{"id":10972,"date":"2025-10-20T10:29:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T10:29:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/?p=10972"},"modified":"2026-01-29T17:01:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T17:01:34","slug":"reform-needed-for-uk-child-performer-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spotlight.com\/news-and-advice\/the-industry\/reform-needed-for-uk-child-performer-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Child Performer Safety: Our Call for Urgent Reform"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out how Spotlight and the AYPA are demanding an urgent government review to establish uniform, safer protections for the UK\u2019s child performers.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s time we properly acknowledged the vital contribution of young performers to the UK&#8217;s creative industries. Despite their essential talent, the current regulations leave these performers vulnerable, lacking crucial financial and safeguarding protections across a confusing licensing patchwork.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article explores the urgent need for a cohesive government review to secure a safer and more uniform future for every child on stage and screen.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><b>What You\u2019ll Learn in This Article:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The current system for regulating UK child performers is failing to keep up with technical developments, with licensing often treated as an educational issue by the Department for Education (DfE) rather than a cultural one by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite existing legislation, there is a &#8220;local authority lottery&#8221; for licences, leading to inconsistencies in safeguarding, education provision and the standards for chaperones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA) and Spotlight are actively lobbying the government for a comprehensive review and update of the 2014 Regulations, aiming for a uniform, joined-up licensing system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lack of legal financial protections for young performers&#8217; earnings, an issue the AYPA and Spotlight wish to see addressed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The need for reform is urgent, given the exponential growth in roles for young performers on both stage and screen.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Young performers are an essential part of the creative industries. Whether or not these performers progress their careers into adulthood, or stop acting before they turn 18, they\u2019re a vital component of our cultural output on stage and on screen. But their contribution is not often given the credit it deserves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The number of creative opportunities for young performers has grown exponentially over the last decade. On stage, shows like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Matilda<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lion King<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oliver!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regularly use child performers for lead roles and rely on their talent, professionalism and dedication in the same way an adult actor would be expected to deliver.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On screen, we\u2019ve seen an increase in the number of roles given to young performers, most significantly the television adaptation of HBO\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harry Potter<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> series, currently in production. A new generation will be introduced to \u2018Harry\u2019, \u2018Ron\u2019 and \u2018Hermione\u2019 as young British actors Dominic McLaughlin, Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton take on the roles made famous by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Value and Growth of Young UK Talent<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The work of young performers is regulated largely by the Children (Performances and Activities) Regulations 2014. These regulations were intended to:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve the safeguarding for young performers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help young performers get the most out of their experiences working in the entertainment sector.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set out requirements around chaperones.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They established a new licensing framework that set conditions for:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working hours<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breaks (including for rehearsals)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provided provisions to make sure that a young performer\u2019s education wouldn\u2019t be negatively affected by any time away from school.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The regulations were a significant shift in how young performers were able to perform safely and, for over a decade, have provided the backbone for licensing by Local Authorities across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it\u2019s not perfect. The licensing system is uneven. We have no single system for granting licences to perform and it\u2019s not joined up. Without any connectedness, consecutive licences can be granted, leaving young performers without sufficient breaks in working or without the appropriate amount of education provided.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The requirements for chaperones aren\u2019t always to the highest standard, nor are they always engaged for work outside of rehearsals and performances, such as for costume fittings or chemistry reads.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>The Flaw in the Foundation: Uneven Regulation<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problems stem from a lack of Governmental oversight. The lead Government department for young performers is actually the Department for Education (DfE) because the overview is seen as time away from education, not the value of the experience working in the creative industries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has no involvement in the delivery of licences or their oversight. A failure to understand the needs of the creative sector and how it works means that young performers are at risk of losing out on opportunities, losing out on their education or being put at risk simply because the licensing arrangements don\u2019t reflect the environment they\u2019re being applied to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Securing the Future: The Push for a Comprehensive Review<\/h3>\n<p><strong>What we&#8217;ve been doing so far:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spotlight has been working with the Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA) to lobby the Government to improve the protections of young performers. <\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/parliamentlive.tv\/event\/index\/7cc3a471-b82e-4275-8b3a-e620d88fdda1?in=15:47:40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">With the help of Baroness Floella Benjamin<\/a>, the driving force behind the 2014 Regulations, we are working to keep the Government to its commitment to review the Regulations 10 years after they were introduced. Following our collective intervention during the Children\u2019s Wellbeing and Schools\u2019 Bill, the Government has agreed that a review is needed, and we\u2019ll be pressing the Government to meet that commitment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What we&#8217;d like to see happen next:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019d like to see a comprehensive review involving the licensing authorities and, crucially, those people who represent young performers when they\u2019re working, whether that be a parent or guardian, or their agent, as well as representatives from the industry working with those performers.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s vital that the experience of how our industry works informs and shapes those protective requirements that allow young performers to work safely but maximise their opportunities. We must make sure that they are given all the chances they deserve to showcase their talent and skills but do so in a safe and supportive environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Update: 26 November 2025<\/h3>\n<p>Research commissioned by the National Network of Children in Employment and Education (NNCEE) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nncee.org.uk\/news\/1778\/children-in-performance-voices-of-parents-chaperones-exec-summary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">highlighted many inequalities and issues faced by parents and chaperones of performer children<\/a>. The research, conducted in the summer of 2025 by researcher and educational specialist Rachel Barnett-Jones, proposes a series of next steps and we&#8217;re working across the sector to look into how we can continue to advocate for positive change.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We look forward to continuing our work with AYPA and others as we move towards a review of the Regulations and a better understanding of how young performers benefit from our sector.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Update: 29 January 2026<\/h3>\n<p>On Wednesday 28 January Baroness Floella Benjamin spoke on behalf of young performers in the debate on the Children&#8217;s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in Parliament. We&#8217;re working with AYPA to improve the safety and education of young performers when they work and the contribution from the Baroness was a key part of our efforts. Take a look at what Baroness Benjamin had to say:<\/p>\n<p><!-- <?UMBRACO_MACRO macroAlias=\"ResponsiveEmbed\" EmbedInfo=\"&lt;iframe width=&quot;1280&quot; height=&quot;675&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BINDtOEc4ng?si=D0rftmUAhMx4iPFq ; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;\/iframe&gt;\" \/> --> <ins><\/ins><\/p>\n<div class=\"responsiveEmbed responsiveEmbedInWysiwyg\">\n<div class=\"embededYoutube\" style=\"padding-top: 52.73438%; position: relative; width: 100%; display: block;\"><iframe style=\"border: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BINDtOEc4ng?si=D0rftmUAhMx4iPFq =0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><strong>Essential Steps for New Young Performers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the industry works tirelessly to ensure the necessary legislative changes are made, parents and guardians of young performers beginning their careers must be proactive. Navigating the current fragmented system requires diligence to safeguard education and well-being. Here are crucial steps to ensure your experience is both safe and professionally rewarding:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Verify licensing and breaks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Always confirm that your Local Authority licence is current and valid for the production, and strictly track that your child receives the required rest periods and sufficient breaks between consecutive performances.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prioritise education:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Parents or guardians should ensure any provisions for tutoring or time off school, as mandated by the Department for Education (DfE) guidelines, are meticulously tracked and adhered to.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Insist on professional chaperones:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Demand that a fully vetted chaperone of the highest standard is present not just for the performance, but also for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> work, including activities such as costume fittings and chemistry reads.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Establish financial protection:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Given the current lack of statutory protection for young performers&#8217; wages, you should establish a dedicated Trust Account to legally safeguard your child\u2019s earnings until they reach adulthood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Seek reputable representation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Choose an agent who is a member of recognised bodies, such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theaypa.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agents of Young Performers Association (AYPA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, to ensure they operate with the highest professional and ethical standards.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kelly Wiffen is Head of Public Affairs at Spotlight, working on our engagement with Government, Parliament and other political organisations. She engages Spotlight\u2019s partners across the creative industries to showcase our role in the sector and is currently working on a variety of issues, including employment rights, young performers\u2019 safeguarding and Brexit. She previously worked at both the advertising and broadcasting regulators, Equity and was Head of Public Affairs for Arts Council England.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find out how Spotlight and the AYPA are demanding an urgent government review to establish uniform, safer protections for the UK\u2019s child performers. It\u2019s time we properly acknowledged the vital contribution of young performers to the UK&#8217;s creative industries. Despite their essential talent, the current regulations leave these performers vulnerable, lacking crucial financial and safeguarding [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":130,"featured_media":10974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[68,101,70],"class_list":["post-10972","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-industry","tag-finances-legal","tag-parents","tag-young-performers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UK Child Performer Safety: Our Call for Urgent Reform | Spotlight<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Spotlight and AYPA successfully convince the government to review the outdated 2014 regulations that govern young performers. 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