The Directors of Kadampa Meditation Centre Plymouth, published this Safeguarding Policy and Procedures on 10th December 2025.

The safeguarding policy and its related procedures apply to the directors, managers, sponsored volunteers and other volunteers of the Charity, and to all members of the residential community at Kadampa Meditation Centre Plymouth. All of these persons are required to accept and personally abide by the policy and procedures.

The purpose of this policy is to provide directors, managers, residents and volunteers of Kadampa Meditation Centre Plymouth, with guidelines for the safeguarding of everyone who comes into contact with the Charity, particularly children and adults-at-risk.

Statement of Policy

We are committed to organising and carrying out its activities in a way that safeguards and promotes the welfare of everyone who comes into contact with the KMC Plymouth, particularly children and adults-at-risk. The objective of KMC Plymouth is to promote the Buddhist Faith, and a fundamental commitment of followers of the Buddhist Faith is not to harm others. In the NKT-IKBU Internal Rules it states that member centres (i.e. KMC Plymouth) shall always remain as a pure, peaceful and harmonious society. All Directors, managers, residents and volunteers of KMC Plymouth personally abide by these Internal Rules.

The Designated Safeguarding Officer (“DSO”) is presently Lesley Rigby

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer (“Deputy DSO”) is presently Matthew Cole .

These officers of KMC Plymouth are also the Administration Director and Education Programme Coordinator respectively.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

All children and young people, and adults-at-risk have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity. Some children and adults-at-risk are especially at risk because of the impact of past experiences, their level of dependency or their communication needs, or because of other issues.

Children and young people are defined as any person under the age of 18.

Adult-at-risk means any person aged 18 years and over who is in need of community care services (by reason of mental health issues, learning or physical disability, sensory impairment, age or illness) and who is unable to take care of him/herself, or unable to protect him/herself against harm or exploitation.

Keeping children and adults-at-risk safe:

• the appointment of a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) and a Deputy (Deputy DSO) by KMC Plymouth
• adopting child and adult-at-risk safeguarding practices throughout all activities
• recruiting volunteers safely, ensuring that all necessary checks are made and that all centre teachers and managers are subject to DBS checks
• recording and storing personal information professionally and securely; and sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with managers and volunteers
• using safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know
• using procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment, and ensuring that there are procedures to help deal effectively with any bullying that does happen
• ensuring that there are effective complaints procedures in place according to the Internal Rules of the NKT-IKBU, and that complainants are treated fairly and without discrimination
• ensuring that a safe physical environment for children, adults-at-risk, staff and volunteers is provided by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

Procedure for Raising Concerns:

• safeguarding concerns regarding a child or adult-at-risk should be raised with the Designated Safeguarding Officer “DSO” , or in his/her absence the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer “Deputy DSO”
• if such a concern implicates the DSO or Deputy DSO, then it should be raised with the Resident Teacher at KMC Plymouth (presently Gen Kelsang Dragden) instead
• the person raising the concern must record information about the concern on the same day. This record must be a clear, precise and factual account of their observations
• the DSO/Deputy DSO will check to determine the accuracy/truth of the concern, and decide whether the matter should be referred to the relevant local Safeguarding authority – typically the relevant local council or in the face of an immediate serious threat of physical harm or criminal activity, the police.

Guidelines for Dealing with a Disclosure

If someone discloses that he or she has been abused, the person to whom it is disclosed should:

• listen to what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief
• accept what is being said
• allow the person to talk freely
• reassure the person, but without making promises which might not be possible to keep
• not promise confidentiality, because it might be necessary to refer the case to the relevant local authority
• reassure the person that what happened was not their fault
• stress that they were right to disclose the abuse
• listen, rather than ask direct questions
• ask open questions rather than leading questions
• not criticise the alleged perpetrator
• explain what has to be done next, and who has to be told
• use the following Guidelines for Recording a Disclosure.

Guidelines for Recording a Disclosure:

• make some brief notes as soon as possible after the conversation
• do not destroy these original notes, in case they are needed later by a court
• record the date, time and place of the disclosure, the words used by the person making the disclosure, and any unusual non-verbal behaviour that they displayed
• draw a diagram to indicate the position of any bruising or other injury
  be careful to record statements and observations, rather than interpretations or assumptions
• pass the record of the disclosure immediately and directly to the DSO or Deputy DSO.

Confidentiality

• any disclosure of abuse should immediately be passed to the DSO/Deputy DSO
• any access to personal information by staff/volunteers is strictly role-specific
• centre directors and managers, and volunteers are expected to treat information that they receive about a child or adult-at-risk in a discreet and confidential manner, regarding the safety and privacy of the child or adult-at-risk to be of the upmost importance
• all staff should be cautious when passing information to others about a child or adult-at-risk, and should check the appropriateness with the DSO/Deputy DSO.