Staying safe online
Because this is a new way of working we have thought carefully about a new set of guidelines / ground rules to make sure these online spaces are just as safe as the physical spaces where we normally meet.
This is all new to us – so if you have any thoughts, worries or ideas please get in touch so we can work this out together!
Also click here to see our full safeguarding policy and guidelines.
The challenges
Collaborating online will be harder than working face-to-face. Georgia told me that when she has used Skype before to connect with friends if there are too many people everyone just talks over each other and quieter people don’t get heard.
We will all have to be (even more!) disciplined when connecting online to make sure everyone gets a say.
We will start with smaller group sizes and shorter sessions to gather information about what works and what is difficult.
This will only work if people keep to their time slots. Again, more discipline!
We are refining our rules for how our staff and freelancers can connect with young people online. We don’t want you to have bad experiences on there through having learned about it with us. So we have come up with some guidelines which we hope will prevent that.
The Guidelines for young people
Signing up:
- You must be signed up by a parent / guardian who has seen this page and spoken directly to Sophie.
Preparing to take part:
- Your parent / guardian will take time to think about what part of the their home can be seen through the webcam. Set it up so that as little can be seen as possible, with as neutral or blank a background as possible.
- In collaborative sessions this view will be visible to other participants who you don’t know very well.
- Make sure your household know you don’t want to be disturbed – anyone interrupting will also be visible to other participants. Your siblings need to stay out of shot unless they are signing up for the project, because we don’t have legal consent to show their image.
- Check the session plan in advance for any online tools you need – you may need to sign up in advance. Ring Sophie if you need support to do this…
During sessions:
- When you take part in sessions, there must be a parent or nominated adult in the house.
- For under 13s – this adult must be in the room with you.
- When you ‘enter’ the session treat it like you are entering the normal physical space where we normally meet, i.e.:
- Dress appropriately (don’t wear your pyjamas!)
- Treat session leaders and other participants with respect
- Enjoy the activities, take part, encourage others
- You are a member of High Peak Community Arts and these sessions are our new project space.
- Recognise the differences between online connection and physical connection.
- Working together will take more effort than usual!
- Take time to listen to others
- If anything worries you about these connections please tell us straight away, or get your parent to phone Sophie afterwards.
After sessions:
- Tell us if you have any great ideas to make it better.
- Tell us or get a parent to ring Sophie, if anything worries you about what has happened online.
- If you plan to carry on a connection with another group member outside of the sessions, please let us know, and definitely tell a parent.