The Government has published the findings from the consultation that ended November 2023 on mandatory reporting:
This will likely mean that some changes will come into place for UK safeguarding regulations.
The NSPCC is offering some free webinars to help explain the changes. Thursday 6th June is specifically for charities and volunteer sectors:
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/training/mandatory-reporting-webinars
Triratna’s model policies for Safeguarding children and adults, updated for 2023/2024, are now available over on the Triratna Resources page, along with guidance documents and the Triratna Model Ethical Guidelines.
See/download the model policies, guidelines and guidance documents.
In response to a recommendation from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) the UK Government has accepted the need for a new law to make it mandatory for certain people to report child sexual abuse.
They are now consulting as to to whom this duty should apply and in what circumstances. Responses are welcome from any individual or organisation.
Read more and take part in the consultation.
Deadline: 14th August 2023
Following yesterday's post about Munisha and Amaladipa moving on from Safeguarding work in Triratna, here is a message from those raising money to thank them both, and to enable Munisha to have a rest before seeking further employment.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/thank-you-to-our-safeguarding-team#start
"Back in 2016, Munisha saw the need for Triratna Centres to comply with legislation around the protection from harm of children and adults. Ably helped by Amaladipa (bringing considerable expertise from a career in the probation service) they pioneered the support for Centres to know their legal duties and advise on dealing with problems as they arose.
It was far from easy work, as they navigated responses ranging from concern about how safeguarding lived alongside Triratna culture, to distrust, even some hostility. But many have appreciated their efforts in establishing clear, practical (and law-abiding!) policies and procedures.
A few words from Aryajaya: "I've enjoyed seeing your friendship grow through the work you have done together for the Movement and Order. I'm so glad you had the support of each other as you pioneered a new area of work that has been extremely contentious and difficult for the Order to understand. It hasn't been easy but you haven't given up on the principles that you feel are important to uphold. You both have great senses of humour and I'm sure that has seen you through some of the difficulties but has also lightened the load for me at times. A huge, huge thanks for all you have given to help centres in particular come up to SG standards and model best practice in that area. Sadhu!"
And from Ratnadharini: "Munisha, supported by Amaladipa, has been doing a tough job over the past few years. She saw the necessity of introducing safeguarding policies and practices into Triratna, and took on responsibility for overseeing the process on behalf of the ECA. Her dedication means our Centres now have effective safeguarding in place. However introducing something new has not been without challenge, and both Munisha and Amaladipa need to be able to take a break; I very much hope we can make this possible."
And from Subhadassi: "I have met regularly - often weekly - with Munisha and Amaladipa for well over two years in my role as Order ethics convenor. Their commitment to safeguarding work - and to the Triratna Order - has always been apparent to me over this time. I salute them for all the important work they've done over the years. I also want to recognise how hard it has been for them at times. Their work has at times been thankless, which means I am especially grateful to have the opportunity to appreciate them publicly, and to invite you to do so by giving dana to them in recognition of their hard work. I am sure that they will spend it wisely!"
We would like to express our appreciation for all the work they have done by helping them into the next stage of their life - give as much as you'd like.
with many thanks,
Bodhilila, Prasadacarin, Satyajyoti, Silabodhi, Silanatha
The executive (trustees) of Triratna's European Chairs Assembly (ECA)
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/thank-you-to-our-safeguarding-team#start
Dear Friends,
After seven years as Triratna's European Chairs' Assembly's Safeguarding officer I will be moving on at the end of June; and Amaladipa has recently stepped down as the ECA's Safeguarding Adviser, after volunteering six years of invaluable work, support and advice, much of it on top of her full-time job as a senior leader in the probation service.
I am so grateful to Amaladipa for the support and expertise she has contributed to this work, helping me build it up from nothing. I could not have done it without her - not without her sometimes somewhat grim sense of humour (!) and not without her unfailing compassion for those who have been harmed and those who have caused harm.
I am also thankful to all those who have supported us and helped to build up an understanding of Safeguarding in Triratna; and really proud that our centres were able to make so much progress in this area in such a short time.
There is more to do, of course, but now we are a bit tired! I am looking forward to some months' rest over the Swedish summer before seeking further employment of some kind.
I am happy to say that Hridayagita (previously Safeguarding officer at Taraloka) will be taking over as ECA Safeguarding officer from 1st July, and no doubt will be introducing herself soon.
With much metta,
Munisha
safeguarding@triratna.community
Here comes information about the next three Buddhist Healthy Boundaries courses for committed Buddhists who teach, lead, mentor or befriend those less experienced than themselves. In Triratna terms these are most likely to be Order members.
Though not related specifically to Safeguarding (a very UK approach) they aim to raise our awareness - as committed Buddhists whom others may tend to look up to - in ways which will help us avoid the kinds of situations which may from time to time give rise to Safeguarding concerns and allegations.
Led by experienced Buddhist teachers from several traditions, these courses are offered online.
They're open to teachers and leaders in all Buddhist traditions and a number of Order members in Europe and North America have already taken part.
A fee is payable, and bursaries are available.
2023 Dates: May 2-June 2; September 5 - October 6; and October 10 - November 17
For all details, and/or to express interest, please see this survey.
The organisers write:
Dear all,
As Buddhism continues to flourish in the West, it faces an array of vital questions and opportunities – including diversity, ecodharma, digital and virtual practice – but its future may well depend on one area of critical importance: the training of teachers and sangha leaders on boundary issues and power dynamics, the potential for misconduct, and grievance processes. An understanding of these issues is essential to preventing the harm done when trust is broken in teacher-student relationships.
Addressing this, Healthy Boundaries for Buddhist Leaders is a five-week online program, with four live Zoom meetings, grounded in fundamental teachings of wisdom and compassion, providing teachers and leaders with the tools and knowledge to understand the importance of healthy boundaries and the complexities of power and vulnerability in teacher-student relations.
Participation: The course is open to dharma teachers from all Buddhist traditions, whether formally authorized or teaching independently, as well as teachers-in-training, those in positions of authority or leadership in their communities (meditation instructors, sangha members who share practice advice, give talks or teachings, or lead courses and programs), members of administrative boards of directors, and chaplains or others working in prisons, hospitals, schools and other institutions.
2023 Dates: May 2-June 2; September 5 - October 6; and October 10 - November 17
To express interest in the course, please fill out this survey, and contact info@buddhisthealthyboundaries.org with any questions.
Instructors: The course teachers are leaders in their Buddhist communities in the United States and Europe and have extensive experience teaching on boundaries and right relationship to power: Roshi Jan Chozen Bays; Roshi Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts; Roshi Amy Tu-es-cela Hollowell; Roshi Karin Ryuku Kempe; Sensei Michel Plein-ciel Oltheten; Sensei Patrick Bansho Green, Sensei Tony Shinro Doubleday, and Dharma Holder Jitsujo T. Gauthier.
With gratitude,
Alexa Plum River Klein-Mayer
Program Manager
Buddhist Healthy Boundaries LLC
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_V1inzoANuIUXDrfD2ksngjAATVouIhOnlJEqtHPXwEFX9w/viewform">For details, and/or to express interest, please see this survey.
Questions welcome by email to info@buddhisthealthyboundaries.org
These courses were previously run by the US charity Faith Trust Institute.
After seven years as Triratna’s European Chairs Assembly’s Safeguarding officer, Munisha is stepping down by the end of June and applications are now invited for this Order post by 28th March 2023.
This is an opportunity to be of real help to those running centres and retreat centres, who express great appreciation of the help available to them, from both Amaladipa and Munisha, at the Safeguarding team.
The ECA Safeguarding officer is employed by the ECA executive (trustees) to advise Triratna charities and other legal bodies running Triratna activities in the UK and the rest of Europe on the practical measures for protecting adults and children from harm, working to UK Safeguarding standards.
In this role you will work from home as part of the ECA’s Development Team and your work will involve
You will not be responsible for Order Safeguarding cases (except to the extent that they relate to an Order member’s involvement in the activities of a Triratna charity).
Start date negotiable; we currently envisage that a handover period of a few months will be necessary, during which time you will work part time alongside Munisha (ECA Safeguarding officer) and Amaladipa (volunteer ECA Safeguarding adviser), gradually increasing your hours as Munisha reduces hers.
After the handover period we currently envisage that the person/s appointed would work a maximum of 3 person days per week, to be negotiated with the ECA Exec and Munisha, and as the work requires. (There may be an opportunity to work further hours to support the ECA Executive in their work.)
Support package
This is negotiable but is based on the UK real living wage + £1500 retreat allowance and 8 weeks leave per year, pro rata.
Experience needed
The successful applicant will have experience of Safeguarding work in the UK, either as a Safeguarding officer in Triratna or elsewhere, or in a related professional capacity, for example as a school teacher, social worker, psychologist, probation officer or police officer.
Qualities and skills needed
Interested? Any questions?
If you think you could be interested in applying please arrange to talk to Munisha by 28th February 2023. Email: safeguarding@triratna.community
As part of the work of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in organisations in England and Wales, The Truth Project received thousands of reports from victims of child sexual abuse, which have now been summarised in a report: "I will be heard."
Some its comments in relation to child sexual abuse in religious/faith contexts:
"In religious contexts, victims and survivors frequently discussed the perceived power, authority and reverence bestowed upon religious organisations and individuals, leading to disclosures not being believed, or in some cases covered up."
One of the reasons commonly given for not addressing allegations of child sexual abuse were that "different institutions have different logics that do not follow those elsewhere (for example some religious organisations)"
"When under duress, institutions may use ‘othering’ of victims and survivors to sow doubt and create an ‘us versus them’ mentality, or they may use the myth of the ‘bad apple’ in relation to perpetrators. Examples include sexual assault in the military, healthcare, sports and religious institutions."
Read IICSA’s report in summary or full.
Read a post about the IICSA report ‘Child protection in religious organisations & settings’.
This week has seen publication of the final report from the long-running government enquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales, which recommends that it be made a criminal offence for a person who works with children or is in a 'position of trust' to fail to report child sexual abuse to the police where they witness it or are told about it by a child or perpetrator.
Over the last seven years, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has held a series of hearings, including its 2020 hearings on child protection in smaller faith groups to which Munisha was called to give testimony.
in relation to child sexual abuse in faith settings IICSA says:
"The Inquiry heard numerous examples of individuals who received disclosures or were aware of child sexual abuse yet failed to report this to statutory authorities...
Respect for a diversity of beliefs is the hallmark of a liberal democracy but can never be used to justify harm to a child. There were significant barriers to effective reporting of child sexual abuse, including victim-blaming and notions of shame and honour...
Not all religious organisations had adequate child protection policies, despite the advice readily accessible in the public domain. In some, safe recruitment practices were not always followed and there was limited uptake of child protection training... While some religious organisations had effective systems in place for responding to child sexual abuse, this was not the case across the board. Very few had arrangements in place for the provision of counselling or therapy sessions for victims and survivors."
It is probable that this report will lead to a change in the law in England and Wales, where the majority of Triratna's UK charities are registered. It remains to be clarified exactly who in Triratna would be covered by this new law.
Read IICSA's report in summary or full.
Read a post about the IICSA report ‘Child protection in religious organisations & settings’.
The Charity Commission, which regulates Triratna charities in England and Wales, recently published updated guidelines on the duties of trustees in relation to bullying and harassment.
Here are Triratna’s model policies for Safeguarding children and adults, updated for 2022 by Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding team; also Triratna's model Ethical Guidelines.
Safeguarding and ethical policies and procedures are a practical expression of ahimsa, non-harming, the value underlying Buddhist precepts and the Bodhisattva activity of protecting living beings from harm.
The Triratna Model Safeguarding Policies follow UK legal requirements and the regulatory requirements of the Charity Commission for England and Wales, who now also require charities to have a statement of more general ethical values, such as our Model Ethical Guidelines.
The Triratna Model Ethical Guidelines (first published in 2016 on the initiative of Triratna’s International Council) are an internal statement of values based on the five precepts for those teaching in Triratna centres, groups and retreat centres. Though not drawn up by the ECA Safeguarding team, as they complement the Safeguarding policies they are published together with them.
Since these are model policies, it is up to those running each centre/retreat centre/enterprise to use them as they are, or adapt and/or translate them as they think fit. Editable versions in Word will be sent by email to all the Safeguarding officers I have on my list.
In addition to the policies, The Triratna Model Child Protection Code of Conduct is a short guide to safe behaviours which will help prevent suspicions or accusations of misconduct with those under 18; Caring for Teenagers in Triratna offers guidance as to best practice when including in Triratna activities those aged 16-17, increasingly independent but legally still children.
If you need you need any of these documents in Word but haven't received them by email, please email safeguarding@triratna.community.
With metta,
Munisha
The Charity Commission for England and Wales have published this advice for charities wishing to respond to the Ukraine crisis.
Please also see this post on offering a home to refugees and the video of a webinar on charity duties when working with refuges.
Most Buddhist charities in the UK are insured under the Buddhist Insurance Scheme, which is underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance.
To ensure that you would actually be covered should your charity ever have reason to make an insurance claim related to a Safeguarding matter, do look at Ecclesiastical's expectations of charities in relation to Safeguarding standards.
https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/safeguarding/
Please note that although Ecclesiastical defines Safeguarding as the protection of children and vulnerable adults, the Charity Commission for England and Wales requires charities to protect all adults from harm, not just those who may be defined as vulnerable or at risk. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safeguarding-for-charities-and-trustees
Many of us have been very inspired by the example of the Triratna sangha in Krakow, Poland, opening their centre to refugee families from Ukraine. Last week Adhisthana and the College of Preceptors held an ‘Evening of Metta and Solidarity with our European Sangha’ in which Polish and Estonian Order members talked about their experience being so close to the conflict.
Watch the ‘Evening of Metta and Solidarity with our European Sangha’.
If we are inspired – as individual Buddhists or as Buddhist centre charities - to follow their generous example, it will be important to recognise that refugees are extremely vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, particularly sexual abuse and trafficking, and take measures to reduce risk. Systems will vary from country to country.
I will comment here on the system being developed by the government in the UK for receiving refugees - which will involve background security checks on both the hosts and the refugees. Please let me know - or comment below - with links to advice for those in other countries. Email: safeguarding@triratna.community
In the UK
It’s important to note that Buddhists wishing to offer to take in Ukrainian refugees can at present only do this as individual citizens, not via a Buddhist centre charity.
A Ukrainian refugee seeking housing in the UK needs a visa and an official sponsor to enter the UK. British citizens wishing to become sponsors and offer housing can sign up via the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme. As part of the process, DBS background security checks (PVG in Scotland) will be undertaken by government on both sponsors and refugees.
At present this is the only official way to sponsor a Ukrainian refugee in the UK.
The system is expected to come into operation later this week.
Register as an individual sponsor.
Organisations - such as Buddhist centre charities - are not able to volunteer yet but they can register their interest in doing so. If your charity wishes to get involved, the process will involve getting DBS/PVG security checks for those working on behalf of your charity.
Register your charity’s interest in helping Ukrainian refugees.
Information supplied by UK government 15th March 2022.
NB If you are wondering how your charity can respond to the Ukrainian crisis you may wish to attend this free webinar tomorrow Thursday 17th March 2022, offered by BatesWells, charity lawyers.
UPDATE: This webinar was recorded. Watch the video.
UPDATE: This event was recorded and Safeguarding is mentioned at 1' 5" in.
Thursday 17th March, 2022 4:30pm UK time
Your charity may be wondering how to respond to the war in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian emergency. There are Safeguarding dimensions to this, especially if you are taking in refugees: children and adults who will be very vulnerable.
In this free webinar lawyers from Bates Wells will summarise some of the key issues you may need to consider, and conclude with a general question and answer session.
If you would like to send any questions in advance, please do so in the question box on the registration page.
The main topics will be:
• Expressions of support and solidarity: what are the limitations?
• Accepting and refusing donations – legal and reputational issues
• Fundraising appeals – law and best practice
• Practical considerations, due diligence and monitoring in relation to spending funds overseas in an emergency
• The impact of sanctions on receiving and transferring charitable funds
• Legal issues when combatants may seek to benefit from humanitarian support
• Helping refugees reach the UK: what are the immigration rules?
• Duty of care and safeguarding
Free DBS webinars for faith charity trustees, staff and volunteers:
Wednesday 2nd March, 12pm – 1pm repeated on
Thursday 3rd March, 7pm – 8pm
Book for one of these webinars
All charities in England and Wales are required to DBS (security) check staff and volunteers, as appropriate. But
Strengthening Faith Institutions in partnership with the Disclosure and Barring Service are hosting these free webinars to look at:
The PowerPoint pdf and video from the recent Charity Commission webinar on Safeguarding for Buddhist charities are now available and free to share with anyone at all.
One attender described it as ‘fabulous’; not a word often heard in this context…
Trustees and Safeguarding officers will find it useful to go through these materials, but they’re also relevant to any of us who teach or lead in any Triratna charity in England and Wales, to help us understand trustees’ regulatory obligations in this area, which everyone involved in a charity’s activities is required to uphold.
It will also be useful to anyone curious about the Safeguarding duties of our central charities, such as the Preceptors’ College Trust (College) and Triratna Trust (Order office).
Email: safeguarding@triratna.community
Metta,
Munisha
ECA Safeguarding team
PS Many apologies if you booked but were unable to join the webinar. We had some unexpected technical difficulties with both the Zoom and the Eventbrite booking system. However, the video is almost identical with the live event.
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is a UK government-commissioned legal inquiry into child sexual abuse in England and Wales. Since 2015 it has held a series of hearings about child sexual abuse and child protection in many institutions of public life in those two areas of the UK, including the Catholic and Anglican Churches.
Triratna’s ECA Safeguarding officer, Munisha was called to give testimony under oath in May 2020. Watch her testimony here.
Please note: Munisha was not called because of concerns about risk of harm to children in Triratna.
September 2021 saw the publication of the report arising from the 2020 hearings, which cited Triratna as a positive example of good practice. It also made this key recommendation:
All religious organisations should have a child protection policy and supporting procedures, which should include advice and guidance on responding to disclosures of abuse and the needs of victims and survivors. The policy and procedures should be updated regularly, with professional child protection advice, and all organisations should have regular compulsory training for those in leadership positions and those who work with children and young people.
All faith organisations are required to respond to this recommendation. Here is our response:
We thank the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse for its report ‘Child Protection in religious organisations and settings’ and all its work to highlight the conditions which have enabled child sexual abuse to take place in faith organisations in England and Wales in the past, and failures in addressing such abuse adequately.
The Triratna Buddhist Community
Each Triratna Buddhist centre and retreat centre in England and Wales is an independent charity, responsible for its own Safeguarding standards. These form part of the worldwide Triratna Buddhist Community and are members of a central charity registered in England and Wales: the Triratna Chairs Assembly (known as the European Chairs Assembly or ECA).
The ECA’s Safeguarding team provides Safeguarding support and advice for Triratna Buddhist centres and retreat centres in the UK and Europe; and elsewhere in the world where required. Since 2015 Triratna charities have been provided with annually updated model Safeguarding policies and guidance documents related to protecting children and adults from harm in the course of charities’ activities, including guidance on receiving disclosures of child sexual abuse. Our 2020 model documents were audited by Thirtyone:eight, external specialists in Safeguarding for faith groups.
The ECA Safeguarding team have closely followed the work of IICSA in its investigations of child sexual abuse in faith organisations in recent years and have publicised each report within Triratna.
The Safeguarding team regularly reminds trustees of Triratna centres and retreat centres of the Safeguarding standards of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. They recommend that each centre or retreat centre has at least one Safeguarding officer and a Safeguarding trustee; and that trustees, Safeguarding officers, teachers, staff and volunteers receive training, whether from external specialists such as the NSPCC or Thirtyone:eight, or provided by the Safeguarding team.
The Triratna Buddhist Order
The members of the worldwide Triratna Buddhist Order have no collective existence in law. However, some aspects of the Order’s life are administered by charities registered in England and Wales, and many of the Order’s members are active in the running of a number of charities, including those of the centres and retreat centres mentioned above.
Together with the ECA Safeguarding team and other Safeguarding specialists within our Order, those in leadership in the Order are working to further develop understanding and practice of Safeguarding in the Order; in particular recognising the importance of a victim/survivor-focus alongside our existing ethical framework that encourages confession and making amends.
Two particular initiatives at this level are a working group within Triratna’s College of Public Preceptors and a working group set up by Triratna’s International Council to look at building common standards in ethics and Safeguarding at all levels of our Order and Community.
We were glad to contribute written and verbal testimony to IICSA’s May 2020 hearings on child sexual abuse in religious settings. Though conscious of the need for continuous improvement we are also glad to note in the resulting report reference to Triratna as providing a positive example of good practice in Safeguarding.
Munisha (Catherine Hopper), ECA Safeguarding officer
Amaladipa (Rebecca Remigio), ECA Safeguarding adviser
Ratnadharini (Anne Morgan), Chair of Triratna’s College of Public Preceptors
Saddhanandi (Rachel Lovering), Chair of the Triratna Preceptors’ College Trust
Subhadassi, Order ethics convenor
Aryajaya (Robyn Smith), International Order convenor
The Triratna Buddhist Order and Community
Read digests of IICSA’s reports from hearings about child protection in the Catholic Church and Anglican Church in England and Wales.
One or two people have asked if there is a formal description for the role of a Safeguarding officer/co-ordinator (including, now a Nichiren group in California, as Triratna's Safeguarding standards are gradually becoming known among other Buddhist traditions.)
We don't yet have a formal role description for Triratna but here are two descriptions I have found so far.
This one is adapted from a description by Thirtyone:eight, the UK charity which specialises in Safeguarding advice for faith groups, though they say they are working on a formal role description.
The role of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator might typically include:
And this longer document comes from the NSPCC, which specialises in preventing harm to children in the UK https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1587/role-description-for-child-protection-lead.pdf
When we have a more clearly worked out role description for Triratna Safeguarding officers we will publish it widely.
Saturday 29th January 2022
10-11am (UK time)
A free webinar for trustees, Safeguarding officers, teachers, leaders and volunteers in Buddhist charities – and anyone else!
What are the duties of Buddhist charities in relation to Safeguarding adults and children from harm and how can we do this better?
Hosted by the Network of Buddhist Organisations UK, speakers from the Charity Commission for England and Wales will explain the Commission’s requirements - and what has been learned from recent experience in Buddhist organisations.
Safeguarding is everyone’s business: this event is particularly aimed at Buddhist trustees, leaders and teachers, but everyone is welcome, anywhere in the world.
Book your free place here.
This event is free, but donations are welcome.
