GENERAL APPROACH:
The physical and emotional wellbeing of all who attend A Gamers’ Gaming Getaway is important.
We have measures and policies in place to help ensure this but ultimately safety policies are no use without safety culture, and that has to come from you, the participants. We ask for you to support this.
CHILD SAFETY:
While children and young adults are welcome to attend A Gamers’ Gaming Getaway, this event is not aimed at them.
If you do bring children under 16, you are responsible for ensuring they are supervised appropriately. The organisers are unable to take any specific child safety responsibilities.
FIRST AID:
Catherine Cable, one of the organisers, is in charge of wellbeing. Please speak to her if you need assistance and speak to her if you need to use any of Blackwell Court’s first aid equipment. There will be other first aiders present if required.
FOOD ALLERGIES:
If you have any food allergies and are using the catering provided, please ensure you have let the organisers know when booking, so the chef can appropriately prepare. It is your job to let the appropriate parties know. If your allergies are severe, we recommend providing your own catering.
CONTENT WARNINGS: Advice for running Role Playing events
Roleplaying events, whether live or tabletop, that run at A Gamers’ Gaming Getaway should use content warnings. This is so that prospective participants can form a good idea of whether or not the LARP or TTRPG will be suitable for them. Content warnings should cover any material that may be upsetting to participants.
Content that might require warning could be something described in a character’s past, or something that may happen or may be played on during the event. It could be relevant to all characters, or only to some. Please make sure your warnings are clear about which of these are applicable. Even if this content is secret from other characters within your event, please be absolutely transparent in warning about it, so participants are giving fully informed consent. If you do have content that will be relevant for only some characters, you need to make sure you warn all parties involved. You must also give a chance for participants to opt away from the storylines/characters in advance, with a casting questionnaire, or during, using workshopping.
Please also use warnings about structural elements of LARP’s which some players may find difficult, eg loud noises and flashing lights. Please also be clear about general accessibility requirements for LARPs so that prospective participants are clear whether it may be suitable.
Here’s an example of the kind of content warning used for an event run at The Smoke (whose guidance we have adapted).
ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY:
We will not tolerate harassment at A Gamers’ Gaming Getaway. We do not expect harassment to be an issue but believe it is vital to make it clear what we expect from all of our attendees.
We are dedicated to providing a safe and fun experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnic origin or religion. Everyone attending is expected to treat other attendees, volunteers, organisers and Blackwell staff with respect.
Physical or verbal harassment or assault will not be tolerated. If an attendee engages in harassing behaviour, the organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expelling them from the event with no refund.
If you are being harassed, or see someone being harassed, then please report this immediately. Catherine Cable is the head of wellbeing, if you cannot find her, then go to reception and speak to a volunteer on the desk. Even if you do not want us, the organisers, to take action, it is good for us to note repeat offenders.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
Thank you for helping us to make A Gamers’ Gaming Getaway a safe and inclusive event that everyone can enjoy.
SECURITY:
We have exclusive use of the venue but still ask that everyone stays alert about your own security and of each other’s possessions.
You MUST wear your attendee’s lanyard and pass throughout the event (except when in bed, in the shower or when live roleplaying).
Some areas will be locked overnight, whereas others will remain accessible. We expect that most other areas will remain accessible overnight. Please keep any valuables with you or locked in a car as we are unable to take responsibility for them.
Each Pod has one key, it is up to you individually to keep this key safe, and lock up your Pod when unattended.