DIGITAL SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Guidelines for Prologue Youth Theatre Company members working digitally
During this period of lockdown we want to work digitally to connect, create work and support each other.
In order to do this we are going to use digital platforms. When using these platforms it is important to protect you and your families and follow our online code of conduct.
As always, please remember our Code of Conduct.
Live Video Chat (Zoom)
• Never use your full name, first names and first initials will do.
• Make sure people you are living with know you are on a live video chat. Don’t include them in the chat.
• Wear appropriate clothing, even on parts of you that you think won’t be seen
• Remember it’s easy to misinterpret things online – see our Code of Conduct.
• Refer to a group leader directly if you feel worried about anything
• Do not record or take photos of anything without the others consent. Group sessions will be recorded and stored on a Prologue hard drive
In the event of a prolonged lockdown, it may be necessary for members to record videos to submit for group projects.
When submitting videos:
• Don’t use your full name
• Don’t film things that might reveal your exact address, school or somewhere you go regularly (e.g. a sports club or activity)
• Don’t film anyone else under the age of 18
• Wear appropriate clothing
• Keep yourself safe. Your group leaders and assistants will never ask you to share something that feels too personal, complicated or sad.
If you are worried or concerned about anything online or personal during this period please contact Prologue Theatre staff; they will listen and find you to the right support.
Prologue Youth Theatre Company Contact
If you need to contact Prologue Theatre staff, please email prologue.ytc@gmail.com (monitored by Eve and Lucy).
The Prologue Youth Theatre Company phone will be available during youth theatre sessions and from 10am-5pm weekdays. Lucy Betts will be the main contact available on the phone number and will be able to pass messages along to all other members of staff.
The mobile number is 07766296042.
We need your help to keep the group safe, which includes the following commitments by you:
• You will not bully, intimidate or harass any user.
• You will not upload viruses or other malicious code.
• You will not solicit login information or access an account belonging to someone else.
• You will not post content that: is hate speech, threatening or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.
• You will not post unauthorised commercial communications (such as spam).
Protecting other people’s rights
We respect other people's rights and expect you to do the same. You will not post content or take any action that infringes or violates someone else's rights or otherwise violates the law. If you are not happy with how a user is communicating with you online, please let us know immediately by emailing Prologue Youth Theatre Company.
​
Guidelines for Prologue Youth Theatre Company staff working digitally
When communicating with young people via digital platforms, employees will use official accounts and ensure that the personal numbers of young people and freelancers are not shared.
When using video/call platforms with groups of young people, the following protocols should be followed:
• All platforms should be risk assessed in advance and those deemed appropriate for use should include mitigating measures. Risk assessments should be shared with all employees/freelancers who will be hosting sessions.
• Employees/freelancers should use high security settings and facilities of the selected platform to minimise the risk of third parties gaining access to sessions.
• Employees and freelancers will be the only adults present in digital platform sessions unless there is prior agreement for others to be present.
• There will be a minimum of two adults present at every session or the session will be recorded by the employee/freelancer.
• Employees and freelancers should be in a neutral area where nothing personal or inappropriate can be seen or heard in the background.
• Employees need to be present before young people are invited to join an online meeting.
• When the meeting ends the employees should eject each young person until only the employees remain and then close the call, thus ensuring no-one is left alone with a young person and no young people are left in a shared digital space unsupervised.
• In situations where one to one mentoring or creative development work takes place between a young person and an employee/freelancer, prior permission from parents/carers will be required and the meeting must be recorded.
​
• All meetings that are recorded require all participants’ consent, regardless of their age, prior to the recording taking place. Participants under the age of 18 will require parent/carer permission for this recording. Employees must be specific about the reason for the recording and the way the recording will be used.
• All parents/carers will be informed of the platforms to be used and the dates and times of sessions and the adults who will be in these platforms.
• Employees will set clear rules of engagement for all who are working on digital platforms. These rules will be in line with the rules of the company when working in person.
• Employees will also remind young people that this is not a private space and whatever they share online will be seen by the group and/or employees/freelancers working on the project.
• Any young person who breaks the agreed rules will be removed from the platform by employees and parents/carers will be informed.