Safeguarding — International Youth Speaking Festival

Our Commitment: IYS Festival takes safeguarding seriously. We are committed to ensuring that all young people who participate in our events are safe, respected, and protected from harm.

Our Principles

How We Keep Young People Safe

The International Youth Speaking Festival recognises that the welfare of children and young people must be the paramount consideration in all activities.

🛡️

Clear Reporting Procedures

Any safeguarding issue raised is taken seriously and acted upon promptly.

👁️

Adult Supervision

All IYS events require a responsible adult to accompany and supervise participating young people at all times.

🔒

Data Protection

We do not collect data from participants under 18. Registration is handled through school staff and teachers only.

📋

Safe Online Environments

For online events, we use monitored platforms and ensure all digital interaction is appropriately supervised.

Policy Detail

Safeguarding Policy

1. Scope and Purpose

This policy applies to all IYS Festival events, staff, volunteers, adjudicators, and third parties involved in the delivery of our competitions. For the purposes of this policy, a "child" or "young person" means anyone under the age of 18.

2. Safeguarding Lead

IYS Festival has a designated Safeguarding Lead. Contact us via iysfestival.co.uk.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

School Responsibility

Schools registering for IYS events are responsible for ensuring pupils are accompanied by a DBS-checked adult at all times, obtaining parental consent, and reporting any concerns to their own DSL and to IYS Festival.

IYS Festival Responsibility

IYS staff and volunteers must maintain a safe environment, avoid one-to-one private communication with under-18s, and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead immediately.

4. Online Events

All online sessions use monitored platforms with waiting rooms and host controls. Young people must be supervised by a school adult throughout.

5. In-Person Events

All under-18s must be accompanied by a DBS-checked adult. Venue risk assessments are conducted, and lone working with young people is not permitted.

6. Reporting a Concern

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, always contact 999 (UK) or your local emergency services first.

For non-emergency concerns: contact the IYS Safeguarding Lead via iysfestival.co.uk. All concerns are treated confidentially.

7. Anti-Bullying

IYS Festival has zero tolerance for bullying, harassment, and discrimination whether in person or online.

8. Review

This policy is reviewed annually. Last reviewed April 2026.

🛡️ Report a Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to an IYS Festival event, please contact our Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible.