Vetting and Barring scheme halted

16 June 2010

The Little Theatre Guild (LTG) welcomes the government announcement, made on 15 June, that the Vetting and Barring scheme has been halted, so that the coalition government can review and remodel the scheme. The LTG has been a critic of the scheme because it has lead to member theatres ceasing to use children in their productions.

The LTG has a long history of youth groups and working with children in their productions, but the Vetting and Barring scheme was seen by some members as a step too far.  LTG Chairman, Eddie Redfern, commented “ The coalition government has recognised that for the voluntary sector the VBS is doing more harm than good and preventing youngsters following their ambitions either in sport or the performing arts because of the draconian measures placed upon volunteer organisations.

We welcome the immediate halting of the VBS and look forward to a return to a sensible approach, where voluntary organisations will be  able  to encourage youngsters in their chosen hobby, without ludicrous and ill thought out policies. Our member theatres take the safety and security of youngsters taking part in Youth Workshop or productions seriously and have well established child protection procedures in place which was recognised by the Sarah Thane review that was published earlier this year.”

Notes to editors:

• The LTG, established in 1946, has a membership of 104 amateur theatres across the UK that range from 64 to 500 seat auditoria, presenting over 850 productions to an audience of over 650,000 patrons each year.

• LTG membership requires the theatre to own or ease their premises and thus run the theatre

• The LTG Patron, Sir Ian McKellen, recently appeared on Panorama to lobby against the strictures of the VBS, when member theatres were saying they will stop using children in productions

For more information contact:
PRO: Michael Shipley, tel 01204 304103
Chairman: Eddie Redfern,  tel 01342 712862

www.littletheatreguild.org