AGM November 2007 The Hunsbury Hill Centre Northamptonshire

Opening A warm welcome to everybody and heartfelt thanks for attending and supporting this AGM

Chairman's Report

Well where do I start? First of all what a year!!! I have certainly had fun - yes the leg pulling the camaraderie etc. but most of all the fun of achieving and moving forward both personally and for the Network. It has been full of excitement, personal challenge and development.

There are so many people to mention but I must just mention Ian and Graham – oh! boy have they been a support – Thanks Guys. There have been some inevitable negatives but let’s leave them out of the picture Aye! because what really counts are the achievements – there are many, some just tiny ones, some that are big, but I don’t think we will realise the significance of any of them until well into the future. Lets not forget that as an organisation we are far flung around Britain with no central work office – little or no funds – and run by people who all volunteer. We don’t do bad at all !!!!!!!

List of the achievements: The further development of the Networking in partnership with other organisations: ITV Children’s Legal Centre NSPCC NODA TUC Equity PACT Little Theatre Guild BBC PACT National Federation of Retail Newsagents and of course our local authorities

The start of a development of national importance – raising the profile of the NNCEE! Yes with the help of ITV we are very much in the national spotlight We still have a long way to go – but with the continued support of our partners and the membership we should be able to get Government to recognise that: The NNCEE is the only organisation within the UK solely dedicated to the development and delivery of good practice for children who work part time and those involved in the entertainment industry. As well as the high level of professionalism and expertise of the whole membership

Conference 2007 Many of you will have attended our conference in June of this year held at Bournemouth, well: What a GREAT conference – leaving the film aside for the moment, it was a lovely hotel – super food – good speakers and workshops - and of course good company. I am sure that the Treasurer will report that the conference has depleted the cash reserves of the NNCEE that has made life a little difficult since. My thanks go to the organisers - lets look forward to 2009 and see if we can get a big name to sponsor it!

The Film – Every Child Matters Even When They’re At Work A film highlighting the issues for Child Employment and Entertainment commissioned by the NNCEE created by ITV My Thanks go to ITV – it is a pleasure to be working with them and to have their valuable support This was very well received by the delegates at conference and is the focus of a campaign to persuade Government to change/modernise the legislation and regulations for Child Employment and Entertainment.

On a personal note: I have had such a valuable experience in working with ITV The initial development meetings were so important but in the beginning quite daunting – never having done anything like this before. Working in the studio in Leeds was such a different world exciting not glamorous but quite an eye opener. To see how they all worked – Camera and Sound People, Props Man – Alex Carter the film presenter I really don’t know he remembers his lines – the kids from the ITV television workshop - what great kids – What a great job the producer/director Louise Blythe has done for us - a good balanced film. I must also show gratitude to Sam Crosby and Roz Pettigrew who have re-lived their own personal tragedies to help highlight the issues. And of course the stars of Coronation Street, Emmerdale, GMTV, Sir Trevor Mc. Donald and all of the backroom people. All of these people have given of their time completely free of charge and have also waived any royalties that they may be entitled to – all because they believe in what we are doing.

Code of Conduct Meetings There are two groups that have been set up chaired by Ian Hart to enable the NNCEE to talk with other professional organisations: Code of Conduct - Employment Code of Conduct - Entertainment The NNCEE is regularly in touch with the members of these groups where there is an exchange of views and ideas with an eventual aim to gather and develop ‘good practice’ between all sides.

Members of these groups are: Children's Legal Centre NSPCC Little Theatre Guild ITV BBC PACT TUC Equity NODA Sally King / Ann koska Ltd Treepetts Casting Agency

Legislation and Regulations: I think that we are all aware that the legislation that we have to enforce is old and not appropriate for today's complex modern multi-cultural society: Employment of Women, Young Persons & Children Act 1920 Children & Young Persons Act 1933 Children & Young Persons Act 1963 Children (Performance) Regulations 1968 Children (Performance) Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1998 The Children (Performance) Amendment Regulations 2000 The Children (Performance) Amendment Regulations (2) 2000 The Children (Protection at Work) Regulations 1998 / EC Directive 94/33 The Film – Every Child Matters Even When They’re At Work is spear heading an NNCEE campaign to persuade Government to reduce over 200 pieces of legislation around child employment and entertainment and to create statutory guidance More about the campaign later on.

EU The European Commission have set up a project that looks at the member countries Child Employment situations. The project is being co-ordinated by Labour Asociados of Spain But I have been working with a researcher from the University of London The project is till running and hopefully I will be able to use some of it’s findings to support our campaign and influence Government. What I do know is that we are the only country to regulate child employment through LA Byelaws – all of the others use central legislation.

NNCEE Website - http: //www. bucksinfo. net/nncee/ I would recommend anybody who hasn’t been on line recently to look at our Web site – it has been moved to another WEB host and is still under construction, it is something that in my opinion should always be under construction and constantly being updated – it is a really worthwhile and a fundamental, necessary resource as well as a line of communication. Thank you Gwen – your management of the WEB site has been and continues to be invaluable. However Gwen can only keep the WEB site up to date and of value if the members support it and contribute information particularly ‘good practice’ Please forward any information to any member of the committee for inclusion.

NNCEE Committee Thank you to all of the members who voluntarily sit on the committee - your work, commitment and support is so vital. At this AGM by constitution there are Committee places to be voted for: Secretary Membership Secretary and There is still the PR vacancy from last years AGM Please it is so important that with all of the developments with partner organisations that are happening, the NNCEE shows that it is strong, capable and pro active. A full committee is the public face of our administration. The commitment isn’t onerous but an important one so come forward and be nominated.

NNCEE Regions My Thanks go to the Regions and their Chair People for enabling the members to benefit from regular face to face meetings – another very important function. I am concerned however that there are I believe 3 regions that currently have a vacancy for the Chair. – London, Wales and Central Please help these regions to re-establish their structure, - the members need the contact and the channels of communication kept open from the Regions to the Central Committee

News Letters An apology to the members for the lack of news letters over the past 12 months. Our Secretary has been off sick and it has been necessary to concentrate the rest of the committee’s efforts into the other developments. I have had a couple of offers of help on a temporary basis and hope to start news letters again soon. However if anybody would like to offer a longer term help I would be grateful. Any items of news etc for the News letters please send or email to a committee member and we will try to get a news letter out before Christmas. Sorry Folks but having said Christmas I have to tell you that as from the AGM there are 80 days to Christmas. But just think the Panto season will be behind you - - - no don’t say it - - - Oh! yes it will

There are many more things that it would be nice to comment on, But I will finish my report simply by saying Thank You to all of the people both inside and outside the NNCEE who have Helped and Supported me. Thanks go to Essex County Council – who are still wondering when I am going to do some Essex work – sssssh! I won’t say anything if you don’t. ALSO my staff team who are still doing the Essex Work including my share!!!! They constantly remind me that behind every good man is a good woman and that I have FOUR ! ! I wont even hint about multi-tasking Thank You Ladies seriously your help and support is so appreciated and so necessary

There is a really Bright future in front of us – it wont be plain sailing, but I feel so optimistic and positive that we are going to be instrumental in helping to make changes for children, in p/t employment and entertainment. As well as raising the NNCEES profile – don’t forget we are the only solely dedicated group……. . And should be recognised for it I must just re–affirm again that my tenure as Chairman is really only about carrying the mantle forward from all of my predecessors and in particular Ian Hart. Perhaps a different approach to some issues but basically the same ideals, I have to also say without embarrassing Ian his contacts etc that he has made when he was Chair are invaluable to me. Also his chats and sharing of experiences have been invaluable – we are a bit like Little and Large so to speak. Thanks Mate - we’ve had some laughs though aye!

Feedback: Campaign to Persuade Government to Change Legislation

Public Launch of ‘Every Child Matters’ Even When They’re At Work A Film Commissioned by the NNCEE and created by ITV To promote and illustrate the issues and concerns with the Child Employment/Entertainment Legislation & Regulations

On behalf of the NNCEE Baroness Walmsley is sponsoring the use of a room in the The House of Lords on Tuesday 20 th November UNICEF’s Universal Children’s Day

The National Federation of Retail Newsagents have sponsored the NNCEE to purchase pull-up display banners and leaflets that can be used for all future NNCEE functions Arrangements are currently in hand to gain financial support from organisations to ensure that the refreshments and the cost of the invitations are covered Invitations are being sent out to Government Ministers, MPs and other prominent organisations in the field of Children. Television and Stars of Stage and Film are being invited to attend and to support the NNCEE Campaign A media plan is being implemented as we speak to maximise the public awareness of the campaign and the issues

Road Shows I have asked the regional chairs to join together, where appropriate, so that the Committee can visit and show and explain the film and the campaign. The DVD is a campaign film and under licence with the ITV therefore we have to work within the bounds of the licence. It is intended that we will give each L A a copy of the DVD plus a script of a presentation so that we achieve everybody singing from the same song sheet and of course as near a level playing field as possible.

North West - 8 January 2008 London - 18 January 2008 Y&H/Nth East - 23 January 2008 South/S. East - 29 January 2008 East/Central - 7 February 2008

Aim of the Road Shows: To raise the profile of the NNCEE campaign to persuade government to modernise legislation and regulation as well as to issue statutory guidance To empower C E Staff to influence their local policy makers of the need for a nationwide level playing field and the need for pertinent resources.

The content of the Road Shows is still under development BUT should be something like: Starting time – about 11: 00 am for about 1 – 1: 5 hours Proposed audience – NNCEE members and C E teams in non member LAs Directors of Children’s Services and the Member who has responsibility for Children

Issues of Good Practice There is need to have some information gathering So that we can quote some stats So that we can identify common issues of ‘Good Practice’ Who knows we may be able to influence Government to adopt our ‘Good Practice’ as statutory Guidance

I hope that we can issue small bites of info required and send them out in a way that will minimise the amount of work at any one time Starting next week I have 2 small questionnaires to be sent out: 1. Asking about your resources 2. Asking about your work load It is so important that we have a really good response from L As so that solidarity, commitment and passion is shown to Government and our policy makers. I shall also need to have this info available at the House of Lords