UKFACE will be launched at the Southern England Magic Convention, inviting those attending to find out about this new organisation and standard, and to seek membership.
UKFACE – What is it?
When you go to a travel agent, you look for the ABTA sign, which informs consumers that certain standards of practice are practiced by the agent, with guarantees.However there is no such mark of standard for children’s entertainers and related performers/organisations.
UKFACE’s main aims are to maintain high standards of trading practice for the benefit of its Members, the children’s entertainment industry at large, and the consumers that they serve, and to create as favourable a business climate as possible for its Members; and also to inform the public and consumers that any of the Federation members reach the level of standards that will provide satisfaction and safety.By displaying a membership logo on marketing material or websites, or declaring membership of UKFACE, an artist will be putting a client’s mind at rest, and enhance the likelihood of a booking, and encourage enquiries.
More information at http://www.semagicconvention.com/11.html
Note from Mods: The rest of the details run as follows
Members will have requirements to show that they meet the standards promised to the public, but UKFACE will provide help to meet these goals.As you probably know, it isn’t possible to obtain a CRB directly from CRB/SCRO, so UKFACE are registered with DDC as the umbrella body.No fees for CRB provision are taken by UKFACE, so members will make payments for CRB services directly to DDC.Another example of how UKFACE can help is to provide links and contacts to suppliers of Public Liability Insurance.A member will be required to :
Obtain an Enhanced CRB via UKFACE (see further information below on next paragraph)
Furnish a copy (electronically or hardcopy) of their Public Liability Insurance
Sign a form declaring that any electrical equipment used by the artist has been Portable Appliance Tested by a qualified electrician, or that no such equipment is used by the act
Operate a bookings or administrative database and ensure that the procedures comply with the Data Protection Act
Pay the Annual Membership Fee
Allow and agree that UKFACE may verify or deny your membership to any third party enquiry (but this does not include disclosure of your personal details) either verbally or via email
Provide all stagenames and aliases to UKFACE (however one membership covers all stagenames used by that one artist.Acts with more than one artist require one membership per permanent performer
Agree and comply with the UKFACE established code of conduct.
UKFACE will:
Provide each member with a membership card with a unique membership number
Permit each member to display a UKFACE Membership logo on any advertising medium used by that member for the duration of valid membership
Keep a database for the sole purpose of recording membership, and will not be "sold on" or passed to any third parties except under legal compulsion.
Once membership reaches a sufficient level of numbers, create provisional committee and when possible convert to an elected committee
Commence an advertising campaign to alert the public of the benefits of engaging entertainers with UKFACE membership
Liaise, where possible, with any Government, Local Authority or Charitable groups as appropriate
Offer members and applying members contacts where pre-requisites (e.g. PLI, CRB) may be obtained – UKFACE have appointed DDC as the CRB/SCRO Umbrella body for UKFACE to obtain Enhanced CRB’s for members. Applicants will pay any fees for the CRB provision directly to DDC at their current rate.
Donate any surplus funds (retaining a sum for next year's operation) to an established children's charity (e.g.NSPCC, Action Aid)
Offer members any additional information as available, with the intention of eventually producing a regular newsletter and/or website, offer free website links to Magical Societies or publications of interest.
Create a website page where members may advertise their services, and provide links to member’s websites etc.
Further consider others to achieve it's goals and aims.
The organisation is NOT set up to compete with any magical (or other related) organisation, but to co-operate with such bodies to help create a standard that the public will recognise and favour, and to encourage and assist children's entertainers to operate at a minimum standard (which many already do) and to promote those entertainers as such.
UKFACE welcomes any positive input and suggestions from any organisation/society to further celebrate and promote safety, standards, and professionalism within our industry.
