Moth & Butterfly’s Child Safeguarding Statement

Name of service:
Moth and Butterfly

Nature of service provided:
Established in 2012, Moth & Butterfly (M&B) comprises monthly storytelling and improv
nights and an annual festival. While the regular events are for adult audiences, the annual
festival will include some events for children and young audiences. The festival takes place
in a number of venues in Galway City and county, as well as online events.
Moth & Butterfly is committed to a child-centred approach in our work for children and
young people.

Principles to safeguard children from harm:
Below are M&B principles and procedures which should be observed to ensure, as far as
possible, that a child is safe from harm while interacting with M&B:
• All M&B core team have undertaken Tusla online Child Protection Training –
Children First E-Learning.
• All child protection or welfare concerns will be reported to Tusla/Gardaí in a timely
manner.
• Children are always accompanied by a parent/guardian or teacher while at a M&B
event.
• A child in need of personal support because of illness, physical needs or any form of
distress, shall be referred in the first place to his/her parent/guardian or teacher. A
parent/guardian or teacher should inform a member of team if there are any specific
needs required during a child’s participation at a M&B event.

Risk Assessment:
We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our
services. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing
these risks.

Risk identified	Procedure in place to manage risk identified
1. Non-compliance with M&B’s Child Protection Policy	All team and volunteers are provided with the Child Protection Policy. Any breach of the Child Protection Policy will be reported to the Designated Liaison The Child Protection Policy is reviewed every 2 years.
2. Delay in making referrals to Tusla	All team and regular volunteers are trained and supported to ensure they can act promptly and not delay in contacting the Designated Liaison when they deem a referral may be required.
3. Receipt of complaint of alleged child abuse where a parent, guardian or teacher is the alleged perpetrator.	All team know the procedures to make a referral to the Designated Liaison Person or directly to Tusla .Internal disciplinary processes are in place where the issue concerns an employee.
4. Child makes a disclosure to a member of team	All team know the procedures to make a referral to the Designated Liaison Person or directly to Tusla.
5. A suspicion of child abuse is determined by a member of team.	All team know the procedures to make a referral to the Designated Liaison Person or directly to Tusla.

Procedures
Moth and Butterfly’s Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with
requirements under the Children First Act 2015, and the Children First: National Guidance,
and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to
the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to
safeguard children while they are availing of our services:
• Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against
workers/volunteers of a child availing of our services
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work
with children

• Procedure for provision of, and access to, child safeguarding training and information,
including the identification of the occurrence of harm
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla.
• Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are
‘Mandated Persons’ as defined under the Children First Act 2015
All procedures listed are available upon request.
Implementation
Moth and Butterfly recognises that implementation is an ongoing process. We are committed
to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support
our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service. This Statement
will be reviewed on 4th February 2023 or as soon as practicable after there has been a

material change in any matter to which the statement refers.
Signatories of this statement: Órla Mc Govern, Artistic Director & Chair of Committee,
Sorcha Keane, Festival Producer

Name and contact details:
Moth and Butterfly, mothandbutterflystories@gmail.com

For queries in relation to this Child Safeguarding Statement please contact Órla Mc Govern
Artistic Director, at the address above or email mothandbutterflystories@gmail.com