The Stage

Child care

Published Monday 3 September 2007 at 11:15

How delighted I am to see from Lalayn Baluch’s article headlined ‘Children could get Equity membership’ (August 30, page 1) that finally Equity is getting around to acknowledging that there is a call for, in the entertainment industry, to oversee working arrangements for child performers, and where there is a need for reform in working and licensing departments.

As an Equity councillor and owner of Go For It Theatre School and Acting Agency in Richmond, I have been working hard over the years campaigning for improvement and change in children’s working arrangements and licensing, with the aim and hope of getting the union to become involved with this objective - but many times the proposal has been blocked by intransigents who believe that child performer problems should be dealt with by the local councils. Yet there are council officials who disagree with this opposition and feel that they should be dealt with by a body such as Equity.

How glad I am also to see that a large company such as Stagecoach now echoes my desire for change in child licensing procedures. A change I’ve so tirelessly campaigned for since prior to 2004, and if I have anything to do with it, lobbying for these changes will be put to the top of the council agenda.

Perhaps now we can look forward to a far clearer, easier and better way of working with children in a profession where everyone will know what is involved and expected of them in employing and working with the young and very young.

Care and protection is paramount for the child. It is crucial that councils liaise with those in the business who really know what is going on and the care of child performers need to come under an umbrella of a watchful body such as Equity, au fait with the industry the children are working in.

If you believe Equity needs to be involved with child performers, or you would like to add your name to the Go For It petition demanding change to the child licensing procedures, please contact me at the address below.

Teri Scoble

Equity councillor

C/o Go For It

47 North Lane

Teddington

Middlesex

TW11 0HU

email: info@goforitts.com