Protecting Britain’s talented children and young people

In case you were not aware, live judges auditions for Britain’s Got Talent 2013 have kicked off in earnest.
 
As one of the few televised competitions open to children and young people of any age, I thought this was an appropriate time to highlight the important job authorities do to keep our young and often incredibly talented members of the public safe.
 
Among the key responsibilities authorities have is to manage DBS checks, (formerly CRB) for approved chaperones and keep them up to date. It is equally important for councils to regularly inspect the venues that children are visiting to perform and record and monitor the results of these checks to ensure premises are fit to hold a valid entertainment license.
 
But alongside these essential tasks, authorities also have a duty to ensure that when children are involved in stage performances and television shows like Britain’s Got Talent, this does not have a negative impact on their education or their ability to enjoy a happy and healthy childhood.
 
Staff need to be able to keep an eye on a child’s attendance in school and be able to see how they are progressing in their learning. Knowing whether they are looked after or receiving help from social services can also help them make much more informed decisions about how to best support these children.
 
As we have seen before, high-profile media stories about the safety of children and young people can often result in the tightening up of safeguarding policies. But councils also need to ensure their staff have access to all the information they need to meet their duty of care to children and young people who are involved in stage and screen performances.
 
This can only help in the ongoing challenge of protecting children who dedicate their time and talents to entertaining us.