The Purpose and Scope of this Policy Statement

Flying High Expressive Arts CIC is an award-winning, not for profit company providing inclusive high quality workshops in Drama, Dance and Singing for young people aged 4-20 and adults, with performance opportunities both regionally and nationally. The purpose of this policy statement is to:

• Protect children and young people who take part in Flying High’s services, events and activities, specifically those where photographs and videos may be taken
• Set out the overarching principles that guide our approach to photographs/videos being taken of children and young people during our events and activities
• To ensure that we operate in line with our values and within the law when creating, using and sharing images of children and young people

This policy statement applies to all staff, volunteers and other adults associated with Flying High Expressive Arts CIC.

Photography and/or Filming for Personal Use

When students themselves, parents/carers or spectators are taking photographs or filming at our events and the images are for personal use, we will publish guidance about image sharing in the event programmes and/or announce details of our photography policy before the start of the event. This includes:

• Reminding students, parents and carers that photography and filming during workshops or performances is prohibited unless permission has been granted by the Artistic Director/Manager – Carrie Bird
• Reminding parents/carers and students that they need to give consent for Flying High to take and use images of students
• If permission is granted, then asking for photos taken during the event not to be shared on social media or asking people to gain permission from student and their parents/carers before sharing photographs and videos that include them
• Recommending that people check the privacy settings of their social media account to understand who else will be able to view any images they share if they are allowed to take photos
• Reminding students, parents and carers who they can talk to if they have any concerns about images being shared

Photography and/or Filming for Flying High’s Use

The use of filming and photography for training purposes/rehearsals is permitted with authorisation from the Artistic Director/Manager – Carrie Bird, but must not be used on social media.

Student news, photographs and film footage of students, may be used by our Marketing Officer/PR to celebrate achievements and advertise Flying High Expressive Arts CIC on the Flying High website – www.flying-high.org.uk and the Flying High Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter as well as monthly Newsletters.

Films made of Showcases, Shows and other official performances and Trailers created from these or rehearsal footage may be used on Flying High websites and social media pages.

Images, news items and quotations of members, performers, audience members, parents etc. posted on the website or social media by Flying High Expressive Arts CIC, will be identified by their first name only.

Anyone with any concerns about images posted by Flying High Expressive Arts CIC can speak to Carrie Bird (Artistic director/Manager) and the images will be removed.

We recognise that our group leaders may use photography and filming as an aid in activities such as music or drama. However, students and their parents/carers must be made aware that this is part of the programme and give written consent.

If we hire a photographer for one of our events, we will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• Providing the photographer with a clear brief about appropriate content and behaviour
• Ensuring the photographer wears identification at all times
• Informing students and parents/carers that a photographer will be at the event and ensuring they give written consent to images which feature their child being taken and shared
• Not allowing the photographer to have unsupervised access to students
• Not allowing the photographer to carry out sessions outside the event or at a student’s home
• Reporting concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography following our child protection procedures

Photography and/or Filming for Wider Use

If people such as local journalists, professional photographers (not hired by Flying High) or students wish to record one of our events and share the images professionally or in the wider world, they should seek permission in advance. They should provide:

• The name and address of the person using the camera
• The names of students they wish to take images of (if possible)
• The reason for taking the images and/or what the images will be used for
• A signed declaration that the information provided is valid and that the images will only be used for the reasons given

Flying High will verify these details and decide whether to grant permission for photographs/films to be taken. We will seek consent from the students who are the intended subjects of the images and their parents and inform the photographer of anyone who does not give consent.

At the event we will inform students, parents and carers that an external photographer is present and ensure they are easily identifiable, for example by using them with a coloured identification badge.

If Flying High is concerned that someone unknown to us is using their sessions for photography or filming purposes, we will ask them to leave and (depending on the nature of the concerns) follow our child protection procedures.

Parents/carers, students and audience members at performances organised by outside agencies must make themselves aware of the policy for that event as detailed by the event organiser, and our policy on photography and filming will continue to apply.

Storing Images

We will store photographs and videos of students securely, in accordance with our safeguarding policy and data protection law.

We will keep hard copies of images in a locked drawer and electronic images in a protected folder with restricted access.

We will never store images of children on unencrypted portable equipment such as laptops, memory sticks and mobile phones.

Flying High does not permit staff and volunteers to using any personal equipment to take photos and recordings of children. Only cameras or devices belonging to the Flying High should be used.

This policy was last reviewed in August 2024.