Lucy Pincott and Lucy McCollum: Who I Was and Who I Came to Be
Lucy Pincott is the 13-year-old girl who experienced abuse within the Scout Association. She represents the child I used to be. Now, as the adult Lucy McCollum, I am a woman with a passion for community welfare. I refuse to accept the notion that we are simply in a safer time, especially with evidence to the contrary flooding our newspapers and social media. As a result, I have embarked on a journey to make our children safe.
Drawing from my experiences with the Scout Association and my campaign to improve their safeguarding, as well as my career in the education sector, where I worked my way up from an apprentice teaching assistant to a teacher and deputy designated safeguarding lead, I have founded a charity aimed at educating and empowering communities.
In this blog, I will delve into my story, my involvement with the Scout Association, and the reasons behind my decision to start a charity focused on safeguarding training.
My journey began when I was introduced to a scout group at the age of 13. I was placed in an age group older than I should have been and subsequently experienced months of sexual abuse at the hands of a young leader. Safeguarding within the group was non-existent, and there were very few activities that most people would consider typical scouting activities.
Ten years later, I attended a training day at Sheffield City Hall where Child Sexual Exploitation was unexpectedly covered. Suddenly, everything that had happened to me made sense. I then went on to report the abuse to the police. However, after 18 months of investigation, they were unable to prosecute due to evidential difficulties. Following that, my father contacted the Scout Association, who unfortunately mishandled my complaint of sexual abuse, repeatedly retraumatizing me through poor safeguarding practices, communication, and a complete lack of understanding of victims' needs. However, their actions have provided valuable material for the "what-not-to-do" sections of our training courses.
Several years later, I encountered another woman who had experienced a very similar abusive situation within the scouts, facing many of the same issues when dealing with the head office. Together, we decided that enough was enough, and we launched a campaign to improve the safety of scout groups across the UK. This campaign received coverage on BBC Breakfast, File on Four, and in numerous newspapers, and it was successful. However, I still felt that there was more work to be done.
I still had the desire to empower communities and promote safeguarding practices, and I was offered funding to help me achieve this goal. As a result, I have taken the step of founding a charity. The primary objective of this organization is to provide comprehensive safeguarding training to individuals, groups, and organizations. Our aim is to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to create safe environments for all young people.
Safeguarding training plays a crucial role in preventing and addressing various forms of abuse, neglect, and harm. By raising awareness and providing practical guidance, we seek to empower individuals and organizations to identify potential risks, respond effectively to safeguarding concerns, and foster a culture of safety and support.
Safeguarding First will actively collaborate with local authorities, educational institutions, and community organizations to ensure the widest possible reach and impact. By working together, we strive to create a network of trained individuals who can champion safeguarding practices within their respective communities, thereby fostering a culture of safeguarding.
Our vision at Safeguarding First extends beyond the immediate impact of our charity. We aim to influence policy changes, advocate for stronger safeguarding measures, and foster a society where the safety and well-being of all individuals are prioritized. Through ongoing training, awareness campaigns, and community engagement, we envision a future where safeguarding becomes an integral part of every organization and community.
See more on my story here:
Scouts campaign
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