Who We Are
Once a Chorister is a federation of independent choristers' associations. While each association is responsible for its own safeguarding arrangements, the Federation sets a shared standard for its own events — the Festival, the AGM and any Federation Tour.
Our Statement of Safeguarding Principles
The welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount at every event we run. All members, volunteers and officers share responsibility for safeguarding, and concerns will always be taken seriously and acted upon promptly.
Our Commitments
We commit to: providing a safe environment for all attendees; responding promptly and appropriately to any concern raised; working with member associations and host cathedrals to uphold safeguarding standards; and reviewing this policy regularly.
The Full Safeguarding Policy
Agreed 1 March 2023, ratified at the September 2023 AGM in Warwick. The full policy document is retained in full and verbatim as our governance record, and is available on request from the Secretary.
Role of the Safeguarding Officer
The Safeguarding Officer is currently Oliver Hamilton-Box. The Safeguarding Officer is the first point of contact for any concern raised in connection with a Federation event, and liaises with statutory authorities where necessary.
Good Practice Guidance
Volunteers and officers at Federation events are expected to follow recognised good practice: never being alone with a child unsupervised, respecting personal boundaries, and reporting any concern — however small it may seem — to the Safeguarding Officer.
Key Concepts & Definitions
For the purposes of this policy: a child is anyone under 18. A vulnerable adult is anyone 18 or over who, through disability, illness, age or circumstance, may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation.
Signed by the Chair of the organisation, Nick Hodges — 1st March 2023.