;

• when and where it occurred;

• who was involved;

• action taken;

• decisions made;

• referrals or advice received.

Safeguarding records will be kept securely with access restricted to appropriate people.

Confidentiality must never prevent information being shared when a child may be at risk of harm.

17. Training and Awareness

Creative Heritage will ensure that volunteers and others working regularly with children understand:

• their safeguarding responsibilities;

• how to recognise and report concerns;

• who the Designated Safeguarding Lead is;

• expected standards of behaviour;

• relevant procedures for their role.

Safeguarding will form part of induction for relevant new volunteers and will be revisited periodically.

18. Working With Partners

Creative Heritage regularly collaborates with schools, community organisations, venues, professionals and other partners.

Where responsibility for children is shared with another organisation, we will aim to establish clear safeguarding responsibilities before the activity takes place.

External partners working directly with children are expected to follow appropriate safeguarding standards.

19. Reporting a Concern

If you are a child, parent, volunteer or member of the community and something has happened at Creative Heritage that makes you worried about a child's safety or wellbeing, please tell us.

Creative Heritage Designated Safeguarding Lead
Aneta Kokalanova
creativeheritageuk@gmail.com

You do not need to be certain that abuse has taken place before raising a concern. Safeguarding concerns should be reported rather than ignored.

If a child is in immediate danger

Call 999.

London Borough of Sutton Children's Social Care

Concerns about a child being abused, neglected or otherwise at risk can be reported to Sutton Children's Social Care.

Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm: 020 8770 6001
Out of hours/weekends: 020 8770 5000

 

Sutton Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

The LADO manages concerns and allegations relating to adults who work or volunteer with children.

Telephone: 020 8770 4776
Email: LADO@sutton.gov.uk

The LADO can also be contacted directly if someone does not feel comfortable reporting a concern about an adult through Creative Heritage.

 

20. Review
 

Safeguarding is an ongoing responsibility, not simply a written policy.

Creative Heritage will review this policy at least annually and sooner where:

• legislation or statutory guidance changes;

• our activities or ways of working change significantly;

• a safeguarding incident identifies an area for improvement;

• guidance from safeguarding authorities indicates that an update is required.

We will continue to listen to children, families, volunteers and partners and develop our safeguarding practice as Creative Heritage grows.
 

Policy approved: September 2026
Next scheduled review: September 2027