HOME / WHISTLEBLOWING POLICY
Whistleblowing policy
Last updated: 3 November 2026
HOME / WHISTLEBLOWING POLICY
Whistleblowing policy
Last updated: 3 November 2026
In short
Our Whistleblowing (Speaking Up) Policy explains how anyone who works with BLOT can raise a serious concern about wrongdoing, and how we will handle it. This page is a summary. The full policy (document WB-01) is the PDF below.
Who it is for
Employees, workers, agency and temporary staff, apprentices, contractors, volunteers and directors, as well as former staff who know about wrongdoing. Legal whistleblowing protection depends on your role and on whether the disclosure meets the legal tests, but BLOT will not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a genuine concern.
What counts
- Crime, fraud, theft, bribery, false accounting, or misuse of grants, donations or lottery funds.
- Breaking the law, a regulatory requirement or a significant governance duty.
- Danger to health or safety, or neglect or abuse of children or adults at risk.
- Environmental damage, covering up wrongdoing, or serious mishandling of personal information.
- Sexual harassment, where the legal criteria are met.
- Other serious misconduct affecting the people we support, our staff and volunteers, public trust or our resources.
A personal grievance about your own work is normally dealt with under our grievance procedure, unless it also raises a public-interest concern. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 and follow our safeguarding procedures first.
How to raise a concern
You can speak up in person or in writing. You do not need a special form or proof. Tell us what happened, when and where, who was involved, why it concerns you and any immediate risks.
| Situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Most concerns | Harry Deacon, lead reporting contact: harry@blotcic.org |
| Harry is involved, or cannot handle it independently | Tracie Raynolds, independent Board Director: tracie@blotcic.org. Do not copy Harry. |
| Both Harry and Tracie are involved | Bill Davies, alternate reporting director: bill@blotcic.org. Do not copy Harry or Tracie. |
| Immediate safeguarding risk or danger | Call 999 and follow our safeguarding procedures. Do not delay protective action. |
Anonymous concerns are accepted and assessed on their merits. We protect your identity as far as we reasonably can and share it only on a strict need-to-know basis.
What happens next
- We aim to acknowledge your concern within 5 working days where we have your contact details.
- We aim to complete an initial assessment within 10 working days.
- We aim to give you a substantive update or outcome within 20 working days. If we need more time, we will explain why and give you a new date.
An impartial person investigates, and anyone named gets a fair chance to respond. You will get proportionate feedback at the end, and we will check in with you within 30 days of closing the case to make sure you have not faced any adverse treatment because you spoke up.
Protection and support
Dismissal, loss of hours, bullying, harassment, withdrawal of volunteering opportunities or any other retaliation for raising a concern is prohibited and will be investigated. A concern that turns out to be mistaken is not a reason for disciplinary action. You can get confidential advice from a trade union, Acas, a legal adviser or Protect, the whistleblowing charity.
Going outside BLOT
You do not always have to report to us first. Depending on the issue, you may be able to report to a “prescribed person” such as the Information Commissioner, the Health and Safety Executive, HMRC or the police. The Government publishes the list of prescribed people and bodies. Nothing in our policy stops a legally protected disclosure.
The Board reviews this policy at least once every twelve months.
BLOT is the trading name of Bugle Library of Things CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 12846276. Registered Office: 48a Fore Street, Bugle, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 8PE.
In short
Our Whistleblowing (Speaking Up) Policy explains how anyone who works with BLOT can raise a serious concern about wrongdoing, and how we will handle it. This page is a summary. The full policy (document WB-01) is the PDF below.
Who it is for
Employees, workers, agency and temporary staff, apprentices, contractors, volunteers and directors, as well as former staff who know about wrongdoing. Legal whistleblowing protection depends on your role and on whether the disclosure meets the legal tests, but BLOT will not tolerate retaliation against anyone who raises a genuine concern.
What counts
- Crime, fraud, theft, bribery, false accounting, or misuse of grants, donations or lottery funds.
- Breaking the law, a regulatory requirement or a significant governance duty.
- Danger to health or safety, or neglect or abuse of children or adults at risk.
- Environmental damage, covering up wrongdoing, or serious mishandling of personal information.
- Sexual harassment, where the legal criteria are met.
- Other serious misconduct affecting the people we support, our staff and volunteers, public trust or our resources.
A personal grievance about your own work is normally dealt with under our grievance procedure, unless it also raises a public-interest concern. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 and follow our safeguarding procedures first.
How to raise a concern
You can speak up in person or in writing. You do not need a special form or proof. Tell us what happened, when and where, who was involved, why it concerns you and any immediate risks.
| Situation | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Most concerns | Harry Deacon, lead reporting contact: harry@blotcic.org |
| Harry is involved, or cannot handle it independently | Tracie Raynolds, independent Board Director: tracie@blotcic.org. Do not copy Harry. |
| Both Harry and Tracie are involved | Bill Davies, alternate reporting director: bill@blotcic.org. Do not copy Harry or Tracie. |
| Immediate safeguarding risk or danger | Call 999 and follow our safeguarding procedures. Do not delay protective action. |
Anonymous concerns are accepted and assessed on their merits. We protect your identity as far as we reasonably can and share it only on a strict need-to-know basis.
What happens next
- We aim to acknowledge your concern within 5 working days where we have your contact details.
- We aim to complete an initial assessment within 10 working days.
- We aim to give you a substantive update or outcome within 20 working days. If we need more time, we will explain why and give you a new date.
An impartial person investigates, and anyone named gets a fair chance to respond. You will get proportionate feedback at the end, and we will check in with you within 30 days of closing the case to make sure you have not faced any adverse treatment because you spoke up.
Protection and support
Dismissal, loss of hours, bullying, harassment, withdrawal of volunteering opportunities or any other retaliation for raising a concern is prohibited and will be investigated. A concern that turns out to be mistaken is not a reason for disciplinary action. You can get confidential advice from a trade union, Acas, a legal adviser or Protect, the whistleblowing charity.
Going outside BLOT
You do not always have to report to us first. Depending on the issue, you may be able to report to a “prescribed person” such as the Information Commissioner, the Health and Safety Executive, HMRC or the police. The Government publishes the list of prescribed people and bodies. Nothing in our policy stops a legally protected disclosure.
The Board reviews this policy at least once every twelve months.
BLOT is the trading name of Bugle Library of Things CIC, a Community Interest Company registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 12846276. Registered Office: 48a Fore Street, Bugle, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 8PE.