CODE OF CONDUCT
STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS

PURPOSE

Starmaker Theatre Company is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where children and young people can learn, perform and thrive.

This Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected from everyone working or volunteering with children and young people on behalf of Starmaker Theatre Company.

Failure to comply with this Code may result in disciplinary action, removal from duties, termination of volunteering or employment, or referral to statutory agencies where appropriate.
 

SCOPE

This Code applies to:

• Trustees when working with children or young people

• Staff

• Volunteers

• Freelance teachers, directors, choreographers and musical directors

• Chaperones

• Workshop leaders

• Guest tutors

• Work experience students

• Anyone representing Starmaker Theatre Company
   

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Everyone working with children and young people must:

• Place the welfare of children and young people first.

• Treat every child with dignity, kindness and respect.

• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

• Act as a positive role model.

• Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct.

• Follow all Starmaker Theatre Company policies and procedures.

• Report concerns promptly in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy or Whistleblowing Policy, as appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR

Staff and volunteers must:

• Behave professionally, honestly and responsibly at all times.

• Treat everyone fairly and with respect.

• Use appropriate language and behaviour.

• Dress appropriately for the activity being undertaken.

• Maintain professional boundaries with children and young people.

• Never abuse a position of trust.

• Work cooperatively with colleagues, parents, carers and trustees.

• Follow all reasonable instructions given by authorised managers or trustees.

SMOKING AND VAPING

Starmaker Theatre Company operates a strict smoke-free and vape-free policy across all venues used by the charity, including rented premises, third-party facilities, outdoor areas where activities take place, and any surrounding grounds where smoking or vaping is prohibited.

There are no designated smoking or vaping areas during Starmaker Theatre Company activities.

All staff, volunteers, freelancers and anyone working on behalf of the charity must:

• Comply with all smoke-free and vape-free requirements set by the venue or premises provider.

• Not smoke or vape whilst on duty or responsible for the supervision of children or young people.

• Not smoke or vape whilst wearing Starmaker Theatre Company branded clothing or otherwise representing the charity in public.

• Ensure that cigarettes, vapes, e-cigarettes, tobacco products, lighters and related paraphernalia are kept completely out of sight of children and young people at all times.

• Never ask a child or young person to carry, purchase or dispose of smoking or vaping products.

Smoking or vaping must never take place in the presence of children or young people attending Starmaker Theatre Company activities.

Failure to comply with this policy may constitute a serious breach of this Code of Conduct, may place the charity in breach of its venue agreements, and may compromise the charity's safeguarding responsibilities.

Any breach will be investigated and may result in disciplinary action, removal from duties, termination of employment or volunteering, or other appropriate action in accordance with Starmaker Theatre Company's policies and procedures.

APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT

Physical contact should always be:

• Appropriate.

• Necessary.

• Respectful.

• Age and stage appropriate.

• Explained beforehand whenever possible.

• Appropriate physical contact may include:

• Demonstrating dance or performance techniques.

• Preventing injury.

• Administering first aid.

• Assisting younger children where necessary.

Physical contact must never be excessive, secretive or for personal gratification.
 

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

Staff and volunteers must never:

• Shout aggressively at a child.

• Humiliate, ridicule or belittle a child or young person.

• Use inappropriate, offensive or discriminatory language.

• Bully, intimidate or threaten.

• Favour particular children.

• Develop inappropriate personal relationships with children or young people.

• Engage in inappropriate physical contact.

• Consume alcohol or use illegal drugs whilst responsible for children.

• Attend activities whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Use corporal punishment or any degrading treatment.

ONE-TO-ONE SITUATIONS

Wherever possible, staff and volunteers should:

• Avoid being alone with a child.

• Meet in areas that are visible to others.

• Keep doors open where appropriate.

• Inform another authorised adult if one-to-one support is necessary.

Any one-to-one teaching or mentoring should follow Starmaker Theatre Company's safeguarding procedures at all times.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING

Staff and volunteers must:

• Follow the Photography and Filming Policy at all times.

• Never use personal mobile phones or devices to photograph or film children, unless authorised to do so.

• Only use authorised equipment where permission has been obtained.

• Ensure that appropriate parental consent has been received before photographs or recordings are taken or used.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

Staff and volunteers must not:

• Add members or students under 18 as friends or followers on personal social media accounts.

• Accept friend or follow requests from members or student under 18.

• Send private messages to members or students under 18 using personal accounts.

• Share personal telephone numbers or email addresses with members or students under 18 unless authorised by Starmaker Theatre Company.

• Communicate directly with members or students under 18 through personal messaging apps or social media platforms.

Communication should normally be through parents or carers, or direct to members or students through authorised Starmaker communication systems such as Starmaker email addresses or Starmaker WhatsApp account.

Where communication with young leaders or volunteers under 18 is necessary, another authorised adult should be copied in wherever possible.

MOBILE PHONES

Personal mobile phone use should be kept to a minimum during activities.

Staff and volunteers must not:

• Allow mobile phone use to interfere with supervision.

• Use personal phones to photograph or record children unless authorised to do so

• All photographs and videos taken must be deleted after uploading to the appropriate channels or cloud storage.

• Share inappropriate content whilst attending Starmaker activities.

TRANSPORT

Staff and volunteers should not normally transport children in their own vehicles.

If exceptional circumstances require transport:

• Parental or carer permission must be obtained.

• Appropriate insurance must be in place.

• Wherever possible another responsible adult should also be present.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

Information relating to children, families, volunteers and staff must be treated confidentially.

Personal information must:

• Only be shared on a need-to-know basis.

• Be handled in accordance with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation.

• Never be discussed in public places.

• Never be shared on personal social media.

SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS

Any concern relating to the welfare of a child or vulnerable person must be reported immediately using Starmaker Theatre Company's Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Safeguarding Concern Reporting Procedure.

Staff and volunteers must never:

• Promise to keep safeguarding concerns secret.

• Attempt to investigate concerns themselves.

• Delay reporting concerns.

WHISTLEBLOWING

Concerns about the conduct of another adult, financial wrongdoing, health and safety issues, governance concerns or other serious misconduct should be reported in accordance with Starmaker Theatre Company's Whistleblowing Policy.

Anyone raising a genuine concern in good faith will be supported and protected in accordance with that policy.

INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY

Starmaker Theatre Company is committed to providing an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and free from discrimination.

Everyone working with the charity must:

• Treat all individuals fairly and with respect.

• Value diversity.

• Challenge discrimination where appropriate.

• Promote equal opportunities for all children and young people.

BREACHES OF THIS CODE

Failure to comply with this Code of Conduct may result in:

• Informal guidance or additional training.

• Formal disciplinary action.

• Suspension from duties while concerns are investigated.

• Removal from activities.

• Termination of employment, freelance engagement or volunteering.

• Referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), police, local authority or other statutory agencies where appropriate.

REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed every three years or sooner if required due to changes in legislation, guidance or the charity's operations.

Approved by: Board of Trustees  July 2026
Review Frequency: Every three years.