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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Prude or safeguarding?

29 replies

Kittykate15 · 02/05/2024 07:55

My son and I recently went on an organised 5 day football trip, two days of travel, three days of matches. Kids aged between 8-13yrs and one or more parent per child. I knew there'd be a social element, late nights etc but was really shocked by the behaviour of some of the parents, one showed up to the coach with 48cans of lager and three bottles of spirits, drinking started at 8am and continued for the whole trip. The parents of the younger children were a lot more sensible but those with 12/13yr olds were fall over drunk half the weekend, letting their children drink alcohol, being very loud (music blasting in early hours etc) at our accommodation and the kids just running riot. One child was lost for 1.5hrs before anyone realised was missing, found asleep outside their accommodation as they couldn't get in, one child fractured ankle jumping over a fence running around the site and it wasn't realised until back home following day and taken to a&e. If we were talking 16+ year olds I'd probably be more relaxed but these were max 13year olds. I work in safeguarding in my day job and just felt very uncomfortable with it all, but not sure whether I can/should do anything, my child loves the sport and his coaches are very responsible (not part of the drinking group) but I hate the normalisation of these behaviours at such a young age. But then the sports club can hardly control the parents. Am I massively overthinking all this? I never did the organised sports thing so maybe this is standard practice.

OP posts:
FlameTulip · 02/05/2024 08:28

I would be shocked by this too OP. It may not be a safeguarding issue as such but it's not great is it.

Catsmere · 02/05/2024 08:16

"Prude" isn't really relevant here, is it? It means one who is easily shocked by nudity or sexual things (and imo is mostly a put-down of women with boundaries).

To the substance of your post, no, I don't think you were unreasonable at all. Adults being drunk and letting their children drink, disappear and get injured is atrocious.

cansu · 02/05/2024 08:08

The children were under the control of their parents. If you think the parents were neglectful you can report to social care but I wouldn't waste your time. Most of your post is about them drinking too much. I think this will hardly be headline news to anyone.

Catza · 02/05/2024 08:08

You work in safeguarding so you are best place to assess what specific safeguarding issue there may be. Are you implying neglect, physical or psychological harm?