to not do Safeguarding training?

[Sausagenbacon]

I belong to a church, and occasionally serve coffee at the end of the service. I am being asked to take Safeguarding training, which I think is utterly pointless.
I have expressed this and been told that it's policy, and I have to do it.
AIBU to just stop doing coffee?

@BIWI that would be silly since the OP is writing on here. But people underestimate the barriers to volunteering, and lack of literacy can make it very hard to volunteer.

Well quite @herewegoagainy

And we're discussing what the OP should do, not whataboutery about other people

Christ on a bike

Do the training. Or stop volunteering. There's a lot to safeguarding other than "knowing who to report to"

Things like, oh I don't know, what to report. How to react if someone makes a disclosure to you (clue, the answer isn't saying it's not your job because you only do the hot drinks)

Why are you volunteering if you clearly don't give a toss about the people you're handing drinks to?

The point of safeguarding training is to increase awareness of the various ways of abuse, recognise the signs of abuse and how and where to report such abuse. A person who hasn't received the training can inadvertently put someone at risk, fail to spot the signs of abuse or, as you suggest, start doing their own investigation...
There is a reason for training being mandatory. And it very much sounds like both the OP and you need some training in this area.

Then you discuss with those responsible ways to be able to access the training.

It's difficult to fathom, really, why someone who a) gives up their time to volunteer and b) is a person of faith (whatever kind that might be) would refuse to take part in something that's about helping to care for other members of their congregation.

I expect the church is obliged to ensure all their volunteers have had the training and presumably their records must reflect that. Safeguarding protects the organisation, not just their clients/ service users. This is obvious to anyone who understands safeguarding.

Do you also think political correctness has gone mad?

The very fact that you think it is pointless means you do not understand what it actually entails and therefore need the training.

In any case, what is wrong with expanding your knowledge on a subject, or do you think you know everything?

OP either doesn't care or thinks they know it all.

you can stop doing the coffee for any reason you like. YANBU there. Stopping because you don’t want to spend a half hour doing some training seems a bit petty, but it’s a free country. YABU to describe safeguarding training as “pointless” and insisting on seeing policies rather than either just getting on with it or stopping volunteering.

Perhaps you will do the one about Vulnerable Adults and about Children. Even if never in a direct 'at risk' situation the Course will make you more alert to what risks there might be in completely different settings.

Being irresponsible is not the same thing as questioning authority.

I'm not religious but I'm pretty sure Jesus would not choose this particular hill to die on.

I think this is now the norm. You meet vulnerable people and you, and they, may benefit from increased awareness. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Presumably it is just an hour or so of your time for a talk, discussion and presentation.

I think that volunteer work should not involve an unreasonable burden of training. So if the training is up to an hour, I would do it. But if it is longer than that, I would not do it. I have to do a full day for adult safeguarding and one for children every year, but it is related to my job. I would not give up my own time to do that much for a volunteer position. Tbh though, I can see how it may be relevant to what you are doing.

I can think of loads of reasons it's needed but then I've done all the training 🤷‍♀️ probably best you don't do it and stop volunteering if you don't understand why it's required.

As everyone else is saying, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, do the training or drop out
a lot of things are pointless but they still need to be done

They won’t be testing you, there won’t be a pass or fail.
Safeguarding awareness could help you recognise if one of your churchgoers is at risk of harm.

No, because you seem a bit dim to be trusted around vulnerable people and hot liquids.

"I think that volunteer work should not involve an unreasonable burden of training. So if the training is up to an hour, I would do it. But if it is longer than that, I would not do it."
My DH volunteered to help at an event. It involved children but he'd not be left alone with them and would be surrounded by other adults with the appropriate training.
The safeguarding course was 3 hours - longer than he'd be at the event itself.

He doesn't have time for that! So he had to pull out.

Elderly people are very vulnerable. You could be handing out a cup of coffee and overhear a conversation that is worrying and training will help you understand how to help. We all have a responsibility to safeguard others. I have worked in primary schools and now in a sixth form college so I have had several different short courses. They are usually quite quick and it is very useful knowledge to have.

Jesus

Probably best you don't do it

And stop 'just handing out coffee'

If you can't see the reasoning for the training, you're not suited to volunteering

Just do it and volunteer or don't do it and don't volunteer. Simple.

Why are you telling me this? I agree with training I know about types of abuse including cuckooing, elder abuse, abuse of carers and by carers etc. etc.