Events & festivals – safeguarding advice for organisers
Running events can present a variety of additional safeguarding challenges. Considerations need to be made about issues including security and photography – this is even more important if the event is in a public space and the general public may be in the area.
Anyone responsible for planning and running events, in particular for children and/or in public spaces such as fields, parks and other areas that are open to the general public, must take steps to identify and address potential safeguarding issues.
Greater Manchester Police provide lots of advice about organising public events and the potential costs on their website at www.gmp.police.uk
Manchester City Council advice about organising events can be found on their website at www.manchester.gov.uk – this includes how to apply for licences or request a street closure.
More information on events can be found on our voluntary sector & faith groups resource.
Information about licensing, including under 18’s events, can be found in our licensing resource.
Organisers should also ensure they have the correct insurance in place – a useful guide to the types of insurance required can be found on websites such as  www.insure-our-event.co.uk (please note the MSB does not endorse any specific insurance provider).
Further advice
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit has some excellent resources on their website at thecpsu.org.uk
Health and Safety Executive
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has a dedicated section on their website to help event organisers run events safely. This is a world class resource with step-by-step guides; downloadable documents like the purple and green guides; and links through to relevant external bodies and organisations – visit their website at www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety for more information.
The Purple Guide is an event safety guide has been written by The Events Industry Forum in consultation with the events industry. Its aim is to help those event organisers who manage health and safety, particularly at large-scale music and similar events and can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk
The Green Guide is specific to safety at sporting events and managing crowds safely. It also provides information on ground management, technical specialists and all relevant authorities and can be found on their website at www.safetyatsportsgrounds.org.uk
The government also provides some useful advice for organisers of voluntary events on their website www.gov.uk.
The Federation of Festivals has some useful information on its website at www.federationoffestivals.org.uk.
Under 18’s events
Please read this advice before you agree to host any event as failure to comply could impact on your licence. If in any doubt visit the Manchester City Council Licensing pages on their website at www.manchester.gov.uk/licensing
