Resources

Downloadable resources are accessible to members only. The resources listed here only offer a preview of the documents we offer. If you are already a member, please login to access this content. If you are interested in becoming a member, click here.

How To Steward A Festival

A useful guide to stewarding a festival including the different stewards and their role in running a successful event.

Insurance Product Information Document 2024

An overview of the coverage offered by the 2024 Festival Liability and Loss of Money insurance package.

Insurance Product Information Document 2025

An overview of the coverage offered by the 2025 Festival Liability and Loss of Money insurance package.

Investments for Festivals

A introductory guide to investments for your festival

Leaflet - Festival Child Protection

Child protection information for staff and volunteers working at Federation Festival events. This leaflet provides an overview of child protection and your broad responsibilities. It is not intended to replace the need for staff and volunteers to know the relevant policies and procedures.

Leaflet - Safe Working Practice

This is an introductory leaflet to help establish the safest possible working environments for our staff and volunteers in their work with children and young people at our Festivals. We aim to protect children and young people, and to guard against misinterpretation of behaviours and/or unfounded allegations.

Long Service Awards Nomination Form

Long Service Awards Nomination Form for Festivals to acknowledge volunteer service to the festival movement. You can also apply and pay for a Long Service Award online at https://www.federationoffestivals.org.uk/long-service-awards-nomination-form

Managing Accompanists at Festivals

A useful guide to working with accompanists at your festival.

Marketing, Recruitment & Managing Change

An introduction to festival marketing strategies. This covers identifying and reaching your audience, communication, website design and content, social media presence, press and print.

Marking Schemes - Final version for consultation

Following feedback from adjudicators and festivals over a number years, the Adjudicators Council has been working to update the BIFF Marking Schemes and are delighted to be able to share these initial proposals with you.

Music Session - Sounds Contemporary - Joanna Walling

Rock and Pop Specialist, Joanna Walling outlines how we can maximise entries for rock and pop and how to ensure that adjudication is the same quality as it is in other genres.

New BIFF marking scheme guidance

This presentation gives an overview of how to use the new BIFF marking scheme.

New Marking Scheme support and training session recordings

Watch our online information sessions to find out more about the new BIFF marking scheme which is being rolled out from the 1st April 2024.

NNCEE - A Guide to Child Performance Licensing (2020)

The National Network for Children in Entertainment and Employment's (NNCEE) Guide to child performance licensing.

Online Meetings & Governing Documents

Guidance and advice in relation to updating governing bodies, specifically in relation to allowing online meetings.

Online Safety Policy

This is BIFF's policy on online safety.

Photography & Filming at Festivals

A guide to good practice when managing photography and filming at your festival.

Policy on the handling and storage of information

Personalise this for your organisation and pass it on to anyone who is being DBS checked. This is to inform them of what happens to their private information and they must receive a copy of this document from you.

Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders

BIFF's policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders

Policy on the Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders

Personalise this document for your festival. You need to have a policy and a copy must be passed to anyone you are DBS checking. They have a right to know what you will do if information comes back on their form and you have to make a decision whether to employ them or not. This also applies to volunteers.

Privacy Policy

BIFF's Privacy Policy outlining how we process personal data.

QR Code - Descriptors and Criteria

QR code to the Descriptors and Criteria for the new marking scheme rolled out on 1st April 2024. This can be copied and pasted into festival programmes or used on festival websites as an easy way to access the Descriptors and Criteria.

Recruiting Festival Volunteers

This document provides a guide to recruiting volunteers to your festival and what you need to think about when doing this.

Recruitment Form 1: Volunteer Application Form

This must be completed by ALL who work for with you, whether or not they need a DBS check.

Recruitment Form 2: Self Certification Form

To be completed by people who require a DBS check as part of their role.

Rules & Byelaws

This document is our amended Rules & Byelaws to reflect the changes proposed in our Organisational Restructure Proposal 2024/2025. The new additions or amendments are flagged in red text.

S&D Session - Board Set Texts - Rebecca Vines

“Time gallops withal” This interactive session looked at how to retain standards and expectations in the modern world. This session explored: • Hip hop, rap and performance poetry in the syllabus. • Post- 2000 poets and playwrights. • What makes a good adjudicator: best practice refresher. • Bums on seats: keeping Shakespeare relevant in the digital age.

S&D Session - Poetry Recommendations - Rebecca Vines

“Time gallops withal” This interactive session looked at how to retain standards and expectations in the modern world. This session explored: • Hip hop, rap and performance poetry in the syllabus. • Post- 2000 poets and playwrights. • What makes a good adjudicator: best practice refresher. • Bums on seats: keeping Shakespeare relevant in the digital age.

S&D Session - Protected Characteristics - Rebecca Vines

“Time gallops withal” This interactive session looked at how to retain standards and expectations in the modern world. This session explored: • Hip hop, rap and performance poetry in the syllabus. • Post- 2000 poets and playwrights. • What makes a good adjudicator: best practice refresher. • Bums on seats: keeping Shakespeare relevant in the digital age.

S&D Session - Pub Quiz - Rebecca Vines

“Time gallops withal” This interactive session looked at how to retain standards and expectations in the modern world. This session explored: • Hip hop, rap and performance poetry in the syllabus. • Post- 2000 poets and playwrights. • What makes a good adjudicator: best practice refresher. • Bums on seats: keeping Shakespeare relevant in the digital age.