The Stage

New regulations

Published Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 09:50

With reference to your article, “Artistic licence” (Insight, June 26, page 6) and Dave Eager’s letter, “Support young performers - for our future” (Stage Talk, July 3, page 8), on behalf of the National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment, I would like to add further comment.

The NNCEE is made up of representatives from more than 140 local authorities and all recognise that children should be encouraged to take part in theatre and film work, but in a safe environment.

For more than 15 years, members of the NNCEE have been trying to make sense of the outdated and often unworkable legislation governing child performers, which is open to individual interpretation and is often (and is) contradicted between authorities. To this effect, the Network has been working to persuade government to modernise child employment and entertainment legislation so that it is representative of today’s multi-cultural and complex society.

As the lead organisation, the NNCEE has a number of high-profile organisations working in partnership with it, namely ITV Granada, NSPCC, Children’s Legal Centre, BBC, NODA, Equity, TUC, PACT, Little Theatre Guild, Warner Brothers, the Production Guild of Great Britain and Stagecoach - all with the same aim to improve opportunities for children.

The NNCEE commissioned ITV Granada to produce a short film that illustrates the issues around child employment and entertainment, using characters from Coronation Street, Emmerdale, GMTV and Trevor McDonald.

This film was publicly launched from the House of Lords last November and has already had an effect as the Department for Children, Schools and Families have agreed to create new guidance.

The NNCEE is, however, still committed to aim for new primary legislation as the current legislation dates from 1933.

The network, with Professor Carolyn Hamilton, has drafted new entertainment regulations with an aim to consult with all sides of the equation before presenting the DCSF with the draft and a new set of guidance.

All those involved with children taking part in performances agree that there are times when the regulations fail to protect children and that there is need to change them to include the government’s Every Child Matters agenda. We also recognise that the industry is unnecessarily hampered by outdated regulation, which we are confident that in many instances, the review will address.

Paul Kirkman.

PR officer

National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment

Gannel House

Treyew Road

Truro

Cornwall