Under-18 safeguarding policy

Gigz Hub ("we", "us") operates gigzhub.je, an online directory that lists musicians, bands and performers in Jersey and the events they play.

We are a directory only. We are not a booking agent, promoter, manager, employer or event organiser. We do not arrange, supervise, host, transport or attend gigs.

This policy explains how we handle listings for musicians under 18 ("young performers") and what we expect from parents and guardians, venues, and anyone who uses the site.

We believe children and young people should be able to share their music safely. We will:

• only list a young performer with the verified consent of a parent or legal guardian;
• limit the personal information we publish about young performers;
• not allow anyone to contact a young performer directly through the site;
• act promptly on any concern or complaint, and cooperate with Jersey authorities where required.

We recognise the principles of Jersey's safeguarding framework, including the Children and Young People (Jersey) Law 2022, the Children (Jersey) Law 2002, the Sexual Offences (Jersey) Law 2018 (including the offences relating to positions of trust and indecent images of children), the Protection of Children (Jersey) Law 1994, the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018, and the guidance of the Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

Gigz Hub is responsible for:

• operating the consent and verification process in section 4;
• publishing only the information permitted in section 5;
• handling concerns, reports and takedown requests under section 8;
• appointing a Designated Safeguarding Contact (section 9).

Parents and guardians are responsible for:

• the decision to list their child and the accuracy of everything submitted;
• supervising their child at, and travelling to and from, every gig, unless they have made other written arrangements with a responsible adult they trust;
• agreeing the performance details (time, finish time, location, other acts, alcohol and late-night environment) with the venue or organiser before accepting any booking;
• checking the venue's suitability, including its licensing conditions on under-18s;
• checking school-night, working-hours and any performance-licensing rules that may apply to children performing in Jersey.

Venues and organisers are responsible for:

• the safety and welfare of every young performer while on their premises or at their event;
• complying with their licence conditions and Jersey law on under-18s on licensed premises;
• having their own safeguarding arrangements, including a named responsible person, appropriate supervision, a safe changing or waiting area, and a way to raise concerns;
• ensuring that staff, volunteers and others in contact with young performers are suitably vetted where appropriate, for example through Disclosure and Barring Service Jersey checks for regulated activity;
• never arranging for a young performer to be alone with an adult unsupervised, and never supplying alcohol or other prohibited substances to anyone under 18.

Because we are a directory, Gigz Hub does not supervise, vet or control venues, organisers or the events themselves, and does not take responsibility for what happens at a gig. Everyone using the site must make their own checks.

Parent or guardian creates or approves the listing. A young performer's profile can only be created or managed through a parent or guardian. Under-18 acts register through our separate under-18 registration: a parent or guardian reads this policy, records each member's first name and date of birth, adds their own contact details and holds the account. They then upload a signed consent form for each young performer and photo ID for the performer and for themselves. Once we have checked the documents we email a confirmation link to the account email; only then can the profile be completed and sent for approval, and it stays unpublished until approved. If you need help, contact us at enquiries@gigzhub.je and we will take you through the consent process.

Written consent. The parent or guardian confirms, in writing or by online form, that they have parental responsibility, consent to the listing and the information published, understand that Gigz Hub is a directory only, and accept the responsibilities in section 3.

Age and identity check. We ask for photo ID for each young performer and for the parent or guardian. Files are stored privately and can be opened only by the Gigz Hub team. ID copies are permanently deleted as soon as they have been checked — we keep only the date of the check. Signed consent forms are kept while the listing is active.

Separate consent for photos, video and audio. Images and recordings of a young performer are published only with specific consent for each.

How long consent lasts. Consent remains in place while the performer is under 18, provided the original consent remains valid and has not been withdrawn. Gigz Hub may request updated consent where circumstances change, including changes to the information published, permissions granted or parental/guardian arrangements.

Withdrawal. Parents/guardians and young performers may withdraw consent at any time; see section 8.

Turning 18. We record each member's date of birth so that, once every member of the act is 18, the profile automatically becomes a standard musician profile and the Under 18 badge is removed. When a performer turns 18, they will be asked to confirm whether they wish to continue their listing and take control of their own profile. Parental/guardian contact details will be reviewed and removed where no longer necessary.

We may refuse or remove any listing without giving a reason if we have safeguarding concerns.

We may publish, with consent: stage or band name, genre, a short bio, approved photos and recordings, and a general indication of the performer's age band, for example "Under 18: parent or guardian contact only".

We will not publish: home address, school, date of birth, personal phone number or email, personal social media handles, live location, or any information that could identify where a child will be at a given time beyond the public event details the parent or guardian has chosen to share.

Contact. Enquiries about a young performer are sent only to the parent or guardian contact, through a site contact form or a parent or guardian-controlled address. The site does not allow direct messaging to a young performer.

Images. No images in which a child could be considered to be in a state of undress, or in a sexualised or inappropriate setting or pose, will be accepted. Uploaded images may be reviewed and removed.

Venues and organisers who list events featuring young performers, or who contact a young performer's parent or guardian through the site, must confirm that they:

• have read this policy and accept the responsibilities in section 3;
• will comply with licensing and other Jersey law relating to under-18s;
• will agree all arrangements directly with the parent or guardian;
• will not contact a young performer privately or outside the parent or guardian's knowledge.

We may remove any venue or organiser from the directory if we receive a credible safeguarding concern, whether or not it is proven.

Users of gigzhub.je must not:

• contact or attempt to contact a young performer directly, bypassing the parent or guardian;
• request or share personal, private or sexual content involving anyone under 18;
• comment on, tag or share young performers' profiles in ways that expose personal information;
• use the site to groom, exploit or harass any person.

Breach of this section may lead to account removal and referral to the police or Children's Services.

Anyone can report a concern to us at enquiries@gigzhub.je. We aim to acknowledge within 24 hours and act on serious concerns immediately.

Takedown requests. A parent or guardian, or the performer, can ask us to remove or edit a listing at any time. We aim to do so within 24 hours of a verified request.

If a child is at immediate risk, call 999. Do not wait for us.

Other concerns about a child's welfare should be reported directly to the statutory services:

• Police: 999 in an emergency, or 01534 612612 for non-emergencies.
• Children and Families Hub: 01534 519000 or childrenandfamilieshub@gov.je, open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 4.30pm on Friday. Concerns passed to them are assessed by the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub.
• Concerns about an adult working with children can also be raised with the Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board or Jersey DBS.

Where we receive a safeguarding report, we will record it, take steps to prevent further harm (including removing content), and share information with the police or Children's Services where we think it appropriate or are required to by law. We are not an investigative body and will not investigate allegations ourselves.

Our Designated Safeguarding Contact is the Gigz Hub team, reachable at enquiries@gigzhub.je.

They are responsible for receiving concerns, keeping confidential records, making referrals, and reviewing this policy annually. They complete safeguarding awareness training, which is offered locally in Jersey.

We process information about young performers and their parents and guardians in line with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018 and our Privacy Policy. We collect only what we need, keep it only as long as needed, keep verification documents secure, and delete them once verification is complete. Parents and guardians can ask to see, correct or erase their child's information. Where we rely on consent, it can be withdrawn at any time. Concerns can be raised with us or with the Jersey Office of the Information Commissioner.

Gigz Hub is an information service. We do not employ, manage or represent performers and are not a party to any arrangement between performers, parents and guardians, and venues or organisers.

To the fullest extent permitted by Jersey law, we are not responsible for the conduct of venues, organisers, audiences or other users, or for events that occur at or on the way to or from a gig.

Nothing in this policy or our terms excludes or limits liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including for death or personal injury caused by our own negligence, or for fraud.

Our Terms and Conditions should be read alongside this policy.

We will take reasonable steps to follow this policy, but we cannot guarantee the safety of any individual at any event.

This policy is reviewed at least once a year, and after any safeguarding incident or change in Jersey law or guidance.