We all want children and young people to enjoy taking part in activities in a safe environment. The new Protection of Children (Scotland) Act, or PoCSA for short, has this principle at its core. However the implementation of the Act places extra burdens on individuals and organisations who create cultural opportunities for children and young people. To help local arts groups understand the issues that may affect their organisation, Voluntary Arts Scotland is running four free networking events at venues across Scotland. The meetings will look at:

1. Child protection in general

2. What organisations need to know about the new Act

3. How to obtain Disclosure checks for people working with children, paid or unpaid.

This will be an ideal opportunity for people to come together to talk about ways they can keep children safe, and how to make it easier for volunteers, paid workers and organisations to fulfill their legal obligations.

Date: Wednesday 1st June 2005, 6.30pm for 7pm.
Venue: City Arts Centre, Market Street, Edinburgh

Date: Tuesday 7th June 2005, 6.30pm for 7pm
Venue: Highland Hospice Lecture Theatre, Bishop’s Road, Inverness

Date: Wednesday 8th June 2005, 1.30pm for 2pm
Venue: Aberdeen Arts Centre, King Street, Aberdeen

Date: Wednesday 22nd June 2005, 6.30pm for 7pm
Venue: St Mungo Museum, Castle Street, Glasgow

Cost: Free

Booking: Kelly Donaldson, Voluntary Arts Scotland, 0131 313 2555 / info@vascotland.org.uk

Voluntary Arts Scotland is part of the Voluntary Arts Network (VAN) whose aim is ‘to promote participation in the 'arts & crafts’ and to bring together the voluntary arts and crafts.