Asbestos Management Survey at St Ives Theatre

Kidz R Us is an award-winning youth theatre company. Their team are dedicated to getting young people involved in the performing arts to support their development and the wider community.

The theatre works with around 100 children, teenagers and young adults a year. Since their formation in 1994, they have produced more than 100 shows and won numerous awards. Keep an eye out for their unmissable musicals throughout the year and traditional family panto at Christmas.

Kidz R Us, a self-sustaining social enterprise, runs on the hard work and love of volunteers, performers and parents. Their focus is always on what their young people can achieve. Their success has enabled them to perform in iconic places such as the Minack Theatre, the London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall. They provide amazing opportunities that support the development of young people and provide much needed entertainment in the St Ives area.

Asbestos Management Survey

The Control of Asbestos Regulations (CAR) 2012 imposes a duty on those who manage non-domestic properties built before 2000. Kidz R Us operates out of their own 350-seat theatre. Originally built in 1890, it is now a converted Wesleyan chapel. They contacted Scientific Services to arrange for an asbestos survey to protect people from asbestos risks within their premises.

Initial discussions with our technical team, confirmed that there were no planned modifications to the theatre and that a management survey would best meet their needs.

Our experienced, P402 qualified asbestos surveyor attended site to complete the survey at a date and time that would minimise disruption to the theatre. Completed during the Covid pandemic, social distancing measures were adhered to. This ensured the safety of our surveyor and others at the theatre.

A number of samples were collected and transported back to our UKAS accredited asbestos testing laboratory. The results informed the survey report which enabled an asbestos register to be produced. This document is key. It informs the duty holder’s next steps:

• Step 1 - to complete a risk assessment based upon the findings.
• Step 2 - to prepare a suitable management plan in accordance with (CAR) 2012.

On-going advice

Scientific Services’ expert team of consultants have discussed the survey report with Kidz R Us. We are available to help and provide advice if needed. We will help them to ensure that the theatre continues to meet their duty to manage asbestos.

“The overall level of service was excellent. A friendly, efficient, knowledgeable team who provided good advice, caused minimal disruption to our operations and produced a clear survey report.” Angela Skitt, Kidz R Us.