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A Policy on Safeguarding and its relations to Trooping for the 501st Legion Causeway Garrison and the Rebel Legion Causeway Base, collectively known as Causeway Legions. Part 1: Trooping Policy Part 2: Safeguarding Statement Part 3: Public Liability Commitment Part 1: Trooping Policy 1.1 General (1) (a) All those intending to troop a given event must register in the appropriate manner in the forum located at www.causewaylegions.com/forums/index.php?/calendar/ (b) The sign up will be used to inform variously personal and/or detachment troop counts, the event organiser of numbers to expect, the Clubs as to activity levels among members, and the responsible person in the Clubs as to the viability of our attendance. Therefore it is vital that members continue to utilise the correct sign up method. (c) Signing up for any troop, whether with a costume, as crew, or in any other role or capacity, demonstrates an acceptance of the terms of this policy and an agreement to observe them, as well as acceptance of and agreement to any limitations of the event. (2) The following section necessarily makes repeated reference to those things which troopers should not do, subject to certain exceptions. This is simply to ensure the safety, comfort and security of both troopers and the public and not to attempt to stifle interaction or fun! (3) Strive to remain in character as far as possible within reason. Troopers should refrain from removing their helmets/masks or raising their faceplates within public view. Alien characters should refrain from removing their 'heads' or 'hands' or speaking English unless they do so within the Canon. If suffering from a costume malfunction or comfort issue, then try and head back to the changing area or (in a pinch) find a secluded area out of the public eye to rectify. Health and Safety comes above all, and so should a trooper feel unwell or urgently needs to break character they must alert a crew member immediately. (4) Know your limits. Stay hydrated and comfortable. If you start to feel yourself overheating or feeling light headed, inform a crew member immediately and return to the changing area to recover. (5) If a member of the public engages in conversation and shows interest - perhaps as a potential charity partner, event host or even new recruit - direct them to speak to a crew member (if possible). They are much easier to communicate with face to face, as opposed to through a helmet, and will also not upset any other members of the public who may want a photo with the trooper. If crew is unavailable, try and be brief but informative. Direct them to our website or social media for more details on us. (6) Please be aware of your decorum in public. Avoid rude gestures, body language. Do not swear or make offensive or inflammatory jokes or comments. (7) Do not force or encourage the public to do anything against their will. For example, many want to be 'arrested' but this does not mean they want the full experience. Do not force them to their knees, even if others have previously done so. Many people may have unseen physical ailments which limit mobility. Others may not wish to be embarrassed. If someone is reluctant to play along do not push them to. (8) Many children (and even some adults) are uncomfortable around masked characters and people in full costume. Respect their wishes and walk away if they start showing signs of extreme discomfort or anxiety. Even if the child’s parents think it funny, just defuse the situation by giving them some space. (9) Be aware of appropriate physical contact with the public. High fives and fist bumps are encouraged! Head patting, hair tussling, hugging, tickling, grabbing (even in mock action poses) are less so. If a young child hugs you, by all means let them, but do not reciprocate. Do not hug back. (10) Above all, use common sense. If trooping near a road, don't become a distraction for drivers. Don't put yourself or others in scenarios that may cause injury or damage to property. (11) We are a totally apolitical group - we do not and cannot promote any agendas no matter their source, be they political parties, churches, etc - so please refrain from posing with flags/placards/slogans promoting such entities. (12) Remember that we are a family friendly group, so we should not be seen in certain locales- bars, clubs, retailers of adult materials etc. 1.2 WEAPONS POLICY (1) Do not use threatening actions while 'armed' with any prop weapon. (2) Refrain from pointing blasters at people, cars, etc. When carrying a blaster, best practice is to treat it as if it were a real firearm - keep the muzzle pointed downwards or straight up and keep your finger off the trigger. Some events will request no weapons. In these cases their wishes must be observed and weapon props left behind. Action poses for photos are fine, but try to point the weapon off camera/slightly downward. For arrest poses that the public has requested, aim weapons to the ground, or adopt an alternative stance – such as the 'stand at attention' pose-weapon held across the chest, muzzle upwards. (3) Melee weapons like lightsabers, spears, force pikes are also to be handled responsibly. 'Bladed' weapons should not be held to throats. It is discouraged that prop weapons, whether blasters or sabers etc are handed to the public for photo ops. Once that is done, physical control of the prop is lost. In the hands of a young, excitable child (or an unthinking adult) a prop weapon can become a blunt weapon and cause real damage or injury to our members, the public and property. Part 2: Safeguarding Statement (1) This policy is for the 501st Causeway Garrison & Rebel Legion Causeway Base (herein referred to as “the club(s)”) (2) As defined by the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, for the purposes of this policy anyone under the age of 18 should be considered as a child. In this document and in day to day communications the terms ‘children’ and ‘young people’ are both used, recognising that older teenagers may prefer not to be referred to as ‘children’ although they are still children in the eyes of the law. (3) ‘Vulnerable adults’ and ‘vulnerable persons’ for the purposes of this policy are those to whom the relevant provisions of The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 apply. (4) The Clubs are committed to safeguarding, from physical, sexual or emotional harm, neglect or bullying, children taking part in its activities. We recognise that the safety, welfare and needs of the child are paramount and that all children, irrespective of age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual or gender identity, community background or social status, have a right to protection from discrimination and abuse. The Club takes all reasonable steps to ensure that, through appropriate procedures, children participating in activities organised by the Club do so in a safe and enjoyable environment. (5) The Club actively seeks to: a) Create a safe and welcoming environment. b) Treat all children with respect and celebrate their achievements. c) Promote zero-tolerance of harm to all children and adults from abuse, exploitation or neglect. d) Promote a culture of safeguarding via proper command of code of conduct required from all members. e) Ensure all members of the clubs are required to adhere to the policy. (6) The Clubs: a) Recognise that safeguarding children is the responsibility of everyone, not just those who work with children. b) Respond swiftly and appropriately to all complaints and concerns about poor practice or suspected or actual child abuse. c) Regularly review safeguarding procedures and practices in the light of experience or to take account of legislative, social or technological changes. d) Communicate changes and shares good practice with its members. e) Ensure that all Club Members, Crew and elected are aware of the policy and how it applies to them. (7) While Access NI is not a mandatory requirement of our members, where it is required for specific events, the Clubs will ensure only members with Access NI clearance will be in attendance. Any member wishing to gain Access NI clearance must do so at their own cost, as finances are not provided through our not-for-profit nature. Details for Access NI are provided to our Members. (8) We do work for many charities all across the globe and have the reputation of the World Wide Legion (501st Legion (www.501st.com) and Rebel Legion (www.rebellegion.com), Star Wars™, Lucasfilm™ and Disney™ to protect and therefore we do monitor our members closely and act on any and every suspicion that's raised within the boundaries of local laws and our own operational protocol and take corrective action, both pro-actively and re-actively when we are notified of possible issues. Part 3: Public Liability Commitment (1) Recognising a growing requirement for Public Liability Insurance (PLI), the Clubs undertook to acquire such, to better protect the Clubs, our members, and the event organisers for whom we appear in the event of accidental injury or damage. (2) While we do not forbid our members taking part in activities subject to provisions above and any overriding provisions made by Lucasfilm™, Disney™, the 501st Legion and/or Rebel Legion, we direct the attention of those members filling ‘command’ roles to the list of activities exempted from insurance coverage in any PLI policy acquired, and the enhanced exposure which is their corollary, that is that participation in those activities is at the risk of the members involved and the Clubs.