Safeguarding & Care of Vulnerable Souls

Why this page exists, and who it protects

Village of Circles is a space for adults — you must be 18 or over to be here. But “adult” does not mean “unbreakable.” Many who come to a circle arrive carrying grief, trauma, isolation, illness, or a season of life that has left them tender. A soul can be wise and capable and still be, in this moment, vulnerable. This page is about those moments — and it asks more of us, not less, when someone is fragile.

Our commitment

Recognising a soul who may be at risk

A holder is not a clinician and is not asked to assess anyone. But some things must not be passed over. Stay alert to:

• A soul speaking of ending their life, not wanting to be here, or having a plan to harm themselves.
• A soul speaking of harming someone else.
• Signs that a soul is being hurt, controlled, frightened, neglected, or exploited by another — inside or outside the circle.
• A marked, frightening change — a soul who seems to be coming apart, disappearing into silence, or no longer able to keep themselves safe.

You do not need to be certain. You need only to notice, and to care enough not to look away.

What a holder does

When a soul is at risk, the holder’s task is simple and human — and never solitary:

• Stay present. Don’t rush, don’t fix, don’t flee. Let the soul know they are not alone in this moment.
• Don’t carry it alone. Tell a steward as soon as you safely can. This is not betrayal — it is care done properly. (See Community Rules §5 on the limits of confidence.)
• In immediate danger, act. If a life is at risk right now, call 000. For crisis support: Lifeline 13 11 14, 13YARN 13 92 76. (See Community Rules §6.)
• Never promise secrecy where there is serious risk. It is a kindness to be honest.

A holder’s job is to be present and to bring help closer — not to be the help themselves.

Children and under-18s

Village of Circles is an adults-only space — souls must be 18 or over. Even so, a concern about a child can surface inside a circle: a soul discloses harm to a child, or a holder fears a young person is at risk.

• A concern about a child’s safety is never kept inside the circle. Tell a steward immediately, and in immediate danger call 000.
• In Australia, certain people in certain roles have legal duties to report concerns about a child’s safety. Our stewards take every child-safety concern seriously and act on it.

Holder suitability and boundaries

To hold a circle is to be trusted by people in a tender state. That trust carries a real imbalance of standing, and it must never be used for personal gain.

• No exploitation — ever. Not financial, not emotional, not sexual, not spiritual. A holder who uses a soul’s vulnerability for their own benefit has broken the deepest trust of this village.
• No romantic or sexual relationship with a soul you are holding. If genuine connection arises, the holder steps out of the holding role first and clearly, and lets time and distance pass, before anything personal begins.
• Some people are not suited to hold — those who cannot keep a confidence responsibly, who need the circle to meet their own unmet needs, who blur boundaries, or who cannot tell the difference between presence and control. This is said without shame: not everyone is called to hold, and that is alright.

How a concern is handled, and kept private

• A safeguarding concern is held by stewards, privately and with care.
• We record only what is needed to keep a soul safe and to act responsibly — no more.
• What you share is shared only as safety requires — with the people who need to know to help, and no wider. It is never gossip, never a story told about you.

Who carries what

• The soul — brings themselves honestly, and may name when they are not okay. You are never a burden here.
• The holder — stays present, keeps clear boundaries, and does not carry a serious concern alone. They bring help closer; they are not the help itself.
• The steward — receives concerns, holds them privately, decides what care and what action a situation needs, and connects to outside help or authorities where safety requires.

Reporting a concern

If something doesn’t sit right — for you or for someone else — tell us. Write to guide@villageofcircles.org. Every concern raised in good faith is taken seriously. No reprisal: no one is punished, shamed, or pushed out for raising a genuine concern about safety. Speaking up to protect a soul is exactly what this village is for.

External support — and an honest word

Village of Circles is not an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone near you is in danger, please reach the people who are:

For ongoing struggles, please also seek professional care — a GP, a counsellor, a psychologist. We walk beside you; we are not a substitute for the care a trained professional can give.

A living document

This is a living policy. We will revise it as we learn and as the law asks of us; each version is dated. Where a change is significant, we will tell you plainly rather than assume your agreement.