Enquiry about Da Yoof on Saturday Rides - Help Please

[Snoop Doug]

Belinda has agreed to promote our TdF beginners rides in the Advertiser - hoorah! Subsequently she has been in touch with the following question:

[color=blue]Hi Doug,

A quick question........are youth riders allowed to come on the Saturday rides? My son can't do Saturdays at the moment because of other committments, but his pal - who also rides for Sutton CC - is a bit lost as the Sutton road scene seems to have evaporated for the time being. This lad is year 9 at school (14 yrs oldish) and is looking to hook up with a club that rides regularly. He's quite competent, rides at the Palace on Tuesdays in the youth race, has his own bike, works on his turbo when he can, and is a nice kid. I've just been speaking to his Mum about Addiscombe and said I'd make some enquiries. Perhaps you'd let me know if its viable?[/color]

My gut reaction is - sure - why not? I wonder, could someone in a position of authoritah within the club just confirm that this would be OK..? Clearly if he wanted to come out regularly he'd need to join up - I'm not sure how we stand on insurance and all that jazz. Pardon me if this is going over old ground but seeing as how Belinda is being so supportive of the club I want to make sure I advise her correctly.

I await a reply

Cheers - Snoop D in Da House

[Andrew G]

Can't see it as a problem. The newer John C's son, Sam, is 13 I think. Already done Club Runs, Saturday's Brighton and Back and 2 Evening 10s. Caught his Dad in one of them.

[jon avery]

I think it's great that kids have an interest in cycling at a young age, i didn't get into cycling untill the ripe old age of 41

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I couldn't agree more that we need more yougsters and to foster their enthusiasm, and age is not a problem, as there is nothing to stop him/her riding on the road (my son Mark did from about 5 years old).

What is a nagging problem is Child Protection in this nanny state. I have been on a CP course and CRB checked with BC, and this raised many issues, around what if scenarios....

What if he gets dropped and 1 rider drops back with him?

What if he comes out with unsuitable clothing/equipment?

What if he needs help?

What if he needs a "comfort" stop?

We all believe that everyone in the club would only have his best interests at heart, and it is sad to believe, but there have been "issues" concerning other club runs in these scenarios, and it wouldn't take much to get into the tabloids.

My view would be that it is fine for him to come along provided he has a responsible adult (parent) with him who can assume responsibility in these scenarios.

[Snoop Doug]

Hmmmm - I feel a dilemma forming. Balance between getting new folk on board and all the issues Guru Paul has raised. I'm kinda stuck here - Belainda's note implied that this chap would be coming along on his tod. Ordinarily I'd be willing to meet him and his folks first and see if they were willing to let me look after him but I'm away until end of July.

Do our rules state a minimum age for guests, new joiners...? I so want to say yes to this request but only if we can look after this guy safely and address the concerns raised. I'll go back to Belinda for clarification meantime any more pearls of wisdom please issue forth

Cheers - Snoop

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

No minimum age at all, but need to use a bit of common sense.

[Joanna]

Snoop This has come up a few times. Pete Munden was 14 when he started riding the CR and i know one other yoof used to come up with his dad (who didnt ride) on the train. His pa would then meet him back at Cousdon South at the end of the CR. If i remember and im not sure , it is Alex or Tim who were the people to speak with.

Joanna

[kieran]

see document on BC site:

"Policy and Procedures for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults"

[url]http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bcf/policies.asp[/url]

doesn't seem to cover club run isue, but interestingly a youth is defined as under 18 and so this policy goes for anyone under 18, didn't Stu join before he was 18?

[CaroleH]

Difficult one this one. I know we have a young man cycling with us (and he's pretty good!!!), but we are an adult club. I for one, escape my kids on a Saturday with some good old adult conversation. I'm sure I'm not the only one - and I'm not sure an adult club is really the right sort of environment for the under 16's. However, who are we to say they can't join!! There is the child protection issue - are we opening ourselves up to all sorts of problems. My young man cycles at Sutton CC (he's 6) and it's brilliant. I obviously can't comment on the next stage (12's and above) but as far as I know they do loads of racing at Herne Hill etc!!!

[Andrew G]

[quote]didn't Stu join before he was 18?

[kieran]

so maybe stu should be banned from club runs?

[Stu Merckx Man]

im 16...dont ban me!!

i came on my first club run when i was 15, just before 16 (infact in just over a month it will be exactly a year since my first club run ).

what if he becomes a member, and just happens to be riding to charlwood and back at the same time we do

but in all seriosness. i dont think people have to worry about the adultness of the club, i find you chaps delightful . and surely the more younger riders that come in the better. i think its important to make it accessable to young riders, although i know it is hard with all that child protection stuff. but if his parents are happy with it, then it cant be a problem can it?

[Snoop Doug]

In an attempt to resolve this - may I make a suggestion....?

Can I go back to Belinda and say that our proposed guest should join us on one of the TdF come and try it events in July (we've not stipulated age on our promo poster)...? Preferrably with an adult who knows him in tow...? Once there then I think a sensible conversation can be had about how/if to progress...?

This kid rides the Palace Youth Race on Tuesdays so I'm guessing he's no mug.

I think a concern of ours would have to be that if a youngster drops off the pace - at least two people would have to go with 'em. Mrs Snoop is CRB checked and she suggests this is minimum good practice.

Any more thoughts pls chuck em in otherwise I'll go with my suggestion as above with a caution that the decision has to rest with the club on the day

Cheers - Snoop

[George]

Would you like to come and see some puppies

[Mike I]

Agree with Snoop's suggested approach. We really don't want to be seen to reject da yoof. If we do, they'll only go off and drink too many alcopops, become teeange parents and get obese. And we don't want that on our collective conscience, do we?

But a bit of common sense is needed to avoid situations which might be misinterpreted. And we need to be aware of road safety issues with less experienced riders - something I think we do anyway.

Wouldn't most parents be pleased that their little darlings were out doing something structured with their time of a Saturday morning? I know mine would have been.

Maybe Stu can put something up here on Friday evenings to update us on yoof culture - so we can try to make polite conversation on Saturdays .