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Hi all. Im new to this site, so please be gentle with me.
Im a buddhist and volunteer with my buddhist group at a festival. This year, whilst in my voluntary role, i leaned across a man to get my notebook. This man later complained about feeling uncomfortable about me doing this. The safeguarding officer was told about this, who then said it was categorised as a sexual assault, and that i had committed an offence. I explained that the man was on a high up chair, and i had to reach around him to get my notebook. I also large breasts, so it would have likely that they touched him, along with my tummy, arm etc.
I was asked to leave the site, and later got a letter saying that the man wasnt going to proceed with a prosecution, and nor were the buddhits group. I was assumed guilty, as i was told that i had to go in and speak about "My bad boundaries" with them, before i could volunteer again.
This man was aged around 50, and said that he was neuro divergent when he made the claim, he also said that he only allows 3 people to touch him in thew rold. He was in an offical employed role with the festival as their security officer.
As far as im aware, this should have dealt with as a complaint against me, and not a safeguarding issue. I think that the term safeguarding has been used in a casual way by the buddhits group, but for me (ex socail worker), it has far bigger conotations.
Thoughts welcome Jo
Im a buddhist and volunteer with my buddhist group at a festival. This year, whilst in my voluntary role, i leaned across a man to get my notebook. This man later complained about feeling uncomfortable about me doing this. The safeguarding officer was told about this, who then said it was categorised as a sexual assault, and that i had committed an offence. I explained that the man was on a high up chair, and i had to reach around him to get my notebook. I also large breasts, so it would have likely that they touched him, along with my tummy, arm etc.
I was asked to leave the site, and later got a letter saying that the man wasnt going to proceed with a prosecution, and nor were the buddhits group. I was assumed guilty, as i was told that i had to go in and speak about "My bad boundaries" with them, before i could volunteer again.
This man was aged around 50, and said that he was neuro divergent when he made the claim, he also said that he only allows 3 people to touch him in thew rold. He was in an offical employed role with the festival as their security officer.
As far as im aware, this should have dealt with as a complaint against me, and not a safeguarding issue. I think that the term safeguarding has been used in a casual way by the buddhits group, but for me (ex socail worker), it has far bigger conotations.
Thoughts welcome Jo
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