Child Safeguarding Statement

Child Safeguarding Statement

Name of service:

Grasshopper Events,

Company Registered Address: 15 Shandon Drive, Phibsborough, D07 EDW2.

Nature of service and principles to safeguard children from harm:

Grasshopper Events is an arts and event company specialising in producing experiences for families and children. Grasshopper creates experiences for children and their families that are high-quality, interactive and educational. Grasshopper produces work for children generally from ages 1-12 years old and their families. Grasshopper produces both outdoor and indoor events in a variety of different locations and venues.

Grasshopper is committed to a child-centred approach in its work for children and respects children’s rights. Grasshopper event staff and artists are carefully selected, trained and supervised. Grasshopper staff and regular artists/facilitators/volunteers are Garda vetted where appropriate. Grasshopper provides its services for children and their families and aims at all times to keep children safe from harm while using its services. Children are accompanied at all times by a parent/guardian while attending Grasshopper Events. Grasshopper monitors and records attendees entering events. All child protection or welfare concerns will be reported to Tusla/Gardaí in a timely manner.

Risk Assessment:

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

# RISK IDENTIFIED PROCEDURE IN PLACE TO MANAGE RISK
1 Risk of harm not being recognised by staff and artists. All staff and volunteers are provided with Child Protection Policy. Staff & artists complete online Tusla e-learning programme. Any breach of the Child Protection Policy will be reported to the relevant line manager. The Child Protection Policy is reviewed every 2 years.
2 Risk of child being harmed by staff or artists. Recruitment policy and Garda vetting procedures. Clear Code of Behaviour for staff & artists. Artists do not work alone with children (4.2 Good Practice). Parents or guardians are required to be with children at all times at events.
3 Risk of child being harmed by another child at an event. Code of behaviour for children attending the event or event activity. Adequate number of staff and clear supervision procedures. Exchange of Child Protection Policies with partner organisations. Agreed code of behaviour for children attending events with partner organisations.
4 Risk of harm to child through inappropriate use of images on social media platforms. Image consent forms where appropriate. Agreed procedure and agreement with partner organisations one the documentation of events and image use policy.
5 Risk of harm to child through delay in referral to Tusla. Reporting procedures in place for staff, artists and partner organisation. Designated Liaison person identified to staff and artists. TUSLA to be notified within 5-7 days.

 

Procedures

Grasshopper Event’s Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our services:

  • Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/ volunteers of a child availing of our services
  • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children
  • Procedure for provision of, and access to, child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm
  • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla
  • Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are ‘Designated Persons’ as defined under the Children First Act 2015
  • Procedure for appointing a Mandated Person. All procedures listed are available upon request.

Implementation

Grasshopper Events recognises that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.
This Statement will be reviewed on 20th January 2025 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Name and contact details:

For queries in relation to this Child Safeguarding Statement please contact Norma Leen, Designated Person under the Children First Act 2015, at the address above or email: norma@grasshopper.ie