Do I Whistleblow, Or No...?.

[BathshebaKnickerStickers]

For absolutely obvious reasons I cannot give detailed examples.

I am a volunteer helper with a uniformed organisation.

Recently I have been bullied and I have safeguarding concerns regarding someone slightly higher in the organisation than me.

I have a meeting next week regarding this. I am feeling a huge amount of pressure because “if you complain they might leave, and if they leave then (a whole pile of children) won’t be able to go to (uniformed organisation) because (local meeting in a big city on a specific night) won’t be able to carry on”.

The leader in question has behaved horribly. To me more than the children. But horribly to me. I have just read the organisation’s whistle blowing policy and this fits in with it.

I have a meeting next week (without the person involved) where I was going to tell people higher up in the organisation what was going on.

However i’m Under some pressure because “if I formally complain about xxx she might stop doing (uniformed organisation) and then (over 20) members wouldn’t be able to go to (uniformed organisation)”.

I absolutely want to tell the higher authority how other leader has been because I need to call her out on this. I have been bullied and have suffered tangible financial loss because of this issue.

I absolutely feel a genuine moral compulsion to whistle blow on this. It is a very bad situation where the uniformed organisation is being very very badly represented. However, more than 20 girls may no longer have access to this uniformed organisation if this leader leaves rather than “addresses the issues”.

I genuinely believe I should report this behaviour but “what if they refuse to volunteer- think of the (members).. we all surely just want the best for (the members).

Absolutely cannot give more info but I have safeguarding concerns regarding ratios and a load of unreasonable shouting when in loco parentis

I think I'd include the pressure being placed upon you to drop safeguarding concerns as part of your disclosure.

Op, I think you know the reason to whistle blow is to safeguard others who may be being abused or at risk of it. If you are clear your actions are for that, then you absolutely should whistle blow. The girls may miss out but that is because someone is in a role they shouldn’t be. The organisation needs to get that sorted then girls don’t have to miss out!
If shouting etc is happening or other behaviour that is not ok and person won’t stop then you need to whistle blow.
Good luck

Oh to add, i’m An education professional.

So I am really aware of reporting safeguarding concerns.

However I also have the child of (leader i’k Concerned about) in the school I work in an the pupil (previously on brilliant terms) is completely blanking me. No engagement at all from a pupil within our school - obviously following on from what has been sat home.

As a part of safeguarding, organisations should have protection for whistleblowers. Putting pressure on you to drop the complaint is another safeguarding issue.

Please do it and good luck.

The pressure being put on you is definitely an important thing to factor into this.

I'm sorry you're being bullied and I'm sorry this senior person is treating people badly.

Please do speak up about it. What if you didn't speak up and it adversely affected someone vulnerable?

Good luck

You've a legal obligation to report, as an education professional you should know this.

Raise the necessary concerns.

But ime, if it's anything like GG they just dismissed the concerns. Sadly the young person involved felt they had no choice but to leave as the perspective given to them was that a complaint had been made about them, rather than concerns raised about the situation GG had put them in.

If you are also having issues at work because of it then speak to your safeguarding officer there to give them the heads up that you've been put in an untenable situation. I'd be worried about a tit for tat complaint at work.

If you are certain you need to whistleblow then you should, the guilt of but what about x is a hurdle put into place to sow seeds of doubt which it obviously has done.

There may be some short term upheaval but that is not your concern, even though it is playing on your mind. It could cause a larger upheaval the longer it gets swept under the carpet.

Believe me, leaders aren’t necessarily indispensable. If one has to leave, it’s perfectly possible that another one will pop up/ be found to take her place. No one volunteers for a role if someone else is already doing it.

Yes, if you do not report then you are going against protocol and law.
You have a duty to report. Our policy states that reports must be made within 24 hours. You're putting yourself at risk by not saying anything.

If it's the children you're worried about, ask yourself "How would I feel if I didn't report, simply because I didn't want them to miss this big event, then something went tits up with safeguarding - which I could have seen coming - and one of those same kids got hurt in some way?"

Then report. Even if the event has to be cancelled, the worst that can happen is the children feel slightly disappointed. This is minor compared to what could happen to them if something goes wrong with safeguarding in your organisation.

It is absolutely horrible to have to whistleblow, I realise. But don't let the emotional blackmail get to you.

I would.

Staffing ratios can be easily addressed, and should be as if anything went wrong the organisation would be in the spotlight.

The shouting must be bad if you feel it is a safeguarding issue. And it will bring the organisation into a bad light for those who see it or experience it.

If the other leader chooses to leave rather than address the issues, that is her responsibility and not yours. If people are pressuring you not to report, it seems that the problem with the organisation goes beyond Mrs Shouty, and really needs to be addressed.

Absolutely report this behaviour. Too often people in a position of power think they can do what they want, behave how they want because they think they are untouchable, ‘they’ll never get rid of me’ mentality.

I have been in a similar position that you find yourself in and I know how scary it is, but if you believe that children are at risk either physically or mentally, report.

I was involved in whistleblowing a serious safeguarding issue at work and it was a horrible procedure but we knew what we were doing was the right thing. You are the adult and it’s your responsibility to protect all of the children in your care. I’m happy to talk if you need any support.

So they wont get to go on a trip or whatever-so what long term affects are mosre important

May I first of all ask. Why the hell are you putting up with this shit when you're not even being paid for it.
Of course I'm not saying it'd be excusable if you were earning a million pound a week, and Its admirable what you do for no pay but I really don't understand.
Oh and absolutely you have whistle blow. If it is anything to do with safe guarding. You don't really have a choice.

Speak up
If you don't - who will.

The issues at Oxfam have escalated because of just this dilemma to the extent that perpetrators thinks they are untouchable and many more lives are harmed

After Oxfam and Haiti, absolfrickenlutely. There are some who feel above the law in these stations as they are a charity. Worse than a regular abuser.

There is an organisation who support whistleblowers, they are called Protect

I came across them recently when someone asked me for advice on whistleblowing (but not safeguarding)

Absolutely go ahead - & as PP have said, include the fact you’re being pressured not to go ahead in your report.

A volunteer investigated for safeguarding issues might not be removed - depending on the exact nature of the concern, obviously; the examples you’re giving make it sound like they might be offered support + training & some kind of supervision. However, yes, they might jump-before-pushed or refuse terms & leave. However, you are not responsible for what they choose to do in response to a report.

Yes, 20 children missing out on membership of whichever uniformed organisation this is is sad. However, this woman will not be the only Leader of her group. Will her other Leaders leave with her? Could local Leaders run it on a rota basis while new Leaders are found &/or could the children be found spaces in other local groups? Earlier this evening I had an email asking if there were any chance the group I run might be able to accommodate children from one which is closing at the end of this term. Helping to ensure children can continue in youth organisations if their group has to close is the responsibility of people who support volunteers at a local level, so if they think the volunteer in question might leave if reported they should be thinking of ways to keep her group running & if they can’t, to keep the 20 children in question in the organisation.

I’m really sorry it’s been made difficult for you to report your concerns. Please be gentle with yourself & remember that whichever organisation this is there will be lots of volunteers who virtually have your back & will be wishing you well.

Definately report. Make sure you have support, maybe informally as well as thru whistleblowing. Is your safeguarding lead at work any help?

Don't be blackmailed

You are in the fortunate position that this is a voluntary position and you are not financially reliant. I whistle blew and cut a long story I had a drummed up case and was sacked.

Who is telling you not to report? The person you are making the report about or other helpers? If you are sure this is a safeguarding concern and not a personal disagreement then you should definitely whistleblow.

I too volunteer in a 'uniformed organisation' and am currently taking in multiple children from a different but similar organisation who've had enough of the bullying behaviour of that group's leader. If she leaves their group will either have to close or find a new leader. But in the meantime, a bunch of miserable children are leaving in droves.

If she's behaving like this to you, it's likely she's being crap in some ways to the kids in the group. Speak up, on their behalf.

If the people you're meeting to discuss this are also volunteers - albeit 'higher up' - it might be worth making a call to the central office of the org for staff advice. The organisation has a duty. If those you're meeting are volunteers their understanding or motives towards the situation may be less clear cut. People must challenge poor behaviour. If you have any questions about the impact at work, it's also worth talking it through with management there. Good luck.

If she stops volunteering wouldn't the girls just move into different groups within the same organisation?
Look at your meeting as an opportunity to 'raise concerns' and discuss 'improvement'. The organisation HQ will investigate, re-train & monitor accordingly. You'd think...