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

Low staff numbers can’t be a reason not to report concerns. It’s not down to you to arrange staffing numbers. I’d also think about speaking to someone at your day job - without giving specifics - if a report from you is going to spill into your day job too.

Uniformed Organisation meeting tonight.

She didn’t speak to me or make eye contact with me. When I arrived she did paperwork with her back to the whole room, and in a different room to where the uniformed wee ones were.

I thought it was important for me to follow through with my commitment to the organisation by going tonight.

I have my meeting with the leader and higher up (also volunteer position) on Tuesday.

I’m finding this so stressful and burst into tears as soon as I left the building. I now have wine as a reward for being brave.

I have suffered significant financial loss. My child and I were going on an activity trip with the group, in the current climate, being completely ignored, my presence in untenable and I have therefore cancelled both of us going. Another leader from the organisation is going instead of me.

The group have retained money of mine that was paid to the activity provider because “that has already been paid” - amount x2 as I was going with my child.

I feel if I had cancelled because I just decided not to go, or I booked a family holiday that week instead, then it’s reasonable for a deposit to be retained. In this situation where I cannot attend due to bullying, both deposits should be returned. Head leader has continually said I have “done nothing wrong”, but she “likes us both and doesn’t want to take sides”.... however she has refused to return our full money (despite me doing “nothing wrong”).

Sorry, dropped off the first page and just bumping for advice

OP have you approached public concern at work (recently rebranded as Protect)? They are experts here. They have a helpline.

I’m in Scotland so I don’t think that’s here

It’s a national charity - confidential helpline - they just listen to you and offer advice and support on the best way of revealing your concern if you decide to take that step.

Google ‘public concern at work.’

I'm a leader in Guiding.
Report higher
Report higher
Report higher
Go to County, Region, national HQ if you need to. Volunteers should be valued, not bullied.

It is very hard but you know you have to do it because if who you are,you can't not.
I had this in my first job.Because of who I am I had no choice.
It is harder than some people think because no one likes whistle blowers as they often have to report to people who have chosen not to look and you make them.Hopefully they then do the right thing but this also is not guaranteed.
I know you will do the right thing OP and I also know how hard it can be but whatever the outcome you can live with yourself because at least you tried.
As for your money,that is tough so hope you get that back.

Regarding the trip, it’s difficult for them to refund your money if it’s already been paid to the people they’ve booked with. I understand why you feel you should get it back, but essentially it will cost everyone else more to go if they refund you. That being said, as a volunteer you shouldn’t be paying anything anyway. I’m a Brownie Leader and the only trips I’ve paid for are internationals I’ve been on with older girls.

You should definitely report up the chain of command. If you’re not happy with how something is being dealt with, escalate it up the chain. Sometimes things are dealt with properly locally because people are too close to those involved. If it’s Girlguiding, there is a safeguarding number you can ring for the organisation where you can report concerns. I reported a leader who ran an international I went on for bullying behaviour. It was dealt with very seriously and I believe this leader has been prevented from running any future trips of a similar nature. I know that was dealt with at a national level because the trip was a regional level one.

I think you know what to do already

An event being missed is not that big a deal . A bully being in charge of children really is

If it's girlguiding then you should use the national safeguarding reporting procedure. That's exactly why it's there.
www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/running-your-unit/safeguarding-and-risk/concerns-about-girls/

If it's GB then that's harder, it seems to all be dealt with locally.

It sounds like a personality clash between two adults more than a safeguarding issue.

I know this is a zombie thread, but wondered what outcome was @BathshebaKnickerStickers?

The outcome was I no longer volunteer, the girls that go are getting a very negative experience and I ended up being £200 down for the privilege.

I spoke to a regional person who seemed nice but was unable to help and I have tried to put it all behind me.

So the bully and abuser got away with it?

@BathshebaKnickerStickers

The outcome was I no longer volunteer, the girls that go are getting a very negative experience and I ended up being £200 down for the privilege.

I spoke to a regional person who seemed nice but was unable to help and I have tried to put it all behind me.

@BathshebaKnickerStickers I'm so sorry.

I appreciate what you say re putting it behind you, but could I please ask a couple of questions about this?

@Eggybrains - yeah, no problem

[quote BathshebaKnickerStickers]@Eggybrains - yeah, no problem[/quote]
Thanks - have sent you a PM

@minisoksmakehardwork would also be interested in hearing more about the experience you described if you'd be willing to speak to me? Many thanks

@BathshebaKnickerStickers was it Girlguiding?

@Eggybrains Yes it was

@BathshebaKnickerStickers please can we speak on PM?

I’m at work at the moment but will reply this evening

@BathshebaKnickerStickers thanks so much. S x