We are very serious about safeguarding and everyone being aware of their impact on others and the care we intend to offer as we share together.

If you have any concerns please contact Rosanna to discuss. Do not bring issues to the Circle. Make a note and take time to consider your feelings and thoughts regarding your concern so that we can discuss and have a full conversation easily.

Considerations to note: date, time, subject, who is involved, what is the concern, who may be impacted or affected, what was said or noticed, how did situation close at the time.

Rosanna keeps up to date with safeguarding training and from this here are a few thoughts I would like to share that may not fit everyones taste !

As a collective we need to update our understanding of safeguarding it is incredible how behind official documents and the law is compared to lived experience. If you do some research you may be surprised how recently laws were brought in or changed, updated and developed. It is an interesting study.

It is unfortunate that training recycles materials rather than challenge and share realities of people and in-depth research.

The worst issue is perhaps how out of touch and biased we can be in our understanding of social structures and cultures.

Statistics are used to convey and inform policy which blinds the very structures that are established to protect such as the law.

An example of this is honour based abuse. In research and law it is stated ‘ being most relevant to individuals who may be at risk if they are from Turkish, Kurdish, Afghani, South Asian, African, Middle Eastern, South & Eastern European or traveller communities ‘. 

I find this incredible as we know that middle class white Americans and English will dominate and control family members for stepping outside of ‘expected’ belief systems or political ideology. Expectations on youth to follow in footsteps with education or employment for example or we see how women are controlled and manipulated to live certain lifestyles that if they chose to act differently they would not be accepted with consequences for deviating from their parters or families exceptions.

It is time we recognise that all cultures and some more than others are abusive and controlling. We need to open our eyes and stop being told it’s them not us because actually all humans can be loving, accepting and supportive. So lets try to be and perhaps that starts with us and lets begin to challenge, provide solutions and be part of the change needed to stop abuse… That usually means be prepared to be involved and find help.

If you have any concern whilst in or after a Circle or training speak to the facilitator after via email or call and feel free to follow this up to reassure yourself that something has been done and that you feel comfortable with the outcome.