Home Welcome Worship History Community Friends Calendar Contact Groups Music Magazine Links Policy Location & Maps Towards Access for All The Disablllty Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) brought in measures to prevent public service providers (including churches) discriminating against people with disabilities. Since 1999 churches have had a duty to work towards making reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. During 2003, Elstow Abbey conducted an "access audit" and the PCC has made a considerable effort to improve access for people with disabilities. This has covered a number of aspects of disability rather than merely access to the church for wheel cahir users. We have tried to ensure there are no physical barriers which make it difficult for anyone with any sort of disability to access our buildings. our activities and our worship. Several improvements have been made recently. At EIstow Abbey, we have large print hymn books, a ramp, a new and improved loop hearing system, a new level path to the Church Hall, and a clearly marked entrance to the church for wheelchair users. The Protection of Children and Young People In May 2003, a statement was issued by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) concerning the care of any children who are involved in any way with Elstow Abbey. This statement is reproduced in full below. We the Parochial Church Council of Elstow Abbey recognise our responsibility to provide a safe environment for our children/young people and adopt this policy to: Protect all children/young people who are involved in any way in the life of our church from any form of abuse. Protect adults who come into contact with children/young people from circumstances which could increase the possibility of either abuse or allegations of abuse. Provide a framework of good practice for our work with children/young people. Policy Statement We accept the principles enshrined within the Children's Act (1989) and the House of Bishop's Policy Statement (1999) (+) We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, screening, appointment and support of those working with children/ young people either in a paid or unpaid capacity. Safety will be paramount when all parish activities involving children/young people are being planned. We will ensure that all paid staff and designated leaders have job descriptions which clearly set out any responsibilities for the protection of children and young people. We will introduce procedures intended to minimise the opportunity for any kind of abuse. We will ensure that both children and adults know what actions to take if there is an incident. suspicion or accusation of abuse. We will immediately refer any cases of allegations of child abuse to the appropriate authority. We will make no attempt to conduct any investigations ourselves. We will collaborate fully with statutory and voluntary agencies concerned with child abuse. All persons within the church who have contact with children and young people will be expected to comply with this policy and all associated procedures. We will undertake an annual review of this policy. (+)Copies of the House of Bishop's Policy Statement are kept in the Church Library at the back of the Church. First Aid First Aid kits are now provided in the following locations The back of the church The vestry The church hall kitchen The bell tower Accident Books are kept at the locations marked Music Copyright A song or hymn becomes public domain 70 years after the author's death and therefore (as long as the tune has not been updated or modified) copyright is not an issue. But all other hymns and songs of worship are subject to copyright control. Thus they cannot be legally photocopied or used in 'home made' service sheets without permission. Here at Elstow we have the following copyright licences which are renewed annually. A church copyright licence which allows the creation of song sheets for services and to project the words of hymn & worship song words from acetates or slides A music reproduction licence which authorises the photocopying of the music & words of hymns and worship songs. A song select licence which gives access to a worship resource with a search engine to help locate and reproduce the lyrics of over 3000 hymns/songs. It is a requirement of each licence that records are kept of all songs or hymns used/copied.