Child Protection Policy

Spark Young Writers is committed to ensuring that all children are given the opportunity to participate fully in organisational activities without being put at risk.

Spark Young Writers will endeavour to safeguard children by adopting the following principles. We will:

  • Treat all children and young people with equal respect and dignity;
  • Always work in an open and transparent environment with participants;
  • Maintain a safe and appropriate relationship with participants;
  • Maintain up-to-date insurance policies and ensure that appropriate recruitment procedures are followed;
  • Be aware of the developmental needs and capacity of participants;
  • Ensure that individuals will receive support through education and training to be aware of and understand best practice and how to manage any welfare issues which may come to light;
  • Recognise that it is not the responsibility of staff, contractors or volunteers to determine if abuse has taken place, but it is their responsibility to act upon and report any concerns.

 

We expect everyone who represents Spark Young Writers (staff, trustees, partners, agency staff, volunteers and contractors) to have read, understood and adhere to this policy and its related procedures.

To read our Child Protection Policy in full, please follow this link: Writing West Midlands’ Child Protection Policy. If you have any questions about it, please contact our Child Protection Officer Jonathan Davidson on 0121 246 2770 or email him jonathan[at]writingwestmidlands.org.

All members of our staff and contracted artists are asked to read and sign a Code of Conduct. We expect everyone associated with our activities to behave responsibly, this includes the contracted artists and those taking part in the activities. We reserve the right to temporarily or permanently exclude anyone whose behaviour is unacceptable. We do not tolerate any form of offensive behaviour.

Get Writing

If you’d like to submit a piece of your writing for possible inclusion in the magazine, please see the Get Involved page to see more details. This magazine is published online three times a year: summer (June/July), winter (October-December) and spring (February-April) terms.

Our Spark Young Writers groups for September 2023-June 2024 are now available to book, including three new junior groups for Staffordshire, starting in January 2024.

 

Young Writers can submit up to three pieces of writing to our online magazine. The deadline for submissions for Issue 28 is 26th March 2024. Full details can be found here.

Check out all our ideas for writing prompts at our Get Writing tab. A wide selection of images, videos and funsheets for young writers to complete.