Members

INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS

Notices & Diary | Rehearsal Aids | Drinks Rota |

Message from Stephen (Christmas Concert)

Dear BDCS members, Congratulations on a fabulous concert last night. You made a lovely warm sound, and it was good to see such improvement in our presentation and ‘concert craft’. Thank you also for the lovely welcome you gave my choristers! They had a great time and enjoyed the chance to take part in a different sort of performance. I look forward to seeing you next year form Brahms’ wonderful Requiem. Do bring a friend along to see what it’s all about. All best, Stephen

General rehearsal aids

www.choralia.net
A website where you can hear synthesised voices singing individual voice parts (it is very easy to download the necessary bit of free software). You can choose which voice part you would like to be highlighted.
www.choraline.com
As a BDCS member you can get a 10% discount from Choraline by using the password BING.
New telephone number: 01285 644845
www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk
This is John Hooper’s website, where individual parts can be listened to free of charge.
www.johnfletchermusic.org Members direct access to Bingham Choral Home Page
The site holds rehearsal files allowing users to listen to their individual part, with the accompaniment in the background, either on its own or along with the other parts. The music can be listened to on line or downloaded as an mp3 file which allows user to vary playback speed and slow down fast, intricate parts.Most of the music we will be performing in the next 12 months can be found on the site.For access to the site the Society pays an annual subscription based on the number of registered users (40).

Useful learning aid for Chilcott’s Christmas Night

https://westlondonchorus.co.uk/chilcott-christmas-night-practice-tracks/

CONCERTS AND EVENTS 2024

Christmas Concert

7.30pm Saturday 14th December 2024, Bingham Methodist Centre. Tickets £12 adults, £2 under-16s.

CONCERTS AND EVENTS 2025) I

Spring Concert

7.30pm, Saturday 5th April, Bingham Parish Church. Brahms German Requiem

Summer Concert

Friday 13th June. Lunchtime concert, Southwell Minster. Time and programme to be announced.

Payments to BDCS

Electronic payments for membership payments and other items should be made to: Bingham and District Choral Society, sort code 30-90-89, Account no: 35138968. Please be sure your name is in the description field. It has been agreed at the AGM on 8th May 2024 that the membership fees will be increased to £130.00 per year for the 2024/25 season, to be paid at the beginning of the year (September 2024) or in two instalments of £65 in September and by the end of November. If paying by cheque, then please make cheques payable to Bingham & District Choral Society, and post your cheque to: The Treasurer, Hill House Cottage, Burgage Lane, Southwell, Nottingham. NG25 0ER.

Returning members with changes to their details (such as a change to contact details or gift aid circumstances), will need to complete a new membership form available on-line from our website www.binghamchoral.org.uk (select ‘members’ – ‘membership application form’), or by printing off an application form and sending the completed form to: J. Chapman, Membership Sec. BDCS,

27 Cropwell Road, Radcliffe on Trent, Nottingham NG12 2FQ. Payment should be made on-line, or by cheque, as described above.

The 100 club is a lottery that is open to BDCS members and their friends/family. Each member who wishes to take part pays £10 at the beginning of the year. Half the funds raised go to the choir and the other half is distributed to lucky members through six prize draws throughout the season. Do take part if you can. It’s fun and makes a real difference to the choir’s resources.

Click here for 100 club Application Form (2023-24)

DRINKS ROTA

We have now reintroduced break-time tea/coffee and biscuits for a donation of 40p. Please remember to bring your own cup

HELP WITH SETTING UP ON REHEARSAL NIGHTS

The current plan is that those members who turn up early can start putting out chairs if they wish to. Members arriving later who find they do not have a chair set up in their usual place will need to pick one up for themselves from a chair stack.

SAFEGUARDING: THE FOLLOWING POLICY HAS NOW BEEN ADOPTED BY BDCS

Commitment to safeguarding: Bingham & District Choral Society believes that a child, young person or adult at risk should never experience abuse of any kind. We recognise that we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk we come into contact with and to protecting them from harm.

About this policy

This policy applies to; all members, staff (whether employees or freelances), volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Bingham & District Choral Society or taking part in Bingham & District Choral Society activities.
The purpose of this policy is to provide members, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of all vulnerable people
This policy recognises vulnerable people as:

Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
Adults aged over 18 at risk as defined by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity. This policy also recognises risk is determined by the activity an adult is taking part in and not solely on the personal characteristics or circumstances of the adult, as such any adult can be at risk, and the risk can be temporary.

This policy aims to:

Protect children, young people and adults at risk who are; members of, receive services from, or volunteer for, Bingham & District Choral Society
Ensure members, staff and volunteers working with children, young people and adults at risk are carefully recruited and understand and accept responsibility for the safeguarding of those vulnerable individuals they are interacting with.
Ensure that safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk is a primary consideration when Bingham & District Choral Society undertakes any activity, event or project.

How Bingham & District Choral Society might work with vulnerable people: membership is open to those over 16 years of age. We run regular rehearsals for members and put on concerts for the general public. As such our involvement with vulnerable people might include, but is not limited to:

Members of the group who attend rehearsals and concerts
Relatives and friends of members who attend rehearsals and concerts in a volunteering capacity
Audience members at public concerts

Named safeguarding person: Deborah Porter has responsibility for safeguarding issues. All queries and concerns relating to safeguarding should be referred to Deborah Porter in the first instance.

Any projects, events or other activities that will involve vulnerable people must be planned with the involvement of Deborah Porter and in line with established procedures and ground rules (see below).

Procedures and ground rules: A further document – ‘Ground rules, ways of working and procedures’ is available and forms part of this policy.

Policy review: This policy will be reviewed and amended (if necessary) on an annual basis by the management committee. It will also be reviewed in response to changes in relevant legislation, good practice, or in response to an identified failing in its effectiveness.

Safeguarding policy – Bingham & District Choral Society – Ground rules, ways of working and procedures

This document forms part of the Bingham & District Choral Society Safeguarding policy

The policy applies to; all members, staff (whether employees or freelances), volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Bingham & District Choral Society or taking part in Bingham & District Choral Society
The purpose of this policy is to provide members, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of vulnerable people.
This policy recognises vulnerable people as:
- Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
- Adults aged over 18 at risk including those defined as vulnerable by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; this might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity.

This document includes:

Recruitment practices around safeguarding
Ground rules and ways for working regarding safeguarding of vulnerable people
Procedures for raising safeguarding concerns and incidents of abuse
Procedures for dealing with concerns and incident of abuse

Recruitment practices around safeguarding

If an existing or potential new member, staff member or volunteer will be working with vulnerable people as part of the Bingham & District Choral Society activities the appropriate level of DBS will be requested before that work is undertaken.

The level of DBS check required will be decided by the committee and in line with DBS rules regarding regulated activity. The results of any check to inform a decision will be used confidentially and in line with the Bingham & District Choral Society equal opportunities policy.

Ground rules and ways for working regarding safeguarding of vulnerable people

When Bingham & District Choral Society organises an activity or event where they will be responsible for vulnerable people they will ensure:

Planning is carried out in line with this policy and procedures.
The event is attended by an appropriate number of DBS checked adults – this will be a minimum of one but more when practically possible.
Where practically possible the total number of adults in attendance (not necessarily DBS checked) compared with the total number of children will be in line with the ratio table below – as per Ofsted recommendations.
There is a main contact for safeguarding on the day – this will be an individual who has been DBS checked.
The main contact has access to emergency contact details and other relevant details (e.g. information about picking up arrangements for vulnerable people).
That if vulnerable people of different gender will be taking part in activities adults of different gender will be in attendance too.
A vulnerable person is not be left alone with an adult, unless that adult is DBS checked and carrying out regulated activity.
Two adults (one DBS checked) should be the last to leave a venue once the activity has finished and will be responsible for ensuring vulnerable people get home safely.

Child to adult ratio table

Childs age	Number of adults	Number of children
0-2	1	3
2-3	1	4
4-8	1	6
9-12	1	8
12-18	1	10

Working with parents/guardians: If a vulnerable person wishes to take part in Bingham & District Choral Society activities, written permission (email is fine) should be obtained from parents/guardians where appropriate, and before the activity takes place. Written permission should include: emergency contact details of any relevant pick-up arrangements – including permission for another adult to pick up the vulnerable person after the activity has finished

Procedures for raising safeguarding concerns and incidents of abuse

If any member, staff or volunteer in Bingham & District Choral Society witnesses, suspects or is informed of a witnessed or suspected case of abuse they should immediately report it to the named safeguarding officer; Deborah Porter.
If the named person is not available, or is involved in or connected to, the abuse, it should be reported to the group chair (Christina Warrington) or a DBS checked adult:
If an individual wishes to report an incident of abuse against themselves they should report it to the named safeguarding officer or an individual they trust.

Procedures for dealing with concerns and incidents of abuse

The Named person (or person reported in their absence) will first make a decision based on the immediacy of the concern and the following two factors:

If the vulnerable person is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical attention – call the police and/or ambulance service.
If the person at the centre of the allegation is working with vulnerable persons at the current time – remove them, in a sensitive manner, from direct contact with vulnerable people and follow the procedures below.

If none of the above applies the named person will:

Make a note of the concerns reported to them.
Speak with committee members to decide how to handle the reported abuse. Excluding any committee members who of involved in the incident.
Escalate the report by either:
- Raising concerns with the police – for serious or possible criminal offences.
- Requesting an assessment by the local authority social care department about whether a vulnerable person is in need of protection.
- An internal investigation – for less serious incidents where they feel internal mediation will be successful.

Where cases are escalated the committee will cooperate with the police or local authority in dealing with the reported incident.

Where an internal investigation takes place the committee will:
- Inform all parties involved of the reported abuse as soon as possible.
- Inform the family/guardians of the person reported as being been abused of the incident.
- Arrange separate meetings with both parties within 10 days of the reported incident. A joint meeting may be arranged if appropriate.
  - Both parties should be given the change to bring a friend or representative to the meeting.
  - Meetings will be attended by the named safeguarding officer and at least one other committee member.
  - All parties will also be invited to submit a written statement in advance of the meeting.
- Once meetings have taken place the committee will decide on next steps and communicate them to all parties in writing within 5 days. They will be either:
  - Escalate the incident to the relevant authority.
  - Further investigation – with established procedures and timelines to work towards a resolution.
  - A decision or resolution.

Resolution and disciplinary action

If abuse is found to have taken place any final resolution or decision will be taken in the best interest of the person who has suffered the abuse and the best interests of the Bingham & District Choral Society
Any disciplinary action will be taken in line with the Bingham & District Choral Society

Adopted on …………………………………………

Signed (Chair) ………………………………………

To be reviewed on ……………………………………