1. Purpose of This Policy

The Ælfwynn South Bedfordshire Moot is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, respectful, & safer community space for all attendees. This safeguarding policy exists to help protect adults, young people, & children from harm, abuse, discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or exploitation during moot-related activities.

We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

This policy applies to:

  • Moot organisers & facilitators
  • Volunteers
  • Regular attendees
  • Guest speakers
  • Visitors attending events organised under the Ælfwynn South Bedfordshire Pagan Moot name

2. Our Values

The moot aims to:

  • Foster a respectful & inclusive Pagan community
  • Promote dignity, consent & personal boundaries
  • Support safer participation for vulnerable individuals
  • Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
  • Encourage accountability & community care

We do not tolerate:

  • Harassment or bullying
  • Hate speech or discrimination
  • Sexual harassment or unwanted advances
  • Coercive, controlling, or predatory behaviour
  • Abuse of power within spiritual, social, or teaching relationships
  • Intimidation, stalking, or threatening conduct

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • In-person moot meetings
  • Social gatherings organised by the moot
  • Workshops, rituals, talks, & trips
  • Online spaces connected to the moot, including social media groups, chats, & event pages

The moot is primarily an adult community space unless otherwise stated for specific events.

4. Safeguarding Principles

We will:

  • Listen respectfully to concerns raised
  • Take disclosures seriously
  • Respond calmly & appropriately
  • Maintain confidentiality where possible
  • Share information only when necessary for safety or legal reasons
  • Act proportionately & fairly
  • Encourage people to seek appropriate support services where needed

5. Children & Young People

The moot is not designed as a children’s activity group & does not provide childcare.

Anyone under 18 attending an event must:

  • Be agreed explicitly agreed with organisers
  • Be accompanied & supervised by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult unless explicitly agreed otherwise by organisers
  • Remain the responsibility of that adult at all times

Organisers are not acting in loco parentis.

If an event is specifically advertised as family-friendly, additional guidance & supervision expectations may be provided.

6. Vulnerable Adults

We recognise that some attendees may be vulnerable due to disability, mental distress, neurodivergence, illness, trauma, substance misuse, isolation, or other circumstances.

We aim to:

  • Treat everyone with dignity & respect
  • Support accessibility where reasonably possible
  • Encourage clear communication & consent
  • Reduce opportunities for exploitation or coercion

The moot is a peer community space & not therapy, counselling, pastoral care or crisis support service.

7. Behaviour Expectations

All attendees are expected to:

  • Respect boundaries & consent
  • Treat others with kindness & courtesy
  • Avoid disruptive, threatening, aggressive, or discriminatory behaviour
  • Respect privacy & confidentiality within reason
  • Follow venue rules & organiser instructions

If conflict arises, organisers may:

  • Speak informally with those involved
  • Issue warnings
  • Ask individuals to leave an event
  • Restrict or ban attendance where necessary for community safety

8. Spiritual & Community Boundaries

The moot acknowledges the importance of ethical conduct within Pagan & spiritual communities.

No attendee, organiser, or speaker should:

  • Claim spiritual authority over others
  • Pressure attendees into spiritual practices
  • Use spiritual status to manipulate, exploit, isolate, or control others
  • Encourage dependency or secrecy
  • Ignore consent in ritual or energy work

Consent should always be informed, enthusiastic & revocable.

9. Reporting Concerns

Anyone with a safeguarding concern is encouraged to speak to a moot organiser.

Concerns may include:

  • Harassment
  • Predatory behaviour
  • Unsafe conduct
  • Abuse disclosures
  • Boundary violations
  • Threatening or discriminatory behaviour

When concerns are raised, organisers will:

  1. Listen respectfully
  2. Record basic factual information where appropriate
  3. Consider immediate safety needs
  4. Decide whether further action is required
  5. Signpost external support or emergency services where necessary

If someone is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted.

10. Confidentiality

Safeguarding concerns will be handled as confidentially as possible.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

  • Someone is at risk of serious harm
  • A child or vulnerable adult may be at risk
  • A criminal offence may have occurred
  • Information must be shared for safeguarding or legal reasons

11. Online Safety

In online spaces connected to the moot:

  • Respectful conduct is expected at all times
  • Harassment, bullying, dogpiling, or discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable
  • Organisers may remove posts, mute members, or ban participants where necessary

Members should avoid sharing private information publicly & should exercise caution when arranging private meetings outside official events.

12. Alcohol & Substances

Our moot & other events may take place in venues serving alcohol.

Attendees are expected to:

  • Drink responsibly
  • Avoid behaviour that makes others feel unsafe
  • Respect venue policies & UK law

Anyone behaving aggressively, inappropriately, or unsafely due to intoxication may be asked to leave.

13. Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion

The moot welcomes people of diverse:

  • Pagan paths & traditions
  • Spiritual beliefs
  • Genders & sexualities
  • Ethnicities & backgrounds
  • Disabilities & neurotypes

Discrimination, exclusion, or hate speech will not be tolerated.

14. Policy Review

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if needed following:

  • Incidents
  • Community feedback
  • Changes in law or guidance
  • Organisational changes

15. Contact

Safeguarding concerns relating to the Ælfwynn South Bedfordshire Pagan Moot can be raised with the moot organisers directly through the official group channels or event contacts.

Signed on behalf of Ælfwynn South Bedfordshire Moot by

Lyn O’Callaghan, Co-Organiser

14th May 2026