We are a movement based on generosity and respect, and we require organisations and contractors we work with to treat our community with care and dignity.
We expect you to be safe, fair, respectful, accommodating, conscious, nurturing and organised.
Here are these behaviours in detail:
1. Safe
- Understand and follow our Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, accessible at arts-emergency.org/safe
- Proactively look out for, protect, and advocate for everyone’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
- Promote safe practices and positively involve people in developing safe practices wherever possible. Report any concerns about poor practice.
- Include safeguarding considerations within your risk assessments if you’re working with under 18s or adults at higher risk of abuse. Someone with a DBS and safeguarding training must be present if under 18s are present.
- Agree appropriate guidelines around interpersonal boundaries, such as clear rules about contact outside of work and on social media.
- Always gain consent from everyone featured in photographs, videos and attributed quotes. Parents or guardians must consent for under 18s.
- Do not secretly record, take pictures or screenshot conversations - always ask for permission.
2. Fair
- Treat young people fairly, without prejudice, discrimination or microaggressions
- Pay fairly. Read about the Real Living Wage or research your industry standard Rates of Pay.
- Pay on time. Creative and cultural workers are vulnerable to cashflow problems and need to be paid on time for their work.
- All internships should be paid.
- Unpaid work experience should not last longer than five working days, and there should still be budget for lunch and travel expenses. A young person should not be doing unpaid work that is integral to the successful running of an organisation.
3. Respectful
- Listen to, value and respect young people for their insight and contributions.
- Respect differences, e.g. in gender expression, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, class background, place of birth, disability, religion etc.
- Respect identities and labels - including asking, listening and using people’s pronouns.
- Respect privacy. If you need to break confidentiality in order to follow safeguarding procedures, it is important to explain this to the young person at the earliest opportunity. Do not be intrusive or share private information with people outside of safeguarding procedures.
- Respect physical and emotional boundaries. If someone asks you for space, give it. If someone does not feel comfortable answering a question, don’t push.
4. Accommodating
- Understand that everyone has unique needs.
- Make reasonable adjustments to allow disabled people to work with you and take part fully.
- Offer flexible working hours - this is important for those who have disabilities, caring responsibilities etc.
- Encourage everyone to speak out about attitudes or behaviours that make their lives more difficult or uncomfortable.
- Actively review and improve your practices to make them more inclusive. We recommend this evidence and Toolkit from the Social Mobility Commission covering recommendations around data, leadership and culture, outreach, hiring, progression and advocacy.
5. Conscious
- Be conscious of the emotional and social expectations put on some people to educate, defend or act as a spokesperson for their culture, identity, or background.
- Consider how hierarchy and power influences your workplace and how a young person might experience this. Do not patronise or belittle young people.
- Recognise the hidden challenges that people may experience and open up conversations about supporting and accommodating them.
6. Nurturing
- Create plans collaboratively around how someone might grow and develop through working with you.
- Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
- Be thoughtful with your use of language when having difficult conversations. Plan out what you’re going to say and think carefully about the impact it could have.
- Care for people, and support them in times of need. Report any concerns about an Arts Emergency young person’s welfare to arts-emergency.org/safe
7. Organised
- Prepare in advance and have clear plans that are shared openly with any young people you’re working with, as well as your team and Arts Emergency if relevant.
- Ensure you have considered what pastoral care might be appropriate.
- Have a clear complaints procedure.
- Make sure that there are consequences for unacceptable behaviour.
Upholding this Code of Conduct
You should always aim to follow this code of conduct, and self-report to Arts Emergency if you have breached it by accident.
Breaches to the Code of Conduct will be reviewed on a case by case basis, and actions will be taken which prioritise the welfare and safety of the young people and communities we work with.
If you become aware of any breaches, you must report them to community@arts-emergency.org or via the Safeguarding webpage, arts-emergency.org/safe
If you have any questions, please contact community@arts-emergency.org