This guidance is intended to support sensible decision-making by members and parents. It does not replace any safeguarding arrangements put in place by venues or producing companies.
Introduction
The Penguin Club aims to be an open, welcoming and inclusive organisation. We encourage participation from people of all backgrounds, experience levels and abilities, and we expect the behaviour of our members to reflect these values.
The club is unable to accept members under the age of 16 due to the venues we work in. Throughout this document, members aged 16 or 17 will be referred to as “young adults”. Young adults are encouraged to participate fully in club activities and will generally be treated in the same way as adult members. Members should recognise that experience, maturity and confidence differ between individuals and should avoid making assumptions based solely on age.
Members must follow any safeguarding policy or guidance provided by the producing company or venue. During rehearsals and performances, members are working on behalf of the producing company and its safeguarding arrangements apply. This guidance is intended for situations where no producing company representatives are present (for example, during get-ins and get-outs) and for activities organised solely by the Penguin Club (for example socials and training). It is not to restrict participation, but to encourage sensible and proportionate arrangements where a member is under the age of 18.
Guidance for Club Members
Production team members should ensure any relevant safeguarding requirements, particularly those relating to children, are communicated to others involved in the production.
Club members should generally avoid being alone with a new member in isolated or unobserved locations. Particular care should be taken where the new member is a young adult. This protects all parties and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Where young adults are involved in a production consider whether any additional safeguards are appropriate. A simple risk assessment may be helpful.
Where you work closely with a young adult (for example, while they are shadowing a production role) consider establishing contact with a parent or guardian to clarify expectations around matters such as late finishes, demanding schedules or production content.
Guidance for Parents and Guardians
If you are considering your young adult’s involvement in Penguin activities, please be aware
of the following:
- We welcome young adults to our club because we believe in young people becoming involved in theatre. They are its future, and the enthusiasm, energy and perspectives they bring benefit us all.
- We are a voluntary amateur theatre group, not an educational institution, and cannot provide the level of supervision or safeguarding arrangements that you might expect in a school or similar setting. This guidance is intended to help you understand how we operate and decide whether involvement is right for your young adult. Please note that casts and production teams may include non-Penguin members, and producing companies retain ultimate responsibility for selecting members of their productions.
- Rehearsals, performances and production activities may involve late finishes or unsociable hours. But depending on the role, attendance may not be required for the full duration of every activity.
- Please ensure your young adult has appropriate arrangements for travelling to and from rehearsals, performances and other club activities.
- Social activities may also involve alcohol on and off licensed premises.
Links and further information
If you have any welfare or safeguarding concerns relating to a Penguin activity, please contact a committee member.
The Leys Great Hall requires its visiting companies to have a safeguarding policy that aligns with the policy of the wider Leys school campus.
University of Cambridge safeguarding policy.
The Penguin Club is seeking permission from the various companies we work with to link to their policies here. Not all such policies are published on the internet. Cambridge Operatic Society do not publish their policy but it is available if you contact them.