Children in entertainment: Body of Persons Approval (BOPA)

A local authority can issue a Body of Persons Approval (BOPA) where large numbers of children are taking part in a performance. A BOPA is issued for performances which would normally come under the licensing regulations, as explained in The NNCEE what is child performance guidance.

Where performances are exempt from the licensing regulations, individual children may still need a performance licence due to the number of days they have previously performed.

The organiser is responsible for obtaining this information and applying for individual performance licences if they are required.

A BOPA will only be issued if the local authority is satisfied that the group has strict safeguarding policies in place.
 

Criteria

For us to grant a BOPA, you must demonstrate that your group/organisation has clear, strong, and well embedded safeguarding policies and arrangements in place that protect the children.

The organisation must have a regularly updated (every 12 months) child protection/safeguarding policy.
 

Your performance must meet the following criteria:

• any children taking part must not need to take any time out of school for rehearsals and/or performances
• any children, or people acting on their behalf, must not receive payment for their part in the production (other than reasonable expenses where applicable)

If any rehearsals or performances are due to take place in other counties, you must get approval from the other relevant local authorities.
 

We will ask you to agree to certain conditions, including:

• compliance with Regulation 11 and Regulation 15 to 29 of the children (performances and activities) (England) Regulations 2014
• ensuring an appropriate number of local-authority approved chaperones are engaged to care for the children and that they are always supervised
• ensuring suitable arrangements for first aid
• a risk assessment must be conducted in respect of each place of performance
• maintaining detailed and complete records of children involved in the group, including emergency contact details, any medical issues, and details of any additional or special needs
• telling us the number and gender of the children taking part
• obtaining a signed statement of fitness from the parent of each child
• ensure a designated safeguarding lead has been trained within the last 2 years

Who should apply

The organisation responsible for putting on the performance, and for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children taking part, must apply.

Any type of organisation can apply. It does not matter if they are:

• a professional company
• an amateur group
• stage
• broadcast

The application must be completed by the chair or leader of the organisation and supported by another adult member of the group / organisation. If the chair/leader (or other adult on the application form) changes during the period that the licence is valid, you must tell us as soon as possible.

You cannot apply as an individuals acting on your own behalf.

Apply

Applications need to be completed in full at least 21 days before any performance takes place. This gives us sufficient time to conduct appropriate checks and ensure there are sufficient safeguarding and risk assessments in place.

The Body of Persons Approval application form [19KB]  provides us with all relevant information about your organisation.

The group participant information document [17KB]  and  list of children excel spreadsheet [8KB]  provide information about the performance, children, and chaperones as well as details of children taking part.

The parent of each child should complete a statement of fitness [15KB] . The organisation should keep the completed form for use by the responsible person. You do not need to send these forms to us, but it ensures you have a record from the parents of any health issues regarding the children who are performing.

To complete your full application, you must send us the following information:

• a fully completed Body of Persons Application form
• a copy of the organisations safeguarding/child protection policy and procedures
• a comprehensive risk assessment for the production taking place
• a list of all children taking part in the performance (on the Excel spreadsheet above)
• a list of the named chaperones who will be chaperoning children
• designated safeguarding lead certificate in safeguarding
   

After you have applied

If a child who is covered by a BOPA no longer meets the criteria

On occasion, there may be a child taking part in your production or performance that no longer meets the criteria for being covered by a BOPA (see above).

This may include (but is not limited to) instances where:

1. a child is required to take time away from school for a rehearsal or performance
2. a child has been involved in more than four paid performances within the last six months

The organisation must have a completed child safeguarding policy and provide a copy with their application.

In the instances listed above, the child may need to have a performance license for the production. The organiser is responsible for obtaining this information and applying for individual performance licences if they are required.

How long a BOPA lasts

Typically, we will grant organisations a Body of Persons exemption for 6 months. This may vary depending on the organisation. If the organisation does not meet the criteria, Body of Persons exemption may be granted on a pre-production basis.

Revoking a BOPA

The council have the authority to revoke any Body of Persons licence if an organisation does not comply with the Body of Persons Contract.