Heidi Bradley, founder of the BandSafe initiative, was recently invited to make a presentation at National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Annual Council Meeting in London.

Speaking as an ambassador for Brass Bands England in front of over 200 charity supporters, Heidi talked about her pioneering work in developing a safe culture within the brass band community. Heidi shared her personal story of BandSafe and the journey it has taken to the present day, where it's now part of Brass Bands England's core delivery strategy.

Honour

Speaking after the event Heidi said: "It was an honour to be asked and share my journey with it. They have always been great supporters of the project, but to be given the opportunity to share this as an example of good practice made me very proud of what has been achieved."

She added: "There are currently over 300 bands registered on the BandSafe site able to access resources and support. I'm so pleased that Brass Bands England have embedded this work into their core strategy and I look forward to watching it grow further in their capable hands.

I've now formally handed the resource over to BBE, but will continue to promote this work as a volunteer Safeguarding Ambassador for them."

Rewarding

In response, BBE's Sophie Anderson told 4BR: "It's incredibly rewarding to see the work of Brass Bands England being celebrated by the NSPCC.

To have this promoted at a national event to an audience outside of our own playing community is simply fantastic. It's a real credit to the tireless efforts Heidi has put in to the project over the past 10 years."

Superb tool

Sophie added: "BandSafe is a superb online toolkit that is free and accessible to all brass bands.

We're currently working in partnership with the NSPCC to develop a face-to-face training programme to sit alongside the online tool, providing a further layer of support to bands.

Tickets are on sale for our pilot workshop in the South East, hosted by SCABA in Spring 2019, with further sessions running later in the year."

BandSafe is a superb online toolkit that is free and accessible to all brass bandsBrass Bands England

Further aims

When asked what Heidi will be up to next she told 4BR: "Now that BandSafe is in safe hands I can get back to fundraising for the NSPCC. Through 'Rambling Brass' I've raised over £4,000 from events that have involved walking and playing up mountains, cross country and on many hilltops across the UK.

Next year I would like to walk and play along the Yorkshire Wolds Way. I'll be looking for fellow musicians to join me either for part, or all the walk.

Interested

Anyone interested in helping Heidi, please contact: heidi.bradley@yahoo.com

BandSafe can be accessed at: https://www.bbe.org.uk/what-we-do/bandsafe