Constitution & Policies

CHARITY ORGANISATION CONSTITUTION (CH555)

1 OBJECTIVES

1.1) To provide an open platform for exchanging ideas, information and education in Guernsey within the visual arts community and the wider community of Guernsey.

1.2) To promote artists living and working in Guernsey.

1.3) To promote social activities for all members of the organisation.

1.4) To cooperate with other organisations to achieve the above aims.

2 PURPOSES

2.1) Raise funds and receive grants, sponsorships, and donations.

2.2) Cooperate with and support other charities with similar purposes.

3 NAME OF ORGANISATION

3.1) The name of the charity organisation is Guernsey Art Network (CH555).

4 MANAGEMENT

4.1) The Committee shall have between 3 and 12 members.

4.2) The Committee will consist of a Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. Other members may be given roles as the Committee decides.

4.3) During the year, the Committee can fill vacancies by co-opting members. These will be subject to ratification at the next Committee meeting.

4.4) If a Committee member is absent from 5 consecutive meetings without apology, they shall be deemed resigned.

5 GENERAL MEETINGS

5.1) There shall be a minimum of 6 meetings per year.

5.2) At least 13 days' notice shall be given for meetings.

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

SAFEGUARDING POLICY: CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE

GAN members are active in the Community and may come into contact with Children and Young People through emails/social media and directly through public appearances during exhibition installation, openings, events, Arts Festival, Arts Sunday and Skillshare.

AREAS OF RISK

Sensitive subject matter

GAN is conscious not to curb the artistic content of our Members’ work, but we will be mindful of subject matter where we can exert control in curating our exhibitions. If necessary, we would provide a warning for anything that may be sensitive in nature and have an age-appropriate limit. We have restricted exhibitions to ‘no nudes’ in areas where we could not limit access to younger audiences.

GAN Membership for Young People

Although they can have an artist profile if they wish, we do not actively advertise this. Parental permission would be sought for anyone under 16 who is actively seeking a GAN Website profile. Young People aged 16-18, although still covered under this policy, may contact us in their own right as they could legally have left school at this point.

Child protection during Skillshare

During Skillshares, GAN Members should avoid being in a one-to-one ratio with a Young Person. If the young person becomes the only one in attendance, the Skillshare should be postponed to another time. We plan to mitigate this event occurring as ticket sales are booked in advance over Eventbrite.

It is anticipated that anyone under 16 attending will generally have a Parent or guardian present. GAN reserves the right to implement restrictions on certain Skillshares that a Young Person will only be allowed to attend with a Parent or guardian.

If workshops are to be targeted specifically at children and young people, at least two GAN members must be present, and each must have an Enhanced Disclosure. This policy ensures that GAN undertakes its responsibilities regarding the protection of Children and Young People.

Personal social media presence

GAN Members should be mindful that their personal social media platforms can easily be linked back to the charity. The GAN Committee reserves the right to withdraw membership and remove an individual’s profile from the website if a Member is found to have engaged in any form of crime or abuse towards a young person.

Racial abuse/Sexual abuse/Homophobic abuse/Cyberbullying

Abuse will not be tolerated in person or on any social media platform. GAN reserves the right to withdraw Membership and remove the artist’s profile from any Member actively engaging in any of the above-listed forms of abuse.

TRAINING

GAN Committee Members will be invited to attend Safeguarding courses/refreshers on an ongoing basis, and GAN Volunteers will be encouraged to do so as part of their recruitment/ongoing training opportunities.

LEGISLATION

The policy has been developed under guidance from the Guernsey Community Fund and following principles established by the Children Acts of 1989 and 2004 and the Islands Safeguarding Children Partnership (ISCP).

The Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004 provide a framework for protecting Children and young People. Whether you work directly with legislation involved in the Act or just come into contact with children as part of your job, understanding what laws affect your work is essential in knowing what to do in an emergency and preventing any child from facing danger at home.

The ISCP is formally known as the Islands Child Protection Committee. It is a multi-agency committee with representatives from the public, private, and voluntary sectors. It was given legal status in the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2008. Its main purpose is to enhance the safety of children and young people in the islands by promoting effective coordination and cooperation between agencies providing services to children and families.

If a Child or Young Person you come into contact with whilst volunteering with GAN was deemed at risk, please raise this immediately with the GAN Designated Officers. If the risk is more immediate or you cannot get hold of one of the Designated Officers, please contact one of the local services listed below:

CONTACTS

MASH - Multi-Agency Support Hub.

Children’s Services Social Worker – 01481 223 182

Out of Office Hours - Duty Social Worker – 01481 222 222

If you think a child is in immediate danger, please call the Police.

GAN Designated Officers

Athene Sholl

Alisha Flouquet

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

SAFEGUARDING POLICY: VULNERABLE ADULTS

GAN members are active in the Community and may come into contact with Vulnerable Adults through emails/social media and directly through public appearances during exhibition installation, openings, events, Arts Festival, Arts Sunday and Skillshare.

AREAS OF RISK

GAN Membership for Vulnerable Adults

Adult members can apply for profiles without restriction. However, care should be taken to ensure that profiles are appropriate at all times.

Vulnerable Adult Protection during Skillshare

During Skillshares, GAN Members should avoid being in a one-to-one ratio with a Vulnerable Adult. Depending on the level of vulnerability, the session leader can decide to run the Skillshare.

Personal social media presence

TRAINING

LEGISLATION

The policy has been developed under guidance from the Guernsey Community Fund.

CONTACTS

GAN Designated Officers

Athene Sholl

Alisha Flouquet

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (EDI) POLICY

Our aim is to create a sense of belonging, where everyone feels welcome, respected, valued and able to participate in the creative community.

1 OUR PURPOSE

Networking and collaboration are at the heart of what GAN does and how it operates. We believe that connections between creatives, charities, amateur and professional artists, and the wider community are vital in sharing support, skills, knowledge, resources, opportunities and access to creative spaces.

GAN is run by a voluntary Committee, and our activities are planned within the time and resources available to us. We are committed to making the best possible use of these resources to provide inclusive, meaningful and accessible opportunities throughout the year.

We welcome people who wish to engage with GAN through our events, as Committee Members, as active volunteers or through other forms of participation. Whatever their level of involvement, we aim to maintain open communication about our activities, opportunities and plans.

GAN membership is open to people living locally or with a connection to the Bailiwick. We have no minimum age requirement for membership, although individual activities may have age-related requirements where appropriate for safety, safeguarding or practical reasons.

2 EQUALITY

Equality means recognising that everyone should have a fair opportunity to participate, contribute and benefit from GAN’s activities.

We aim to treat people fairly, respectfully and consistently, without discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, socio-economic background, artistic experience or education, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Membership and opportunities to participate are open to eligible individuals with a local or Bailiwick connection. We aim to provide fair access to exhibitions, workshops, events, volunteering and other activities, recognising that people may have different needs and circumstances.

We promote opportunities through our website, email newsletters, social media and, where feasible, local radio and newspapers. While printed mailouts are generally impractical because of cost and volunteer capacity, members are welcome to contact us directly for information or assistance.

We aim to hold social events in venues that are as accessible and welcoming as reasonably possible. We welcome feedback and suggestions about how our activities, communications and arrangements can be improved.

3 DIVERSITY

GAN values the different backgrounds, experiences, identities, skills and perspectives that enrich our creative community.

Our network includes amateur and professional artists, formally educated and self-taught creatives, Bailiwick residents, people based locally and those living elsewhere who have a connection with the Bailiwick.

Although our collective exhibitions are often best suited to visual artists, we remain open to collaboration with people working in other creative disciplines and fields.

Our Skillshare programme supports the exchange of knowledge and experience by offering opportunities for people with different levels of experience to teach, learn and explore arts, crafts and the practical skills involved in developing a creative business.

We recognise that a diverse creative community benefits everyone. We therefore aim to encourage a broad range of voices, ideas and approaches in our activities, subject to the practical scope and resources of each project.

4 INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY

Inclusion means creating an environment in which people feel welcome, respected and able to take part without unnecessary barriers.

GAN does not discriminate on the basis of artistic qualifications, experience, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or other personal characteristics, subject to applicable law and any lawful, proportionate requirements of individual activities.

We aim to make our exhibitions, events, workshops and other activities welcoming to the wider community. Our collective exhibitions are generally held in public buildings, and we seek to make participation and attendance as accessible as reasonably possible.

We recognise that accessibility involves more than physical access. Communication, cost, confidence, caring responsibilities, transport and other practical circumstances may affect a person’s ability to participate. Within our available resources, we will consider reasonable adjustments and practical alternatives where possible.

We continue to offer Skillshare opportunities free of charge to people who approach us directly or through Bailiwick Prescribing, subject to the arrangements and capacity of the programme.

Where funding permits, we also seek to support members with costs such as exhibition framing, helping to reduce financial barriers to participation.

We aim to communicate opportunities widely across the Bailiwick, using a range of channels to reach different audiences and encourage participation.

5 OUR COMMITMENT

GAN recognises that equality, diversity and inclusion are ongoing commitments rather than one-off objectives.

We will endeavour to:

Treat members, volunteers, artists, partners and visitors with dignity and respect.
Communicate opportunities clearly and as widely as our resources allow.
Encourage participation from people with different backgrounds, identities, abilities and levels of experience.
Consider accessibility and potential barriers when planning activities and selecting venues.
Listen to feedback, ideas and concerns, and use them to inform improvements.
Work collaboratively with community organisations and partners to widen participation where possible.
Make fair and transparent decisions about opportunities, within the practical and financial limits of our voluntary organisation.

We recognise that our capacity is limited and that not every barrier can be removed immediately. Nevertheless, we are committed to reviewing our approach and making practical improvements wherever possible.

6 FEEDBACK AND REVIEW

We welcome feedback from members, volunteers, artists, partners and the wider community about how GAN can become more inclusive and accessible.

Anyone wishing to raise a concern or suggest an improvement may contact a member of the Committee. Concerns will be treated respectfully and considered appropriately.

The Committee will review this policy periodically to ensure that it remains relevant to GAN’s activities, reflects our values and supports our ongoing commitment to an inclusive creative community.

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY

1 PURPOSE

This policy provides guidelines for managing and using social media platforms in a way that reflects the values and mission of Guernsey Art Network (GAN). The purpose is to ensure consistency, professionalism, and respect across all social media interactions while maximising the charity’s engagement with its community.

2 SCOPE

This policy applies to all GAN volunteers, committee members, and affiliates who manage or contribute to the charity’s social media accounts or engage in social media on behalf of the organisation.

3 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS COVERED

The policy covers all social media platforms, including but not limited to:

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter/X
LinkedIn
YouTube
TikTok

4 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Mission-Driven Content: All content shared on social media should align with GAN’s mission to support the arts and engage the community.
Respect and Inclusion: Posts should reflect the charity’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and respect for all individuals and communities.
Accuracy: Only accurate and verified information should be posted. Posts should reflect the most up-to-date information about events, programs, and activities.
Professionalism: Tone and language should always remain professional and courteous, avoiding controversial or inappropriate language.
Engagement: Encourage interaction with followers by asking questions, responding to comments, and sharing user-generated content (with permission).

5 RESPONSIBILITIES

Designated Social Media Managers: Only individuals authorised by GAN should post on behalf of the organisation. These individuals are responsible for ensuring content is accurate and compliant with this policy.
Monitoring and Moderation: The GAN Social media team will regularly monitor accounts to ensure respectful interactions and alignment with the charity’s values. Inappropriate comments, hate speech, or spam should be removed, and repeat offenders may be blocked.

6 CONTENT GUIDELINES

Tone: Posts should be friendly, supportive, and aligned with GAN values of creativity, inclusivity, and accessibility.
Content Types: Share a mix of event promotions, artist features, behind-the-scenes content, success stories, community engagement, volunteer spotlights, and educational resources.
Visual Standards: Ensure all images, videos, and graphics are high quality and represent the charity professionally. Use consistent branding (logos, colours) as outlined in the charity’s style guide.
Copyright and Attribution: Always credit artists and creators for their work when sharing images, quotes, or videos. Do not share copyrighted material without permission.

7 CRISIS MANAGEMENT

In the event of a social media crisis (negative press, inappropriate posts, hacking, etc.), the following steps should be followed:

Immediate Response: Acknowledge the issue promptly.
Internal Communication: Inform the GAN committee as soon as possible.
Resolution: Provide accurate information to the public as soon as possible. Apologise or clarify when appropriate.

8 CONFIDENTIALITY

Do not share confidential, sensitive, or internal information regarding GAN on social media. This includes volunteer details, financial information, or unannounced projects.

9 PERSONAL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Transparency: Committee members responsible for the GAN social media who engage in personal social media about the charity should clarify that their opinions are their own and do not represent the charity.
Respect: Individuals must maintain the professionalism and respect required on official charity platforms when discussing GAN on personal accounts.

10 POLICY VIOLATIONS

GAN reserves the right to withdraw Membership and remove the artist’s profile from any Member actively violating this policy.

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

HEALTH AND SAFETY POLICY

1 INTRODUCTION

Guernsey Art Network (GAN) is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of its committee members, volunteers, artists, and visitors. This policy outlines the organisation’s approach to preventing accidents, promoting well-being, and maintaining a safe environment in all its activities and events.

2 POLICY AIMS

To provide a safe and healthy working environment for all committee members, volunteers, and artists.
To minimise risks by identifying hazards and implementing appropriate safety measures.
To comply with relevant health and safety legislation in Guernsey.
To promote a culture of health and safety awareness and responsibility across the organisation.

3 SCOPE

This policy applies to all committee members, volunteers, artists, contractors, and visitors involved in GAN activities, including workshops, exhibitions, performances, and community events.

4 RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1) Committee Chair Responsibilities

Ensure that all legal requirements for health and safety are met.
Provide adequate resources for health and safety, including equipment, training, and protective measures.
Regularly review and update the health and safety policy to ensure it remains effective and compliant with current legislation.

4.2) Committee Members and Volunteers

They must take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their actions.
Report any hazards, unsafe practices, or health concerns to the management.
Participate in health and safety training and follow the safety procedures outlined.

4.3) Artists, Contractors, and Visitors

Comply with the health and safety instructions provided by the Guernsey Art Network.
Report any incidents, hazards, or safety concerns to a designated staff member.

5 RISK MANAGEMENT

5.1) Risk Assessments

Conduct regular risk assessments for all activities and events, identify potential hazards, and implement control measures to reduce risks.
Risk assessments should cover general safety, fire hazards, electrical safety, and specific risks related to particular events or activities (e.g., handling art materials).

5.2) Accident Reporting

All accidents must be reported immediately to the committee chair or designated person, no matter how minor.
An accident log must be maintained, and any significant incidents will be reported to the relevant authorities if required.

6 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Ensure that emergency procedures, including fire safety and first aid, are clearly outlined and communicated to all participants.
When using a space to host events, all committee members and volunteers should be familiar with emergency exits, fire extinguisher locations, and first aid kit locations.

7 FIRST AID

Provide first aid facilities at all events and workshops. A trained first aider will be present at all times during public events.

8 TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION

Provide ongoing health and safety training to all committee members and volunteers as required, particularly those in supervisory roles or working with potentially hazardous materials or equipment.
Ensure that all participants in workshops and events receive a briefing on relevant health and safety procedures.

9 FIRE SAFETY

Ensure venues have functional fire alarms, extinguishers, and clear fire exits.
Fire safety checks should be conducted before events begin, and fire exits should never be obstructed.

10 WELFARE FACILITIES

Ensure that appropriate welfare facilities, such as rest areas, toilets, and drinking water, are available for employees, volunteers, and event participants.
Make provisions for the well-being of individuals, including support for those with disabilities or other specific needs.

Updated by Alisha Flouquet (Secretary) on 17.10.26

PRIVACY POLICY

Our Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information. You can read it in full on our Privacy Policy page.