Arcangelo Anti-Bullying & -Harassment Policy
This version approved by the Board on 23 February 2026. This Policy will be reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner if required by changes in law or guidance.
Introduction
Arcangelo is committed to having a workplace free from harassment and bullying and to ensuring that its trustees, employees, consultants, freelancers, and volunteers (collectively, representatives of Arcangelo) who come into contact with Arcangelo in the course of its charitable activities are treated with dignity and respect regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender modality, marital or family status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, creed, culture, religion or belief, age, or disability. Striving to ensure that the work environment is free of harassment and bullying and that everyone is treated with dignity and respect is central to ensuring equal opportunities.
The following policy and associated procedures represent a code of conduct (also represented by our EDI Policy) intended to support this commitment in practice and to provide guidance to Arcangelo representatives on how to deal with concerns of bullying or harassment.
Definitions
Harassment is any unwanted physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them. Harassment is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.
Bullying is any unsolicited or unwelcome act that humiliates, intimidates or undermines the individual involved.
All Arcangelo representatives must treat their colleagues with respect and appropriate sensitivity. Bullying does not include appropriate criticism of the behaviour or artistic performance of a staff member or contractor, or proper management of the performance by a staff member or contractor of his or her duties.
Policy
Arcangelo will not tolerate bullying or harassment in the context of its charitable activities, whether the conduct is a one-off act or repeated course of conduct, and whether done purposefully or not. Neither will Arcangelo tolerate retaliation against, or victimisation of, any person involved in bringing a complaint of harassment or bullying. Retaliation or victimisation will also constitute a disciplinary offence, which may in appropriate circumstances lead to dismissal and/or termination of contract.
Arcangelo will take appropriate action if any of its representatives is bullied or harassed in the context of its charitable activities by other representatives, musicians or audiences (the stakeholders of Arcangelo). Allegations of bullying and harassment will be treated seriously. Investigations will be carried out promptly, sensitively and, as far as possible, confidentially. If, after an investigation, Arcangelo decides that a member of its representatives has been harassed or bullied by a stakeholder, then the stakeholder may be subject to applicable action, up to and including dismissal and/or termination of their contract where applicable.
Staff, contractors and others who make allegations of bullying or harassment in good faith will not be treated less favourably as a result. False accusations of harassment or bullying can have a serious effect on innocent individuals. Staff and others have a responsibility not to make false allegations. False allegations made in bad faith will not be tolerated.
Reporting Concerns
- What you should do if you witness an incident you believe to harassment or bullying:
If you witness such behaviour you should report the incident in confidence to the Executive Director of Arcangelo, Julian Forbes: julian@arcangelo.org.uk or, in circumstances where that may not be appropriate, the Chair of the Arcangelo Board, Sir Nicholas Kenyon: chair@arcangelo.org.uk . Such reports will be taken seriously and will be treated in strict confidence as far as it is possible to do so.
Members of the Musician’s Union and the ISM can also use the appropriate contacts and resources:
https://musiciansunion.org.uk/health-safety-wellbeing/discrimination-and-harassment
https://www.ism.org/advice/protecting-musicians-from-discrimination-bullying-and-harassment/
- What you should do if you feel you are being bullied or harassed:
If you feel you are being bullied or harassed by any stakeholder with whom you come into contact in the context of Arcangelo’s charitable activities, and an informal resolution of the situation does not appear possible or appropriate, you should raise the issue with the Executive Director, or in circumstances where that may not be appropriate, the Chair of the Arcangelo Board, who will then decide how best to resolve the situation, in consultation with you.
Potential resolutions may include:
- Telling the alleged perpetrator(s), without prejudging the matter, that there has been a complaint that their behaviour is having an adverse effect on a fellow member of staff or contractor;
- That such behaviour is contrary to our policy;
- That the continuation of such behaviour could amount to a serious disciplinary offence;
- In exceptional circumstances, investigate further and take more formal action, in consultation with you.
It may be possible for conversations with the alleged perpetrator to take place without revealing your name, if this is what you want. It will be stressed that any conversations are confidential. In certain circumstances we may be able to involve a neutral third party (a mediator) to facilitate a resolution of the problem. The Executive (or the Chair, if applicable) will discuss this with you if it is appropriate.
Disclosure and confidentiality
Arcangelo will treat personal data collected during this process in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
Questions
For questions about this policy, contact the Executive Director of Arcangelo, Julian Forbes, at julian@arcangelo.org.uk