I am going to talk in general terms about a concern at a charity thus to avoid any identifying info.

I was groomed by the head of a charity. I was a mere beneficiary and volunteer. He was the chairman/president. He was much older. I met him at a time when I was already vulnerable. 

He was an extreme bully. Terrifying in fact. Although there were a few consensual incidents he sexually assaulted me and he sexually harrassed me in vile messages. He caused me a back injury. I witnessed him bully and break other people's spirits. 

 

I then became aware that he does this with many people. I became aware of internal corruption, financial corruption including the fact he runs a security business out of the same premises as his charity but charged the rent solely to his charity. I gathered evidence of it because I went to the realtor and found the cost of the premises per annum. People came to me in droves claiming bullying, physical and sexual abuse, among other very serious behaviour 

I presented allegations of his misconduct to the charity. He was told to step aside. I was already suspicious of this I knew it would only ever be a paper resignation. I have kept a dossier of compelling evidence that shows he never resigned and that the trustees covered up for him. 

 

Furthermore when I went to the charity Commission I recieved blackmail and intimidation emails from the charity's national director. In these emails they told me they would destroy my reputation, they would dig up everything about me and basically my good name and repute was over. I did not reply. I simply forwarded the messages on. 

The trustees are his two best friends and wife. I tried to explain they are all conflicted yet the method of investigation of the commission appears to be just to talk to the trustees. In repeated emails I have offered to be interviewed, other complainants have offered to be interviewed. I have offered to send evidence of the abuse. The response has been from the commission we don't need any testimonies and we don't need to see any evidence we only need to talk to the trustees. Yes that's right the conflicted trustees all of whom I have been able to show with a dossier of evidence helped cover up the famous paper resignation. 

Last week my caseworker says his investigation is nearly over. I responded "nearly over?" How could it be nearly over when you haven't conducted any interviews of the 30 plus complainants, you haven't interviewed me and really your main source of evidence has been talking to the trustees. I am astounded. Having spoken to other whisleblowers it seems a common pattern. I would be surprised if the CC exercises any of its powers. 

My supposedly resigned abuser is constantly being posted on the charity's blog site, he constantly goes to media about charity activities, he acts with impunity and how could the trustees claim ignorance of this when he's promoting the very events of which there are pictures of him being present. Furthermore a charity officer confirmed in a text message to my friend that my abuser is still very much acting in situ as chairman. And this is ok? This is the kind of behaviour we accept?

 

The charity made no serious incident report. The charity did not notify the regulator. The charity threatened me when I wanted to go to the regulator. The charity threatened me after I went to the regulator. And.....

Yet I sense the commission will do no more than give them a slap on the wrist. I would fall off my chair and eat my words if anything else more significant happened. I doubt it! 

 

I feel very alone. I feel awful. Does anyone have any experience with the CC and can you tell me your story? I've felt my life in freeze frame since the events happened. I've felt PTSD and it's been hard to move on.

 

Kindest 

 

Lara