BBE Announces BandSafe Dates with New Safeguarding Manager
- Liv Appleton
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
Brass Bands England have announced the appointment of their new Safeguarding Manager, Neil Roberts, who will be delivering the next round of BandSafe training. This crucial, in-depth training is ideal for your band's Safeguarding Officer and a requirement for accessing the BBE BOPA (Body of Persons Approval).
What is BandSafe?
BandSafe is an industry-leading selection of tools, training and resources to help bands to safeguard their members from harm. The programme is made up of several elements that bands can use:
BandSafe toolkit: This policy-writing self-assessment tool helps bands to write and understand their organisation's safeguarding policy and has been developed in partnership with the NSPCC
BandSafe training: A 3.5 hour workshop, also created in partnership with the NSPCC and is tailored to challenges bands or other voluntary music-making environments may face - this is a must for all safeguarding and welfare officers and those within bands who are involved in making safeguarding decisions
BBE-held BOPA: An online application process that will allow your band or music group to comply with Child Performance Licensing requirements, without getting swamped with unnecessary admin
BandSafe Resources: Designed to help bands with all aspects of policy-writing - they include helpful templates and comprehensive explanations of current legislative requirements
Who is the Safeguarding Manager at Brass Bands England?
Neil Roberts has joined the BBE team as the new Safeguarding Manager. Before taking up his position at Brass Bands England, Neil worked as a practitioner for a local authority, providing safeguarding training and advice to bands, competitions, schools, film and television productions, as well as performance organisations across the area. His role covered safeguarding and performance licencing.
Before that, Neil was a Primary School teacher, following several years of working as a journalist for the Daily Mirror. He brings within him a passion for protecting the safety and wellbeing of children, as well as vulnerable adults within the arts sector.
Although he wasn't a brass player before joining Brass Bands England, Neil soon joined a local band and is currently learning the tenor horn.
Speaking about his appointment, Neil said:
"Brass banding is a really important part of our heritage. I'm looking forward to making it as easy as possible for bands to welcome the next generation of players into a safe and supportive environment."
Visit the Brass Bands England website to book onto a BandSafe training course.
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