SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Studio Muiz Limited is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals who engage with our work. This includes, but is not limited to, children, young people, and adults at risk who come into contact with our activities across theatre, film, television, casting, documentaries, podcasts, digital content, rehearsals, filming, events, workshops, online spaces, and professional communications.

We recognise our responsibility to create safe, respectful, and professional environments and to act promptly where safeguarding concerns arise. This policy applies to all areas of Studio Muiz Limited’s operations and to all individuals working with or on behalf of the company, including employees, freelancers, contractors, creatives, performers, volunteers, and collaborators.

Studio Muiz Limited adopts a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, harassment, exploitation, discrimination, and bullying. Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone involved in our work.

For the purposes of this policy, safeguarding means protecting individuals from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, or inappropriate behaviour, and ensuring that all interactions take place within clear professional boundaries.

Studio Muiz Limited acknowledges that safeguarding risks may arise in creative environments, particularly where work involves intense subject matter, power imbalances, physical or emotional vulnerability, or close working relationships. We are committed to identifying and mitigating these risks wherever reasonably possible.

We are committed to the following principles. All individuals have the right to feel safe, respected, and heard. Safeguarding concerns will be taken seriously and handled promptly. Individuals will be treated with dignity and without judgement. Confidentiality will be respected, except where disclosure is required to protect an individual from harm or to comply with legal obligations.

This policy covers safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people under the age of 18, adults at risk, and any individual who may be vulnerable due to age, disability, mental health, substance misuse, personal circumstances, or situational vulnerability.

Studio Muiz Limited will take reasonable steps to ensure safe recruitment and engagement practices. This may include appropriate checks, references, or safeguarding discussions where relevant to the nature of the work. All individuals working on productions or projects are expected to behave professionally and to understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

Clear professional boundaries must be maintained at all times. This includes appropriate conduct during rehearsals, filming, auditions, workshops, meetings, travel, accommodation, online interactions, and communications. Any form of abuse, harassment, coercion, grooming, intimidation, or inappropriate behaviour is strictly prohibited.

Where work involves sensitive content, intimacy, simulated sexual activity, nudity, physical contact, violence, or themes that may cause distress, Studio Muiz Limited will take reasonable steps to ensure that participants are informed in advance, supported appropriately, and given the opportunity to raise concerns. Consent must be ongoing, informed, and freely given, and may be withdrawn at any time.

Studio Muiz Limited engages trained and qualified intimacy coordinators where work involves intimacy or simulated sexual activity. Intimacy coordinators are responsible for supporting performers and creatives, establishing clear boundaries, facilitating consent-led practice, and ensuring that intimate content is created safely, respectfully, and professionally. The presence and role of an intimacy coordinator does not remove an individual’s right to raise safeguarding concerns at any time.

Studio Muiz Limited recognises that safeguarding concerns may arise during or outside working hours, including within digital and online spaces connected to our work. This includes social media, messaging platforms, and remote working environments. Safeguarding expectations apply equally in online and in-person contexts.

Any safeguarding concern, disclosure, or allegation should be reported as soon as possible. Concerns may relate to behaviour witnessed, information disclosed, or risks identified. Reports should be made to the designated safeguarding contact at Studio Muiz Limited via safeguarding@studiomuiz.com. If a concern involves immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted without delay.

All safeguarding reports will be handled sensitively and taken seriously. Studio Muiz Limited will assess concerns on a case-by-case basis and take appropriate action, which may include internal investigation, support measures, referral to external agencies, or reporting to statutory authorities where required.

Studio Muiz Limited will not tolerate retaliation against any individual who raises a safeguarding concern in good faith. Individuals who report concerns will be supported and protected from adverse treatment as a result of making a report.

Records relating to safeguarding concerns will be kept securely and confidentially, in accordance with data protection law. Information will only be shared where necessary to protect individuals or to comply with legal obligations.

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, or the nature of our work.

For safeguarding concerns or further information regarding this policy, please contact safeguarding@studiomuiz.com.