Child performance licences
You will need a licence if you want a child to perform on stage, in television, film or commercials or to work in professional sport or as a model. This applies to children from birth to compulsory school leaving age.
The person responsible for the performance and the parent should both complete and sign an application form:
- Child Performance Licence application form [45Kb]
- Guidance for completing Child Performance Licence [55Kb]
You will also need to provide:
- proof of the child's date of birth
- a digital photograph of the child taken within the last 6 months (head and shoulders only)
- a copy of the contract (if issued)
- a letter giving permission for absence from school (if applicable)
- a risk assessment
- a signed and dated safeguarding policy
Email completed forms and accompanying information to: child.licensing@bury.gov.uk.
A licence will not be granted unless the council is satisfied that the child is fit to take part in a performance, that their education will not suffer and that proper supervision has been made to secure their health, comfort and kind treatment.
In certain circumstances Bury Council may consider issuing a Body of Persons Approval to an organisation for performances involving children. This type of exemption may be appropriate providing no payment is being made to the child (or to anyone else), if the child is absent from school, they will require a school authorisation letter to take part and the performance is taking place within Bury Council boundaries.
Email completed forms and contracts to: child.licensing@bury.gov.uk giving at least 21 days' notice.
An approval will only be granted providing the above criteria are met and the council is satisfied the organisation has clear, robust and well embodied policies for safeguarding children.
As a parent, you will receive a copy of the licence. The licence is a legal document and any conditions that have been applied must be adhered to. When you receive your copy please read it carefully.
For photographic modelling, a licence will be issued for a single shoot on a specified date at a named location. You will need to contact your child's school to request absence in advance of each modelling engagement.
Photographic modelling is different from catwalk modelling which needs a performance licence.
For TV programmes, commercials, films, sound recordings or theatre productions the licence is issued for the part the child is playing.
If the part is as a TV extra with a long running TV drama series the licence will be issued for a six month period. It will be a condition of this type of performance licence that the licence holder provides written advance notice to the council of any filming engagements your child has during this period.
The licence will state what days if any your child has permission to be absent from school. A licence issued for TV extra work will state how many days absence the head teacher may be willing to grant for filming work. You will need to contact the school to request absence in advance of each filming engagement.
A child must be chaperoned by their own parent or by a chaperone approved by a local authority.
Contact
If you have any questions contact the Child Licensing Officer:
Email: child.licensing@bury.gov.uk
Tel: 0161 253 5693