OXFAM - The Fallout! - Roaming Brit

OXFAM - The Fallout!

14/2/2018

Each new day, seems to bring new revelations in the Oxfam scandal. The fallout from this shocking episode is widening and I am finding it difficult to keep up with events, back home in the UK. Today Minnie Driver quit as an Oxfam ambassador. This is fabulous news for all of us who have been campaigning against Oxfam. The only way we can show our revulsion towards this discredited charity, is to vote with our feet. Minnie was a high profile campaigner; her conclusion to quit, will send a signal to other supporters and donators, to walk away from this organisation. All of us have our own 'moral dilemma' to resolve; should we still support their work, or not? Good people work and volunteer for Oxfam, I understand that; they too have to decide who to champion in future. As someone who used to 'gift aid' donated items to Oxfam; I will be writing a letter as soon as possible, to ask for all the income generated, from the sale of my items back; something any of you can do. This is not about revenge, this is about principles and morals, something Oxfam do not understand!

In true Oxfam style, a known paedophile and abuser was removed from their job in Chad, only to be relocated to Haiti, where they had access to vulnerable underage children; this is a typical response, from Oxfam, unable to deal with the consequences of their actions. In my case, the Manager who bullied and harassed me had been relocated from another area into ours. According to a senior colleague, based at Oxfam House, abusers are simply moved sideways when they are caught, sweeping the problem under the carpet, leaving someone else to pick up the pieces. Oxfam it seems are well aware of the bullies in their midst, but choose to ignore their actions in fear of repercussions. It's clear that there is a culture of sociopathic behaviour within the structure of Oxfam, from the top down; each person learning anti social misconduct from their superiors. Intimidation is rife and there is no one in-situ to protect those who need it. The Management structure at Oxfam gives a single individual the power over others. With no checks and balances in place, many colleagues, volunteers and victims have been exposed to potentially harmful threats.

When I discovered what happened to me, I was offered no support from Oxfam. I couldn't talk to anyone about my experiences. Another work colleague was entrusted with my welfare; someone I respected at first, believing they could help me through this process. As I soon discovered, she was nothing but another bully; I was being passed from one tormentor to another. There were no safeguards in place to protect me as an employee; I was left very much on my own to deal with the unfolding events. Oxfam have taken no responsibility for employing known abusers; they allowed them to run amock throughout the charity. If one considers that in my region alone, there were twenty plus Managers and around six hundred volunteers, you can immediately see a long list of potential casualties. One single Manager had complete power over six hundred and twenty people and no one questioned this. cases of mistreatment in my region alone were unbelievably high and still rising when I left.

Somebody needs to get to the bottom of this sordid affair. There will be a statutory inquiry into Oxfam, carried out by The Charity Commission; about as bad as it gets for a charity. I'm not sure if the commission is the right body to carry out this mammoth task, after all some of the blame lies firmly with them. They should have been investigating Oxfam years ago. I contacted this body in 2015/16 to report serious failures of safeguarding, not only with regards myself, but also colleagues who had contacted me asking for help. Their response was slow, inadequate and included no follow up.

People are talking about a restructuring process at Oxfam, Managers being investigated and many employees being dismissed; a welcome development, but one that does not go far enough. I am aware that bullying, denial and concealment have been going on for years; tinkering around the edges will not help. I am firmly of the view, that this trust now needs to close. The dreadful incidents that happened, coupled with any investigation and subsequent dismissals will ensure Oxfam's reputation is irreparably damaged. No charitable organisation can function effectively after this betrayal of trust!