Posted By Junebug I have a query a colleague of mine passed to me. Her organisation works with young persons and takes these young persons to events such as Pride. She asked me whether the following was suitable and i said not really. 'Our staff have recently taken out members of the youth group to pride week. Their control measures were as follows: They met the young persons (under 18 but over 16) at a station, travelled with them to pride and then left them on their own until a designated time. At the designated time they 'offered' to walk them back to the train station so they can get home. They asked the parents to sign a disclaimer saying that they were not responsible for them during the event.' My opinion: A disclaimer means nothing if something actually happens to these teens they are young persons and should have more supervision offering to walk them to the station is not suitable, bearing in mind the event was in another town! they are taking them to the event so they should take care of them during the event it sounds to me like a responsibility cop out they should be accompanying the teens throughout the day, and then home to the meeting station where their parents will be there to meet them, or will know what time to expect them home. There are other things i have advised like potential risk of attack during the event, having set rules re: drinking, getting contact numbers of teens and parents in case they need to contact each other in an emergency etc etc. What does everyone think? Is my advice going too far, or not far enough? What would those of you who are parents think of letting your teen go out of town, take care of themselves and then essentially find their own way home. What would the disclaimer mean to you? Wrote this really fast so if you need any other info let me know. June.

Posted By Junebug thanks for the response. Its a charity who works with young persons (as much as I can say). They arrange events for young persons. The teens are part of a youth group, hence my 'argument' that there should be more supervision and responsibility. You have however, given me something to think about re: why they are arranging things this way, perhaps it is put to parents as a 'taxi' service. The only thing is that these kids attend this youth group regularly and this is a youth group event & unfortunately in the world we live in these kids are 'vulnerable to attack' re: their sexuality (hopefully i said that so as not to offend). There are always idiots out there just waiting for events like these to ruin and spoil everything with worthless attacks. About as much as I can say without giving it away. Tnx.

Posted By DougB I work with a Youth Group as a volunteer. All "volunteers" and workers require to be checked out re protection measures. Not sure why someone would arrange to take "vulnerable"? persons to an event and then leave them to their own devices even with Parental consent? Why would you place yourself in such a position should something go wrong eg illness, someone getting lost or injured. Do you really have to place yourself or the organisation at risk since based on the ages the individuals can attend such events under their own steam? If it is clear such visits are part of an "organised trip" then stricter controls would be necessary in my view.