Our Commitment to Safeguarding

Plant With Purpose is committed to protecting the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of every person we encounter through our work, especially children and vulnerable adults.

We believe safeguarding is fundamental to fulfilling our mission of holistic transformation. Our staff, volunteers, partners, and affiliates are all held to clear standards of conduct to prevent harm, and we are committed to fostering a culture where concerns are welcomed, heard, and addressed promptly.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting people, particularly those most at risk, from abuse, harm, or exploitation. It also means ensuring that our staff, partners, and operations do no harm in the communities where we work. This includes taking proactive steps to prevent abuse, responding quickly and appropriately when concerns arise, and continuously fostering a culture of safety, respect, and accountability.

Why It Matters

Safeguarding is core to our values of empowerment, stewardship, and trust. Whether in the field, online, or during any program-related activity, we are committed to maintaining environments where every person feels safe, seen, and valued. We follow a global safeguarding policy that outlines prevention protocols, ethical conduct, and response processes to address any reports of harm.

How to Report a Safeguarding Concern

If you have a concern related to the safety or wellbeing of a participant, staff member, volunteer, or anyone connected to Plant With Purpose, we encourage you to report it.

Please note: Our safeguarding reporting process is intended to address serious concerns relating to the conduct of Plant With Purpose and its employees, volunteers, partners, or affiliates.

Plant With Purpose encourages all staff members to first speak to their manager or a People and Culture representative when they have concerns about a safeguarding policy violation or misconduct, as this is typically the best method for addressing problems and allows the appropriate management to take action.

However, in those exceptional cases where a person has been discouraged from reporting, or may fear for their job or well-being, the Safeguarding Reporting Process is available to bypass normal channels and submit a confidential report directly.

You can contact our designated Safeguarding Focal Point: Gillian Scheel

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: (858) 339-3399

We request that you provide your name and contact information to help us better assess and respond to your concern. If you choose not to, you may submit a report anonymously; however, please note that anonymous reports are more difficult to investigate and may be subject to legal limitations.

To help us address your concern effectively, please include as much detail as possible:

• A description of the event, issue, or concern
  The name and title of each person involved
• Dates, times, frequency, and locations of the incident(s)
• Any facts that indicate urgency
• Any supporting documentation, witness information, or relevant evidence
• Any known laws or policies believed to have been violated

Please note that those reviewing the report may not be familiar with your local context, so providing clear and detailed information is appreciated.

All reports will be treated seriously and handled with care, respect, and confidentiality, in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.

Resources

📄 Read Our Full Global Safeguarding Policy (PDF)

📄 Annual Safeguarding Reports – Available beginning June 30, 2026