Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

[LadyJaneGrey]

Hi everyone

My question is not related to current employment, but past voluntary work.

To give some context, I grew up in a religious community, and attended a school that was run by members of the community, and strictly for only members' children. This organisation relied on free labour, and over time ended up becoming very wealthy.

I worked for them for free from the ages of eleven to eighteen. I didn't offer or ask to work, I was told that I would be and assigned jobs. The amount I did varied - sometimes it was a regular four hours every Saturday, sometimes I'd do a full week of 12 hour days, all unpaid. I didn't get to decide when I could turn up or go home.

Sometimes the school would be closed for one or more days, and all the children would be put to work instead. Our parents paid fees for us to attend school, and weren't asked for permission before we were taken out of school.

Occasionally work done was under direct threat, of mainly expulsion from the school, or for our families to be excluded from the community.

Another point, is that the large events put on by the organisation used to have hundreds of visitors who each paid a large fee to attend, be given a place to stay and be fed three meals a day. It was portrayed to me and others that it was all charitable, and relied on our generosity, and it was kept quiet that profit was being made.

I am aware that being taken advantage like this (plus the hundreds of other children who also did the same work as I did) was morally wrong, but at the moment I am trying to claim compensation from them, and I wanted to know what the law was in this situation, so I can go into my claim armed with some knowledge.

Any help I could get on the law in this situation would be amazing. Thank you!

[nemesis45]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

Hi everyone

My question is not related to current employment, but past voluntary work.

To give some context, I grew up in a religious community, and attended a school that was run by members of the community, and strictly for only members' children. This organisation relied on free labour, and over time ended up becoming very wealthy.

I worked for them for free from the ages of eleven to eighteen. I didn't offer or ask to work, I was told that I would be and assigned jobs. The amount I did varied - sometimes it was a regular four hours every Saturday, sometimes I'd do a full week of 12 hour days, all unpaid. I didn't get to decide when I could turn up or go home.

Sometimes the school would be closed for one or more days, and all the children would be put to work instead. Our parents paid fees for us to attend school, and weren't asked for permission before we were taken out of school.

Occasionally work done was under direct threat, of mainly expulsion from the school, or for our families to be excluded from the community.

Another point, is that the large events put on by the organisation used to have hundreds of visitors who each paid a large fee to attend, be given a place to stay and be fed three meals a day. It was portrayed to me and others that it was all charitable, and relied on our generosity, and it was kept quiet that profit was being made.

I am aware that being taken advantage like this (plus the hundreds of other children who also did the same work as I did) was morally wrong, but at the moment I am trying to claim compensation from them, and I wanted to know what the law was in this situation, so I can go into my claim armed with some knowledge.

Any help I could get on the law in this situation would be amazing. Thank you!

Good evening, welcome to LB,

A disturbing story!!
Did this take place in the UK?
What is your situation now are now free of this organisation or is there likely to be some form of sanction if this thread was discovered.

nem

[LadyJaneGrey]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

Hi nem, thanks for the response! Yes this took place in the UK, in England specifically, if that makes a difference to the law.

I left the organisation at age eighteen, hence why my free labour ended at that age! It would be continuing were I still there - many people have worked full time jobs for no pay, some under duress. I certainly wouldn't have sought advice were I still there, it was a very controlling community.

[Kati]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

It sounds like I should recognise this group :sad: [MENTION=88417]LadyJaneGrey[/MENTION] can you give us any more info??

What type of 'work', how many hours etc...

[nemesis45]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

Hi nem, thanks for the response! Yes this took place in the UK, in England specifically, if that makes a difference to the law.

I left the organisation at age eighteen, hence why my free labour ended at that age! It would be continuing were I still there - many people have worked full time jobs for no pay, some under duress. I certainly wouldn't have sought advice were I still there, it was a very controlling community.

Is this a closed community in the sense that all live in a communal area or is it open with "members" living in the larger public community?

nem

[LadyJaneGrey]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

It sounds like I should recognise this group :sad: @LadyJaneGrey can you give us any more info??

What type of 'work', how many hours etc...

It probably wouldn't be something you'd recognise, it just appears to be a normal church, you wouldn't know what went on without being in it.

The work was anything menial that needed doing: cooking, cleaning, serving food and drinks, construction, maintenance, painting and decorating, gardening etc.

- - - Updated - - -

Is this a closed community in the sense that all live in a communal area or is it open with "members" living in the larger public community?

nem

It was an open community, everyone lived in their own homes and it didn't really look like a community from the outside, just a normal church. But inside it was very insular, contact with anyone outside was limited and controlled.

[Kati]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

It probably wouldn't be something you'd recognise, it just appears to be a normal church, you wouldn't know what went on without being in it.

you might be surprised ... any chance you could email me more info??

[Diana M]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

The work was anything menial that needed doing: cooking, cleaning, serving food and drinks, construction, maintenance, painting and decorating, gardening etc.

It was an open community, everyone lived in their own homes and it didn't really look like a community from the outside, just a normal church. But inside it was very insular, contact with anyone outside was limited and controlled.

You've clearly been affected by a horrid experience over a number of years when you were at a 'tender age'. That's the time when one doesn't question what's going on especially if your parents appear to be going along with it so you can be inclined to think they approve of what's happening even if they don't or didn't.

What would be your ideal outcome?

Are you seeking financial compensation for the hours you spent working, or are you seeking some kind of closure on the experience for emotional reasons (perhaps both)?

Does this church (would you also describe it as a cult?) still exist?

Are you in touch with any of the other children who were exposed to the same 'volunteering' at the time who could maybe back-up your story if necessary?

Di

[LadyJaneGrey]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

You've clearly been affected by a horrid experience over a number of years when you were at a 'tender age'. That's the time when one doesn't question what's going on especially if your parents appear to be going along with it so you can be inclined to think they approve of what's happening even if they don't or didn't.

What would be your ideal outcome?

Are you seeking financial compensation for the hours you spent working, or are you seeking some kind of closure on the experience for emotional reasons (perhaps both)?

Does this church (would you also describe it as a cult?) still exist?

Are you in touch with any of the other children who were exposed to the same 'volunteering' at the time who could maybe back-up your story if necessary?

Di

Thanks Di. Yes I have been affected a lot, and I definitely didn't question it at the time. Looking back now I can see very clearly that I was taken advantage of. The church still exists but is offering compensation, which is why I'm pursuing the claim at the moment.

I am looking for closure, and am asking for compensation regarding the mental health issues I had during and after being there, and the issues I am still working through almost a decade after leaving, but I do also want financial recognition for the money that was made from my forced labour.

I am in touch with many people who I was there with. The church has recognised that it was an abusive and unhealthy place, and has been formally investigated. Quite a number of people are currently seeking compensation.

[Diana M]

Re: Forced Voluntary Work - Legal?

Any help I could get on the law in this situation would be amazing.

Going back to your original question, this information may help you since it refers to Case Law (six examples) in Section 4 on Page 3. It's not a subject I'm familiar with so I can't vouch for the content but I hope it will at least encourage you that it's worth the fight which can be empowering in itself.

http://www.volunteernow.co.uk/fs/doc...n-sheet-nl.pdf

Your story isn't only about volunteers' rights to be paid, it's also very much about abuse especially due to your age at the time and the lasting negative effect it's had on you. So maybe researching case law on mental and emotional abuse will be useful too.

If the church is already offering compensation I assume this means they've already admitted liability of some sort so you'll be pushing at an open door with your claim.

While it may be only a matter of quantifying the claim it may be therapeutic to seek a fulsome apology too. What shocks and saddens me is this dreadful situation was perpetuated in the name of the "Church".

Di