are there any clubs that will alow under 18s to join in the mendip area

[Peter Burgess]

If your parents are fully informed about what is being planned, and have agreed to you taking part, that's half the 'battle' won, as far as I am concerned. Beyond that, I'll let the legally-minded forum members have a say.....

 

[Cookie]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned in this thread the requirement for any club that takes under 18s to have a "child protection policy" in place.

You say "requirement". Is that a legal requirement or is it more in the relm of best practice?

 

[Clarie]

There is no legal requirement for any non-government organisation to have a child protection policy. In those organisations where children are present then it is definitely within the realm of 'best practice' to have one. Sadly, most places develop one more because it covers their own back should any incident happen in the future, or any accusations be made, than because there is evidence that having such a policy enables the said organisation to do more to protect children.

Something which protects children efficiently in an 'adult club' such as a caving club is common sense.. children under 16 are only taken underground either directly under their parents' care, or by people who have specifically been authorised and requested by the parents (for example, Scout leaders where obviously child protection principles are adhered to, and consent forms taken).

The riskiest example is in the case of a family friend, who takes the child caving at the express wishes and permission of the parent. In this case, were an incident to happen or an accusation be made, unless there were anything in writing, then it would be hard to prove the parent had given permission. Also, if the family friend were a member of a cave club, then it could reflect badly on that club that their members were taking children underground without written consent/police check forms etc. So yes, in this example, a policy which said 'our club is not responsible for any members who take children underground' would help! 

But again, what protects everyone the best is common sense - parents don't let their kids underground with people they don't trust, family friends don't take kids underground less they trust the kids and their parents.

And you know what? The whole thing is pretty sad, that we even have to consider it nowadays

 

[The Masked Hobit]

I am a "youth" (16) and am looking to join a caving club are there any out there that will accept me. i do have a lot of caving expearence (pobably somwhere around 500 trips) mainly in mendip and deven can rig ladder pitches hapily thogh i dont know much about SRT are there any out there that will let me join

Is this in code? 

 

[Brains]

disclegsicks of the wurld!
UNTIE!!
KO?

 

[Cookie]

There is no legal requirement for any non-government organisation to have a child protection policy. In those organisations where children are present then it is definitely within the realm of 'best practice' to have one. Sadly, most places develop one more because it covers their own back should any incident happen in the future, or any accusations be made, than because there is evidence that having such a policy enables the said organisation to do more to protect children.

Thanks Claire.

Level headed common sense with a bit of effort to raise awareness should be all that is required.

It would seem a policy is a good idea but not if, as is often the case, written in the abstract with the sole aim of protecting the organisation. It should be a document to help teach people what to do in various situations, full of practical advice.

 

[ian.p]

out of interest are there any clubs that already have a signifcant amount of people my age already as members or is one club as good as the next young people wise?
N.B sory about the speling, technolgy has an unfortunate afect on my brain 

 

[Les W]

I'm not at all sure that any main stream club has many young members at all.  :-\
This is a national problem and the British Caving Association, The Regional Caving Councils and the Clubs, are all trying to actively attract younger members in to caving.
The reasons for the lack of younger people are many and complex but one of the issues is of course liability. 

I would guess that one club was as good as another for younger members but with the obvious caveat that the Wessex Cave Club would clearly be the best. 

 

[Brains]

As LesW rightly says, getting the people through the door, and then keeping them, is the problem. Most clubs will I think go out of their way to encourage a new keen member. Of course, if you were based in the Peak or Dales then you would have access to better clubs, better beer, better (and bigger) caves....

(Dont worry too much about spelling, as has been pointed out before, this is a caving forum, not an English test. Provided you can make your point clearly that should be enough. Dyslexia, speed typing, too many thumbs etc all make for less than perfect text, but then a chat down the pub is rarely in the Queens English - view this more as that style of discusion..)

 

[Les W]

Of course, if you were based in the Peak or Dales then you would have access to better clubs, better beer, better (and bigger) caves....

I could respond to this obvious challenge...
...but I won't 

 

[cap n chris]

Of course, if you were based in the Peak or Dales then you would have access to better clubs, better beer, better (and bigger) caves....

Beer? - Surely if they're under 18 this isn't a legit consideration?
Better caves? - debatable but at least the ones down south don't clog up with glaciers the moment the calendar clicks into September.
Bigger Caves? - again, debatable: but most of the ones down here require you to do something other than walk so perhaps they should also be called harder caves.....
Certainly we have less radon and flooding.... oh, and the single biggest underground void in Britain.  Over to you, Les! 

 

[Les W]

Of course, if you were based in the Peak or Dales then you would have access to better clubs, better beer, better (and bigger) caves....

Over to you, Les! 

I'm still resisting the temptation to mention GB Cave Main Chamber - damn, no self control. 

 

[Stupot]

I love the way most topics end by someone (normally Les) stating that GB has the largest Chamber in the UK,
It which it most certainly has 

Stu.

 

[Les W]

I love the way most topics end by someone (normally Les) stating that GB has the largest Chamber in the UK,
It which it most certainly has 

Stu.

I would hope this topic hasn't ended yet 

 

[Chris J]

I'm not at all sure that any main stream club has many young members at all.  :-\

Excluding U18's (which I know this topic is about) the BEC has done very well recently. We have something like 10 members all recently joined who are 25 or under. Most have come from Cardiff, Southampton Aberystwyth and Reading uni and have been out to the Dachstein.

The real trick is that these people have all gone caving together prior to joining and have done loads of caving with BEC members - so it is logical for them to join the BEC!

 

[cap n chris]

OK, so there are a few options which exist for under 18s in terms of which club(s) they may wish to join on Mendip; what's the next step? - perhaps you'll want to try and team up with an introductory trip with each of the clubs to check them out and see whether or not your expectations of the kind of thing you're looking for is likely to be catered for or whether instead it's a case of you having to put up with what you're given. It is going to be very important to find out what will happen after you have joined.... is there a published trip list? - is it novice-friendly? - are there frequent locally based trips suitable for your needs? - or are you expected to sort things out for yourself once you've handed over your money? Does the club have a training officer? These are questions you'll want to know about before you commit. I suppose there's always a chance that you might keep going from one club to another as a prospective member, sampling what they have to offer without actually ever fulfilling the entrance requirements and bothering yourself with joining....  :-\ 

There is always the other option.... don't join a club. Start your own!

 

[whitelackington]

Slightly off topic but this will please Mister Williams.
If a gert big ole were sunk above Great Chamber and Templeton style all the loose shit sucked up, there would then be a massive void, which may extend the cave, off into the unknown but could also be dug through to the Gorge.
Now that surely would be Britain's biggest underground natural chamber.
And before u say, it would be natural cos u would only be removing the shit!


Oh yes, first it might be best to seek permission 

 

[ian.p]

a quick thoght: if there was a club whos members wher all under 18 with no formall adult membership would it still be required to jump throgh all the legal hoops regarding young people :-\

 

[cap n chris]

a quick thoght: if there was a club whos members wher all under 18 with no formall adult membership would it still be required to jump throgh all the legal hoops regarding young people :-\

... it would probably need to have a Very Young Persons Protection Policy for any primary school children wishing to join!

 

[cap n chris]

a quick thoght: if there was a club whos members wher all under 18 with no formall adult membership would it still be required to jump throgh all the legal hoops regarding young people :-\

This actually sounds like a good idea IMHO. A bit like a youth club but specifically directed towards caving etc.. - you could get adult trainers (police checked, naturally) to provide guidance for use in techniques etc.. I imagine there would be some difficulties to overcome but nothing too dissimilar to starting any other club whether or not it was for adults or younger people.