THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION YOUTH POLICY

Transcription

1 THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION YOUTH POLICY Version 1.0 August 2015

2 FOREWORD The purpose of the Youth Policy is to provide clear guidance to those Members of The Royal British Legion (TRBL), including Members of the Women s Section, responsible for the supervision and conduct of TRBL youth and youth related activities as to how they will execute those responsibilities. The simple aim of this Youth Policy is that by encouraging and supporting the development of Legion Youth Bands, Majorette Troupes and affiliation of Youth Organisations (especially Service Youth Organisations) to their local RBL Branches, TRBL will promote the aims and aspirations of TRBL and help to perpetuate the Act of Remembrance in future generations and promote an understanding of Remembrance in the Youth of the Nation John Crisford National Chairman

3 VERSION CONTROL DATE August 2015 VERSION 1.0 CHANGES Full document revision

4 CONTENTS Part Paragraph/Annex Page(s) PART PART PART PART 4 PART 5 PART 6 Introduction Aim Structure Responsibilities Role of the Membership Governance Administrator Primary tasks Role of the County/District Youth Officer C/DYO responsibilities Youth Affiliation Scheme Promotion of Awareness Youth Standard Bearers

5 PART 1 - INTRODUCTION 1.1. BACKGROUND Child Protection Legislation, if interpreted and applied correctly, requires voluntary organisations to expend substantial resources on controlling and supervising youth activities if undertaken on a regular basis. The Mission of The Royal British Legion is to be the No.1 provider of welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces community. As such the Legion cannot allocate resources in support of youth activities The Legion no longer makes provision for the existence of Branch Youth Sections, although we still have youth membership. Aware of the constant need to educate the youth of the Nation in the aims and aspirations of the Legion and the need to perpetuate the Act of Remembrance in future generations, the Legion encourages and supports a number of specific youth activities both inside and outside the charity Many Legion branches have successfully worked with local organisations in creating youth groups that meet the aims and aspirations of the Legion, however these must not be formal arrangements within the Branch structure to avoid expending Legion resources The objectives of the Royal Charter enable the Legion to promote the education and, where necessary, provide for the mental and emotional health of children of those who are eligible for Membership The Board of Trustees, being ever mindful of their responsibilities regarding the care and protection of children, have entrusted the maintenance and review of the Legion Youth Policy to the Membership Council in order to provide a structure and guidelines by which, and within which, those volunteers responsible for authorised Legion sponsored youth activities will operate AIMS The aim of this policy is to provide a framework that will perpetuate the Act of Remembrance in future generations of the Legion. To make this mission a reality, we will pursue three big goals for our youth engagement work: Connected: we will be always connected. We will enhance development impact on the ground already achieved through the collaboration of young leaders from across the United Kingdom. We will work in partnership Active: We will constantly improve our youth policy and practice through the specific and meaningful participation of young people to promote national awareness of four pillars of the Legion.

6 Sustained: we will increase support, commitment, and comradeship by harnessing the positive values and voices of the young people across the country STRUCTURE AND DEFINITIONS Organisation Diagram Membership Council County/District Membership Governance Administrator Licensed Band County/District Youth Officer Branch Affiliated Youth Organisations Youth Member Youth Standard Bearer Membership Council The Royal British Legion Membership Council is responsible for the review and maintenance of the Legion Youth Policy on behalf of the Board of Trustees. A champion is appointed from the Membership Council to promote the aims of the policy Counties/Districts Counties/Districts, through the County/District Committees and the appointment of a County Youth Officer, are responsible for the implementation of the Legion s Youth Policy within their boundaries and ensuring all Legion policies and procedures are met Membership Support Officer (MSO) The MSOs provide administrative support for Counties/Districts. Where a County/District does not have a County/District Youth Officer, the MSO covers the administrative duties of the County/District Youth Officer role.

7 Membership Governance Administrator (MGA) The MGA is a member of staff within the Membership Department responsible for coordinating all youth activities at National Level, monitoring procedures, advising County Youth Officers and liaison with external National Youth Organisations Licensed Bands - A Royal British Legion Licensed Youth Band is a legally and financially independent Band, Corps of Drums, Bugle Section, Marching Band, Majorette Troupe, Pipe Band, Bugler or Choir that has obtained a Licence to use the name of The Royal British Legion, and where at least 55% of members are under 18 years old. All rules and regulations relating to Legion Youth Bands are specified in the Legion Band Policy County/District Youth Officers (C/DYOs) C/DYOs are responsible to their County/District Committees for coordinating youth activities at County/District level, monitoring procedures through liaison with the MGA Youth Members (i.e. those between the age of 12 years old and 17 years old) - Children or young persons who wish to support the aims and aspirations of the Legion and take part in specific youth activities within TRBL Youth Standard Bearers see Part Affiliated Youth Organisations see Part Children - The legal definition of a child is everyone under the age of18 unless, under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier RESPONSIBILITY The Legion Youth Policy document should be read alongside Legion Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy and all staff and volunteers in the Legion who are directly or indirectly involved in any Legion youth activities should be fully aware of and comply with the rules and regulations of both documents It is the responsibility of County/District Committees to be aware of Legion s Youth Policy and Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy and to ensure that the provisions of these policies are rigorously applied when and where activities involving young people take place in their Counties/Districts. To this end they should appoint a C/DYO who will promote the aims of these policies at local level. The county is also required to encourage and support the work of the C/DYO and at the same time monitor all youth activities within the county This Youth Policy applies equally to children involved in any youth activities internal to the Legion, i.e. youth bands, majorette troupes, children or young persons in adult bands or youth events run by branches.

8 PART 2 ROLE OF THE MEMBERSHIP GOVERNANCE ADMINISTRATOR 2.1. The MGA is based at the Head Office of the Legion and is responsible for developing and delivering the Legion Youth Policy, advising on statutory practices related to Child Protection procedures, assisting C/DYOs and providing administrative support and encouragement for youth development Primary Tasks: To ensure that Government Child Protection Policy legislation is successfully implemented by the Membership of the Legion, providing support and guidance in conjunction with the Human Resources team To maintain and update the Legion Youth Policy publication To provide encouragement, advice, and support to Legion youth band formations and affiliated youth organisations within the guidelines provided by the Legion Youth Policy To liaise with the Director of Music and assist in providing Legion Bands with guidance and advice regarding the Legion s Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy To co-ordinate and organise Child Protection training for the staff and volunteers who are directly or indirectly involved in Legion Youth Activities in conjunction with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) To work with the appropriate internal departments to ensure the successful implementation of the Legion s Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy and related screening procedures To promote and encourage the affiliation of branches within the youth organisations in their local areas To promote and organise the National Youth Standard Bearers Competition To carry out other tasks as directed by the line manager.

9 .PART 3 ROLE OF THE COUNTY/DISTRICT YOUTH OFFICER 3.1. The C/DYO role is an integral part of the County structure. They may be invited to attend County Committee meetings in a non-executive capacity to report and inform on development and progress of youth activities and related matters within their geographical areas of responsibility C/DYOs are subject to the Legion s screening programme detailed within the Legion s Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy C/DYOs have the following responsibilities: To advise the County/District Committee and act as spokesperson on youth activities and related matters within the County/District, including the Legion s Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy and related Government legislation, under the direction of the MGA To be conversant with the Legion Band Policy, Youth Policy and Safeguarding & Protecting Children Policy To create and maintain a register of all youth band formations and affiliated youth organisations within the County/District To provide regular updates of the County/District register to the MGA To visit Legion Youth band formations to monitor routine, organisation, best practice and advise and report as necessary to the County/District Committee and the MGA To meet, discuss, liaise and work with other youth organisations where appropriate (including Local Authority Youth Services) to encourage affiliations with Royal British Legion branches To act as an information service to branches, clubs and bands on youth matters To act as Independent Listener for youth bands, majorette troupes and adult bands who have child members To assist the County/District Committee in the organisation of a Youth Standard Bearer Competition.

10 PART 4 YOUTH AFFILIATION SCHEME 4.1. OBJECTIVES The Affiliation of Legion branches with Youth Organisations, particularly Service Youth Organisations (e.g. Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force, and Air Training Corps) whose aims and objectives are similar to those of the Legion, should be actively encouraged The purpose of a Legion branch affiliating with a local youth organisation, or local Service Youth Organisations detachment, is to promote mutual support and encouragement to each others aims and objectives, within the local community Members of youth organisations affiliated to Legion branches are not permitted to wear a Youth Membership lapel badge unless they are fully paid up Youth Members of the Legion Members of uniformed youth organisations affiliated to Legion branches, whether they are Legion members or not, are allowed to wear a Youth Affiliated Unit Badge. It is emphasised that the wearing of the badge is not a requirement for Affiliation and it is totally at the discretion of the Youth Organisation as to whether their members should wear the badge The affiliation is for the mutual benefit of the Legion and the youth organisation. The youth organisation can help TRBL with such things as Poppy Appeal projects and similarly the Legion can help the youth organisation with fundraising Where assistance is given by a branch in fundraising for an affiliated youth organisation, it should not be done in the name of The Legion nor by using the Legion title, headed notepaper or accommodation Branches who assist affiliated youth organisations in fundraising must make it absolutely clear that the funds raised are for the youth organisation and not the Legion. Any money collected should not be put in or passed through branch accounts Where youth organisations, particularly Service Youth Organisations, have agreed to support a Legion fundraising campaign, the Area Manager and the County Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator, will organise the campaign at County level and liaise with the commanding officer/director (or equivalent) of the youth organisation 4.2. PROCEDURE The affiliation will be a formal process, controlled and monitored by Counties/Districts, through their C/DYOs (or MSOs where no C/DYO exists), and an affiliation register will be maintained at The Royal British Legion Head Office by the MGA After Branch Committee and officers of the youth organisation have agreed the terms of the affiliation, the Branch should inform their C/DYO (or MSO) about the agreement and the youth organisation should be seek approval from their appropriate person of authority.

11 Once approval has been gained, the C/DYO should provide the Branch and the youth organisation with two forms that need to be filled in and signed by the Branch Chairman, Branch Secretary, commanding officer/director (or equivalent) and secretary (or equivalent) of the youth organisation. The forms can be found in Annex A and B to this policy. The C/DYO will then forward the forms to the MGA who will approve and register the affiliation. The MGA will produce and send the affiliation certificates to the C/DYO or other suitable person nominated on the form (e.g. Branch Secretary). The branch should be informed that the certificates should be signed by both parties at a suitable (preferably formal) occasion MONITORING OF AFFILIATIONS C/DYOs (or MSOs) should check, on an annual basis, all affiliations to ensure both parties are achieving their aims and are willing to continue with the affiliation Any changes to the information given in the forms (Annex A and B), or if the affiliation is ended, should be reported to the MGA at Legion Head Office.

12 PART 5 PROMOTION OF AWARENESS 5.1. OBJECTIVES Part of the aim of the Legion Youth Policy is to promote, where there is a need, the education of children of those who are eligible for Membership and to implant in the Youth of the Nation an understanding of Remembrance To this end C/DYOs (or Membership Support Officers) should promote, within the Legion and affiliated youth organisations, the following: Travel and learn for schools Welfare Grants, where there is a need, for children and dependants of Members of the Legion. National Youth Standard Bearers Competition THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH (DofE) AWARD SCHEME The Legion cannot offer any structured programme meeting the criteria and specifications of the AAP licence required by the DofE organisation. However, if a young person completing the DofE scheme wishes to include their Legion activities in their DofE programme, they are allowed to do it as long as the AAP licensed organisation approves TRBL LEARNING PROGRAMME AND REMEBRANCE TRAVEL FOR SCHOOLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE TRBL is committed to helping young people understand the issues of Remembrance, conflict and the importance of peace. Its Learning Programme is designed to assist teachers to introduce these specific themes into the classroom. Although it primarily covers the History and Citizenship curricula, it can also be used to support literacy and aspects of Personal Social and Health Education and Religious Studies. More information on the Learning Programme and resources can be found on the Legion s website Remembrance Travel tours for Schools and Young People, along with The Royal British Legion s Learning programme, supports schools and young people as they start to understand and participate in Remembrance, and to learn about people whose lives are affected by conflict. Remembrance Travel Schools Department helps schools and young people visit the battlefields and historical sites as part of their curriculum studies. These tours are also ideal for members of youth organisations. The content of such visits/tours can be adjusted to reflect the Charter of the Organisation and to bring out characteristics associated with these youth organisations e.g. leadership, self confidence, map reading knowledge, public speaking, recital of poetry, etc. Guides are provided by Remembrance Travel and they liaise with the school/youth organisation well in advance to discuss the trip content. More information can be found on the Poppy Travel website WELFARE GRANTS Children or dependents (under 18 years of age) of Members of the Legion, or anyone eligible to join the Legion as a Member, could qualify for financial assistance from a Welfare Grant to assist with Educational projects (e.g. Financial assistance in paying

13 for their school uniform, assistance with the cost of an educational visit with youth organisations etc.). There must be a relief from need (as opposed to a want) for such grants Where C/DYOs (or Membership Support Officers) or Branches identify such need, then the normal procedure is to be followed in applying for such grants, through the Legion Welfare Grant system ANNUAL YOUTH STANDARD BEARERS COMPETITION This competition is open to all Royal British Legion Branch Youth Standard Bearers aged 14 to 17 years of age. Competitors must be 14 years or over but under 17 years on 1 st May of the competition year this should be verified prior to nominating a competitor To qualify for the competition the Standard Bearer must have attained the title of County and Regional Youth Standard Bearer, prior to taking part in the Annual National Final The winner of the competition will be the National Youth Standard Bearer for a period of one year or until the next competition is held. At the Annual Conference following the competition they will be presented with the National Youth Standard and a trophy by the National President. They will carry the National Youth Standard at National Royal British Legion events The runner-up in the competition will be the Assistant Youth Standard Bearer and will deputise for the National Youth Standard Bearer when they are unavailable.

14 PART 6 YOUTH STANDARD BEARERS 6.1. C/DYOs should encourage Royal British Legion Branches to have a Youth Standard Bearer (aged between 14 and 17 years of age). Although there are no Branch Youth Standards, a Branch may have a Youth Standard Bearer who will carry the Branch Standard either as a full time Standard Bearer or at specific youth activities where it is appropriate for the Standard to be carried Counties and Regions should have a Youth Standard Bearer selected from the Branch/County Youth Standard Bearers. County/District Youth Standard Bearers can carry the County/District Standards or County/District Youth Standards (if present) When carrying a Standard, Youth Standard Bearers should adhere to the dress code laid down in the Ceremonial Handbook More information on Standard Bearers can be found in the Ceremonial Handbook.

15 ANNEX A To be completed in block capitals AGREEMENT OF AFFILIATION Between (Branch Name) and (Youth Organisation Name Full Name) We, the undersigned, having a clear understanding and respect for the aims and objectives of each others respective organisations, do hereby agree to provide mutual support and encouragement within our community, and, when requested and practicable, do hereby agree to provide help and support in achieving those aims and objectives. BRANCH SIGNATORIES Branch Chairman Branch Vice-Chairman Other (please state) Branch Number: YOUTH ORGANISATION SIGNATORIES Chairman Commanding Officer Officer in Charge Scout Leader Headteacher Other (please state) Signed: Print Name: Signed: Print Name: Branch Secretary: Signed: Print Name: YO Secretary (or equivalent): Signed: Print Name: CERTIFICATES PLEASE SEND TO THE BELOW Name: Address: Post Code: Certificates will be provided by the MGA, Head Office Royal British Legion, on application by the County Youth Officer.

16 ANNEX B To be completed in block capitals NOTIFICATION OF AFFILIATION County: Name: Contact Number: (C/DYO/MSO) The Youth organisation wish to receive the following information: RBL Learning Packs Affiliated Unit Badges* Duke of Edinburgh Activities Legion Magazine RBL Youth Membership AFFILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN RBL Branch Youth Organisation Signed on: CONTACT DETAILS OF YOUTH ORGANISATION Contact Name: Position: Correspondence Address: Post Code: Telephone: Data Protection The Royal British Legion is registered under the Data Protection Act, registration Z Information on the use of personal data by The Royal British Legion is available from The Royal British Legion, Haig House, 199 Borough High Street, London SE1 1AA. PLEASE SEND TO: Membership Governance Administrator Haig House 199 Borough High Street London SE1 1AA FOR COMPLETION BY MGA Date Received: YA Number: * badges are 1 each, if you would like to order them, please enclose a cheque made payable to the Royal British Legion