Safeguarding

Hinde Street Church is a multifunctional space with lots of different user groups. This may create risks for vulnerable users. It is your responsibility, as a hiring body, to ensure that children and adults who may be vulnerable are protected at all times, by taking reasonable steps to prevent injury, illness, loss or damage occurring, and to carry full liability insurance for this. In the case of church hires, this includes the supervision of children in the gallery.

If you are hiring rooms at Hinde Street Methodist Church for an event or meeting in which children are involved you must provide us with you own Safeguarding Policy and also comply with the Hinde Street Methodist Church Safeguarding Policy.

We do not hire downstairs rooms to groups in which children are present when there are other adult groups using the building. This is to ensure that children are effectively safeguarded. However, you remain responsible for those in your care.

Children under 10 yrs are not allowed in the balcony, and children between 10 yrs and 16 yrs must be accompanied in the balcony.

The church only controls access to the building through the 19 Thayer Street entrance and by admitting those who use the lift.

Children must be supervised at all times by a parent or teacher, including visits to the toilet.

Health & Safety

Large groups hiring the space MUST complete their own H&S/Fire Risk Assessments for their own activity. We will also ask groups hiring the church to complete our Risk Assessment Proforma which will provide us with the additional required information.

To ensure the safety of everyone who uses our venue, it is important that all attendees at your groups whether new, visiting or regular, follow the Fire Evacuation Procedures.

For this reason we ask that at the beginning of each meeting you ensure all those attending are aware of the Fire Action notices distributed around the building as well as the Fire Exit signs.

In the event of the Fire Alarm Sounding, do not ignore it. Clients should immediately:

Leave the building in an orderly fashion as quickly as possible. Do not stop to pick up your belongings. Do not run. Do not use the lifts.
Go directly to the Assembly Point located in Manchester Square as pictured on the Fire Action Notices.
As leader, when you arrive at Manchester Square, tell the Fire Marshal if all the members of your group are safely out of the building. Give names and numbers of those who you are not sure about.
Do not re-enter the building until the “All Clear” is given by the Fire Marshal.