We recognize that:

• The welfare and safety of visitors is paramount
• All young visitors, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Working in partnership with agencies and charities is essential in promoting visitor’s welfare.

The purpose of this policy is:

• To provide protection for visitors who attend RetroCon, including the children of adult members.
• To provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt if they suspect a visitor may be experiencing, or may be at risk of, harm.
• This policy applies to all staff, including Directors, paid staff, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of the show or Oakham Group Ltd.

We will seek to safeguard young people by:

• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
• Adopting protection guidelines through procedures and a code of behavior for staff and volunteers.
• Sharing information about protection and good practice with young people, parents, staff and volunteers.
• Sharing information and concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.

We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

Code of behaviour for adults working – This outlines the behaviour expected of staff and the volunteers who engage with visitors at the event exhibition and its activities.

Purpose:

This code has been developed to provide advice which will not only help to protect visitors but will also help identify any practices which could be mistakenly interpreted and perhaps lead to false allegations of abuse being made against individuals.

Following this good practice guide will also help to protect the show by reducing the possibility of anyone using their role within the organisation to gain access to children to abuse them..

All members of staff and volunteers are expected to report any breaches of this code to a senior director of Oakham Group Ltd.

Any breach of this code involving a member of staff or volunteer may result in them being asked to leave the event immediately. Serious breaches of this code may also result in a referral being made to a statutory agency such as the police.

When working with children and young people it is important to:

• Always follow the organisers child protection policy
• Always listen and respect children and young people.
• Always avoid favoritism
• Treat children and young people fairly and without prejudice
• Value and take children’s contributions seriously
• Always ensure equipment is used appropriately and for the purpose it was designed for
• Follow the ICT safety policy and report any breaches
• Provide examples of good conduct you wish others to follow
• Challenge unacceptable behavior and report all allegations/suspicions of abuse

Do’s

• Bring a refillable water bottle: you’ll be on your feet and moving about for most of the day, sometimes even waiting in line. Stay hydrated and take advantage of the refill fountains throughout the venue.
• May can be hot: So, if travelling to show and walking in the sun make sure you have sunblock.
• Bring snacks: considering how often you’ll be waiting in line to get into exclusive panels and screening, you do not want to waste time waiting in line to buy food. Pack some healthy snacks to munch on during the wait times instead.
• Bring an extra bag within your bag: between the amazing merch that you can buy and the freebies given out, you’ll probably walk away from RetroCon with more than your backpack can carry. We recommend stashing a canvas bag within your main backpack that you can pull out when you’re running out of space. We don’t do plastic bags!
• Bring a Sharpie and a notebook: what if you run into your childhood hero but don’t have anything with which they can give you an autograph?iwine2024
• Battery packs: don’t get stuck with a dead phone.
• Cash: though lots of vendors will accept card payments, cash is welcome everywhere and in many stands is the only currency accepted. There are cash machines in the venue.

 
Don’ts

RetroCon is committed to supporting the best of Retro Popculture. As such, the sales of unofficial items are not welcome. Our staff will walk the exhibit hall periodically throughout the weekend and should either request any item be removed because of a violation of this policy, such products must be immediately removed from display and sold no further. Exhibitors with larger or repeated violations risk being removed from the event without refund, restricted from future events, and in some cases, criminal fines and prosecution.

No Bootlegs

All merchandise for sale in the exhibit hall must be officially licensed products. You cannot sell unofficial, unlicensed, or bootleg products. This includes but is not limited to…

• Blu-rays and DVDs
• Posters and Wall coverings
• Toys
• Costumes and merchandise
• Jewellery and Accessories