BARNES LITERARY SOCIETY POLICIES

The Barnes Literary Society is able to provide funding to organisations in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames that meet the Society’s objectives as set out below.

The objectives of The Barnes Literary Society:

  • To promote the arts in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for the public benefit by promoting and providing opportunities for the appreciation and understanding of literature.
  • These opportunities could include visits to places of literary interest, a forum for the discussion of literary topics or such other activities as the Trustees shall, from time to time, determine.

To apply for funding, please complete the application form below.

  • Applications will be considered at the monthly BLS Committee meetings.
  • Funding is granted at the discretion of the Trustees.
  • Recipients of grants will be required to complete a feedback form and demonstrate that the grant received was used for the purpose for which it was intended.
Apply for grant funding

The Barnes Literary Society Trustee Code of Conduct

All Trustees should:

  • Act in a responsible and polite manner
  • Read and keep up to date with the Safeguarding Policy and Risk Assessment Policies
  • Report any concerns to the Chair or to another Trustee
  • Act in a way that does not put at risk the Health and Safety of any Trustees or members of The Barnes Literary Society

The Barnes Literary Society Safeguarding Policy

The objectives of The Barnes Literary Society:

To promote the arts in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for the public benefit by promoting and providing opportunities for the appreciation and understanding of literature.

  • These opportunities could include visits to places of literary interest, a forum for the discussion of literary topics or such other activities as the Trustees shall, from time to time, determine.

To ensure the Health and Safety of both Trustees and members of The Barnes Literary Society, all Trustees will undertake the following:

  • Read and review the Safeguarding Policy annually
  • Report any concerns to the Chair or to other Trustees
  • Ensure that there is a standing item on the Agenda of the meeting of the Board on safeguarding issues
  • Ensure that The Barnes Literary Society has a Complaints Procedure and a clear process for how concerns should be raised
  • Read and review the Risk Assessment documents annually

The Safeguarding Policy

All Trustees and members of The Barnes Literary Society have the right to a safe and secure environment when they attend Board meetings or BLS events.

The Department of Health in its ‘No Secrets’ 2000 report, sets out the following as the main types of abuse:

Physical abuse Neglect and acts of omission
Sexual abuse Discriminatory abuse
Psychological abuse Domestic abuse
Financial or material abuse

All forms of abuse are unlawful and the Trustees have a duty to report any concerns regarding any form of abuse, either amongst Trustees or members, to the Chair and one other Trustee, or to two Trustees, excluding the Chair.

Raising a Safeguarding Concern:

  • Concerns should be raised in writing and addressed to the Chair and to one other Trustee, or to two Trustees, excluding the Chair.
  • Written concerns will be raised at the next Trustee meeting
  • The concern and any response will be logged.

The Barnes Literary Society Complaints Procedure Policy

The purpose of this policy is to set out The Barnes Literary Society’s approach to the managing of, and responding to, complaints.

Our aim is to deal with all complaints in ways which are demonstrably consistent, fair and reasonable. We reserve the right to handle any complaint made unreasonably, persistently or vexatiously, outside the Complaints Procedure. All complaints received will be dealt with confidentially and in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations.

Complaints in general:
• Complaints should be raised in writing and addressed to the Chair and to one other Trustee or to two Trustees excluding the Chair
• Written complaints will be raised at the next Trustee meeting
• Complaints and responses will be logged

Complaints relating to Grant-making:
• A complaint can be made about whether we have followed our procedures accurately and taken all relevant information from the applicant into account
• A complaint can be made about whether we have provided a consistent and courteous service

• A complaint cannot be made about a grant decision if all procedures were followed correctly
• A complaint cannot be made about a grant decision once three months have elapsed since that decision was made

Procedure for making complaints about Grant-making

In the event of the receipt of a complaint regarding the treatment of a grant application, the following Complaints Procedure and Timetable will apply. Please note that this is a procedure for making a complaint against how an application has been treated. It is not a procedure for appealing against the substance of a decision.

A complaint can be received by phone, email or letter. An individual will be encouraged to put the complaint in writing [email or letter] to avoid misunderstandings. The date upon which an email is received or a paper copy of the complaint is received at the address of the PO Box of The Barnes Literary Society, will be that recorded for receipt of the complaint. Contact details for The Barnes Literary Society are provided on the website and in correspondence.

Acknowledgement of the receipt of the complaint will be given along with the timetable to be followed.

A panel of two Trustees, plus the Chair [none of whom having been specified in the complaint], will be convened with six weeks of the receipt of the complaint. Each Trustee will be involved in setting a date for the meeting of the panel. This meeting will consider the complaint and decide on any action to be taken.

The panel will consider the complaint, having referred to all relevant documents. The Trustee Designated Lead will be in attendance to keep a record of the proceedings. The panel will report their decision, with reasons, within nine weeks of the date of the receipt of the complaint. Once the panel has reported on the complaint to the complainant, no further correspondence, or discussion, will be entered into.