SAFEGUARDING SUMMARY

Our Commitment to Your Safety

At The Actors Forge, the welfare of every adult participant comes first. We are committed to providing a professional training environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect — regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or background.

We recognise that adults can be vulnerable, and that power dynamics exist between tutors and participants. We take that seriously.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Daniel Lemon, Director. Any safeguarding concern — about yourself or someone else — should be reported to Daniel directly at dan@theactorsforge.com. All concerns are handled confidentially, promptly, and without judgement.

Where we have reasonable cause to believe a participant may be experiencing abuse or serious harm — inside or outside of The Actors Forge — we are required to refer the matter to the appropriate authorities. Safeguarding concerns are never minimised or dealt with informally.

All tutors, whether employed, freelance, or visiting, are required to familiarise themselves with our Safeguarding Policy before delivering any session and to report any concern to the DSL without delay.

If you are in distress and need support outside of class, you can contact the Samaritans free at any time on 116 123, or Mind on 0300 123 3393.

How We Handle Consent at The Actors Forge

Conservatoire training asks a lot of actors emotionally. Meisner and Stanislavski methodology works because participants feel genuinely safe — and that safety is built on clear, respected consent.

At The Actors Forge, consent is treated as active, ongoing, and reversible. It is never assumed, never pressured, and never carried forward from one session to the next.

What this means in practice:

Every exercise with a physical or emotional dimension is explained before it begins. You always have a genuine opportunity to opt out or modify your participation — and doing so is treated as a legitimate creative decision, not a failure.

All sessions involving physical or intensive work use a designated stop word — FREEZE — which halts the exercise immediately. No explanation is required from the participant who calls it.

Where scene work involves intimacy, all choreography is agreed collaboratively in advance. It cannot be improvised in the moment, and either participant may withdraw consent at any time without explanation.

Tutors watch actively for non-verbal signs of discomfort throughout every session. You do not have to speak up for the session to stop.

You are never required to explain or justify your personal limits to anyone — tutor or fellow participant. A boundary is a boundary.

To report a consent concern, contact Daniel Lemon at dan@theactorsforge.com. Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith is itself a breach of our policy.

Your Data & Privacy

At The Actors Forge, we keep it simple: we only collect the information we genuinely need, we look after it properly, and we never sell it or share it with anyone who doesn't need it.

What we collect and why

When you enrol with us, we hold your name, contact details, payment records, and any health or access information you choose to share so we can run your training safely. If you've given us permission, we may also hold photographs or video from classes and showcases.

We collect this information to manage your enrolment, process payments, communicate with you about your classes, and meet our legal obligations — nothing more.

Who we share it with

Only who we have to. That means our payment processor (Stripe), HMRC for tax purposes, and safeguarding or emergency services where the law requires it. We do not sell your data or pass it to third parties for marketing.

How long we keep it

Contact and enrolment records are kept for the duration of your time with us plus two years. Financial records are kept for six years as required by HMRC. Any health information you share is deleted when you leave. Photos and video are kept until you ask us to remove them.

Your rights

You have the right to access, correct, or delete the data we hold about you at any time. You can also withdraw any consent you've given — including permission to use your photos — whenever you like.

To make a request or ask any questions, contact Daniel Lemon at dan@theactorsforge.com. We'll respond within one calendar month.

If you're not happy with how we've handled your data, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.

Our full Data Protection Policy is available to read and download below.

Health & Safety

At The Actors Forge, the safety of every participant, tutor, and visitor is a straightforward priority. We don't overcomplicate it — we just take it seriously.

Our commitment

Every session is run in a space that has been checked before it begins. Emergency exits, evacuation routes, and first aid locations are communicated to all participants at the start of their first session at any venue. Our tutors know what to do if something goes wrong, and they have the authority to stop any session if they believe the space or the circumstances aren't safe.

Physical training

Our classes may involve physical and movement-based exercises. If you have an injury, a medical condition, or anything else we should know about before you take part in physical work, please tell your tutor before the session begins. You will never be required to do anything beyond your stated ability or comfort.

Your fitness to train

We ask that all participants arrive in a fit state to train. If a tutor has a genuine safety concern about a participant's condition at any point, they may ask that person to sit out — this is always handled discreetly and without judgement.

Accidents and incidents

All accidents and incidents — however minor — are recorded and reviewed by our Director, Daniel Lemon. Serious incidents are reported to the Health and Safety Executive as required by law.

Questions or concerns

If you have a health and safety concern about any aspect of your training, contact Daniel Lemon directly at dan@theactorsforge.com.

Our full Health & Safety Policy is available to read and download below.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Actors Forge is for everyone. We believe that the best training happens in rooms where people from all walks of life are welcome, respected, and able to do their best work — and we build that into everything we do.

Who we are

We are the North East's largest adult acting school, with participants across Newcastle, Durham, and Sunderland from a wide range of ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. That mix is not incidental — it makes the work better.

Our commitment

No participant, tutor, or visitor will be treated less favourably on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or any other characteristic. This is not just a legal obligation under the Equality Act 2010 — it is how we operate.

Access and adjustments

If you have a disability, access need, or anything else we should know about to make your training experience work for you, we want to hear about it. We will always make reasonable adjustments where we can. Speak to Daniel Lemon in confidence at dan@theactorsforge.com.

In the room

Our training methodology — rooted in Stanislavski and Meisner — asks actors to bring their full, authentic selves to the work. That only happens when every person in the room feels genuinely safe and genuinely included. Our tutors are trained to create and maintain that environment in every session.

Concerns

If you feel you have been treated unfairly at The Actors Forge for any reason, please contact Daniel Lemon at dan@theactorsforge.com. All concerns are taken seriously and handled confidentially.

Equal Opportunities

The Actors Forge is committed to equal opportunities for all — in who we welcome through our doors, how we train, and how we work with tutors, staff, and collaborators.

Our position

We do not discriminate, and we do not tolerate discrimination, on the grounds of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or marriage and civil partnership. These are the nine protected characteristics defined by the Equality Act 2010, and they represent the minimum standard — not the ceiling of our ambition.

Participants

Every adult who joins The Actors Forge is entitled to the same quality of training, the same standard of care, and the same professional environment — regardless of who they are or where they come from. Selection for classes, workshops, showcases, and any other activity is based on interest and commitment, nothing else.

Tutors and collaborators

We apply the same principles to everyone who works with us. Tutors, guest directors, and visiting practitioners are selected on the basis of skill and suitability for the work.

If something isn't right

If you believe you have been treated unfairly — or witnessed unfair treatment — at The Actors Forge, please contact Daniel Lemon at dan@theactorsforge.com. All concerns are handled seriously, confidentially, and promptly.