Dance Events North West Ltd and Dance Events Away Ltd – October 2026

Adult, Vulnerable Adult, Children and Young Persons Safeguarding Policy

Purpose and scope:

This policy applies to all dance lessons, workshops, private tuition, social dances, practice sessions, trips and residential or away events delivered under the business names Dance Events North West Ltd and Dance Events Away Ltd. It applies to directors, staff, teachers, DJs, hosts, volunteers, contractors, venue partners and customers. Safeguarding means protecting a person’s right to live safely, free from abuse and neglect, while respecting their views, wishes, feelings, beliefs, dignity and right to make informed choices.

Safeguarding approach:

We follow the principles of empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability. We aim to stop abuse or neglect where possible, reduce risks for everyone with care and support needs, and improve outcomes in a person-centred way.

Recognising concerns:

Abuse or neglect may be physical, sexual, psychological or emotional, financial or material, discriminatory, organisational, domestic abuse, modern slavery, neglect, acts of omission or self-neglect. In dance settings, warning signs may include unwanted or unsafe physical contact, coercion to dance or travel, harassment, intimidation, discriminatory language, financial pressure, misuse of personal information or images, deliberate exclusion, unsafe transport or accommodation arrangements, unexplained injuries, distress, or a customer being prevented from making their own decisions.

Consent and personal boundaries:

Participation in every lesson, exercise and social dance is voluntary. Teachers, hosts, assistants and customers must ask before physical contact beyond normal, clearly explained dance hold or technique guidance. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. A person may decline a dance, change partner, request a different teaching method, take a break or leave without pressure or disadvantage.

Safe lessons and social dances:

Organisers will use suitable venues, provide clear joining and emergency information, identify first-aid arrangements, manage dance-floor capacity and hazards, support reasonable adjustments, and make a named host available. Customers must follow venue rules, dance with due care, respect refusals and personal space, and report hazards or concerns promptly. Anyone whose behaviour creates a safeguarding or safety risk may be asked to stop dancing or leave.

Responsibilities of staff, teachers, hosts, assistants, contractors and volunteers:

Anyone working at an event must take concerns seriously, remain calm, listen without judgement, avoid promising secrecy, avoid leading questions or investigating, preserve evidence, and act promptly.

• If anyone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, call 999 and take reasonable steps to reduce immediate risk.
• Offer practical support and reassurance, including a quiet space, a trusted companion, help with transport, or support to contact emergency or specialist services where appropriate.
• Ask what the individual wants to happen and seek consent before sharing information where possible. Information may be shared without consent when required by law, when others may be at risk, when a serious crime may have occurred, or when the adult cannot make the relevant decision and sharing is necessary in their best interests.
• Make a factual written record as soon as possible, including the date, time, location, people present, the adult’s own words, actions taken and information shared. Do not include personal opinion or speculation.

Report:

• Report concerns without delay to the Designated Safeguarding Person (DSP), Lynne Williams. If the DSP is unavailable or implicated, contact the relevant local authority Adult or Children Social Care service or the police directly and inform the DSP later when safe and appropriate.

Record and retain:

• Safeguarding records must be accurate, dated, signed or attributable, kept securely, restricted to those who need access, and retained in line with the companies’ data-protection and retention arrangements.

Referral and venue response:

• The DSP will consider the adult’s wishes, the level and immediacy of risk, whether anyone else is at risk, and whether referral to Social Care, police, health services, a venue or another agency is required. Internal action may include changing teachers or partners, increasing supervision, adjusting transport or accommodation, setting behavioural boundaries, or excluding a person from an event where proportionate to the risk.

Confidentiality:

Dance Events North West Ltd and Dance Events Away Ltd expect confidentiality to be maintained. Personal information will be shared only on a need-to-know basis when it is necessary, proportionate and relevant for safeguarding or legal purposes, in line with UK data-protection law. Safeguarding information must not be discussed socially, posted online, or shared through informal group chats.

Designated Safeguarding Person and away events:

The DSP is Lynne Williams. For trips, residential weekends and other events delivered by Dance Events Away Ltd, customers will receive the organiser’s contact details, venue and accommodation information, emergency arrangements and expected standards of behaviour. Room allocation, transport, access needs and welfare checks will be handled sensitively, with privacy and consent respected. Staff and hosts must not enter a customer’s room or private space except with consent or where an emergency or serious safeguarding risk makes this necessary.

Lancashire Children’s Social Care: 0300 123 6720 

Lancashire Safeguarding adults: 0300 123 6721

Lancashire Emergencies out-of-hours. : 0300 123 6722.

Salford Children’s Social Care 0161 653 45500

Salford Adult Social Care: 0161 206 0604

(Monday to Friday, 8.30am–4.30pm).

Salford emergency duty service: 0161 794 8888.

In an emergency call 999.

Allegations concerning staff, teachers, hosts, contractors or volunteers:

Any allegation that a person working for or on behalf of either company has harmed or may harm another individual, committed a relevant criminal offence, breached consent or professional boundaries, exploited a customer, or behaved in a way that indicates they may be unsuitable to work with adults or children must be reported immediately to the DSP.

If the allegation concerns the DSP, it must be reported directly to the relevant local authority or police.

• The companies may take proportionate interim steps to protect customers while concerns are considered, including changing duties, restricting contact, suspending attendance or ending an engagement. Such action is precautionary and does not determine the outcome.
• Staff, customers and witnesses must not conduct their own investigation, confront the person alleged to have caused harm, or question the adult repeatedly. Any internal fact-finding must not obstruct police or local-authority enquiries.

Customer concerns and complaints:

Customers may speak privately to the event host, teacher or DSP during or after an event. Safeguarding concerns will be handled under this policy even if they are also raised through the complaints process. No customer will be treated adversely for raising a concern in good faith.

Training and review:

Relevant staff, teachers, hosts and volunteers will receive safeguarding information appropriate to their role and be reminded how to report concerns. The policy will be reviewed at least annually and after a serious incident, significant operational change or relevant change in guidance.

Approved by: Alison Park, Managing Director   Policy date: October 2026  

Next review: October 2027