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Original poster

17 dd going to Leeds festival

46 replies

Whoops1 · 20/08/2022 19:06

Hi she’s sensible, I think, but naive we live in a village, and of course thinks she knows it all. Her and her chum have booked an Airbnb which impressed me! But how do I warn her without sounding mad to be super careful - I got done in with some sort of Micky Finn when I was 30 ffs. So even though she says, ‘I’m nearly an adult’ I say even adults can get fooled. What should she be taking? What precautions should I be taking? I have her and mates phone numbers and address of Airbnb.
think mad phone all to Dh from mad mil has got my anxiety Sky high, of course she will be fine.and needs to learn.but..thanks mil! For context we can do no right, sil is perfect. Sigh!

OP posts:
MillyMoo1113 · 20/08/2022 19:09

Tell her to drink lots of water and the security there are always helpful if she's worried about anything.

Be aware that mobile reception is very patchy there.

Is the Air BnB nearby or is she getting the shuttle bus from Leeds station.

Food on site is expensive, my daughter reckons on £15 for a meal.

If she's taking fake ID, the pop up Coop on site are very fussy. Cue me getting a phone call from annoyed daughter at 3am last year.

This is my daughters fourth year, I hope the novelty wears off soon tbh, but she's always been fine, she's camped the last couple of years. Everything comes back filthy and she's knackered and vile when she gets home!!

Original poster
Whoops1 · 21/08/2022 06:56

Thanks millymoo
good tips and thanks for the phone reception warning.
she’s booked an air and bin Leeds so she’ll be getting the shuttle bus.
im sure they’ll be fine, Dh not reassuring by telling me areas of Leeds is rough!
im sure they’ll be fine, and thanks for the tips.
just that this summer was like a switch flipped and she’s suddenly a proper teen.
😳😀

OP posts:
Original poster
Whoops1 · 21/08/2022 06:57

hope your dd enjoys, im sure she will! Enjoy the washing !

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Suzy14837 · 21/08/2022 07:10

Make certain that they know that if any of them were to get into trouble taking drugs, that they can seek medical help without judgement. Festival medics have seen it all and don't judge. They won't get into trouble, they'll just get the help they need.

Sunflowergirl1 · 21/08/2022 07:29

We live near Bramham Park where it js held. All the locals kids have tended to go.

The reassurance you have is they have an Air B&B booked. The biggest problems come from the camping fields where most of the drugs and sexual assaults occur

Suggest you steer her not to join anyone they meet there late on and to get the bus to her accommodation and should be fine.

Leeds Festival used to complete shit show, badly organised by utter mavericks which didn't give it a good reputation as they also refused to have police on site at all. It is now a much better and regulated event and they appear to cooperate much more with the police and local community to have a better run event

MillyMoo1113 · 21/08/2022 09:16

There are rough areas of Leeds and the shuttle bus may take her through some but the area it's in is really quite nice.

People come from all over the country to go tho, I was talking to a young lad in Cambridgeshire earlier this week who is travelling up for it.

Pp was right about the staff being very non judgemental; my niece chaperoned my DD and a friend the first year and there were some problems with the friend and all the staff were great.

Leeds fest is a bit of a rite of passage I think, am sure she'll be fine!

legosunqueen · 21/08/2022 09:37

My DS 16 is going, along with half his year group...post GCSE & we live in West Yorkshire & as another poster said, it's a rite of passage locally. Doesn't mean it's not a worry though! Several of his friends mums will be there as Festival Angels, there will be non judgmental help if needed. Useful to know about the phone signal @MillyMoo1113 does that affect contactless/Apple pay?

MillyMoo1113 · 21/08/2022 09:51

Actually I don't know re contactless and Apple Pay; I'll ask DD, won't be til this afternoon, she's worked her bar job in Leeds overnight and didn't go to bed til 7am this morning!

legosunqueen · 21/08/2022 09:57

@MillyMoo1113 thanks- DS also still in bed after watching the boxing at a friend's house last night...

honkeytonkwoman38 · 21/08/2022 09:58

Is this Liz Truss 'I lived in rough old Leeds rumours' ? ( despite living in a very affluent area) Leeds is a city so all cities have good and less good parts. Leeds festival is held at Brahman park on the a64 which is the route to York. It's actually quite an expensive area.

It won't be that factor that is the problem. It will be peer pressure and her own self will!

However you can't shelter them in backwaters forever!

MillyMoo1113 · 22/08/2022 21:55

legosunqueen · 21/08/2022 09:37

My DS 16 is going, along with half his year group...post GCSE & we live in West Yorkshire & as another poster said, it's a rite of passage locally. Doesn't mean it's not a worry though! Several of his friends mums will be there as Festival Angels, there will be non judgmental help if needed. Useful to know about the phone signal @MillyMoo1113 does that affect contactless/Apple pay?

Finally got an answer from DD, teenagers are so delightful. Apparently the lack of signal doesn't affect contactless, so they are fine to use their cards.

Thinking back, they might not have taken cash last year tbh

legosunqueen · 23/08/2022 08:25

That's good to know @MillyMoo1113 thanks!

FindingMeno · 23/08/2022 08:28

Tell her to organise a meeting place with her friends in case they get separated and have no mobile signal.

Work2live · 23/08/2022 08:39

Sounds so ridiculous but try to make sure she takes suitable clothes/boots! I went to Leeds fest in 2011 (I think) and it poured down all weekend.

I was 19 and had only taken ‘fashionable’ stuff with me, including shorts, a denim jacket and Primark boots. I was soaking wet and miserable ALL weekend 😂 I can’t believe I didn’t think to take a waterproof or proper walking boots/wellies. So remind her to check the weather and plan accordingly!

Otherwise I agree with pp, the security people there are really good. Food is very expensive at festivals now so she’ll need a few quid for that.

WendyAndDave · 23/08/2022 08:44

In terms of talking to her about risks, I usually say something like “I know you’re sensible but it’s part of my role as a mum to say this stuff, so bear with me if I’m stating the obvious…” before launching into it. Worth pointing out that taking drugs at festivals is particularly risky as there’s no comeback for the dealer, plus it’s an unfamiliar environment. Getting over-drunk is a bad idea for the same reason. Not accepting drinks from strangers etc.

Original poster
Whoops1 · 25/08/2022 09:41

This is great, thanks everyone. I’ve done the ‘I’m your mum so bear with me..’ that’s a nice way of presenting it.
hears to them all having fun!

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OldWivesTale · 29/08/2022 20:19

My Dd has just got back from Leeds. Her friend was spiked with a needle, we think, just as they were waiting for Arctic Monkeys to come on. They went to the medics who were useless and then we took her to A and E; I fetched the rest back to a hotel on the Sunday night as I'd heard about the last night mayhem. I'd thought it was a bit of an urban myth but groups of lads were actually setting tents on fire.

I'm just so upset about the whole thing and I wonder how many other girls were spiked and the whole thing has been swept under the carpet. I also wonder how long they can get away with having terrible "security" and support for children who need medical attention. Most of the people there were 16 or 17. I'm surprised there aren't more deaths to be honest.

OldWivesTale · 29/08/2022 20:24

This isn't my DD's friend. She hasn't even reported it yet. When will these festivals be held to account for the protection of children, especially girls? I also looked at stats for reported rapes and it averages about 3 per year. That is reported rapes so how many more go unreported?

I like to think I'm quite chilled about letting kids find their own way and make their own mistakes but I'm not sure I would let them go again next year to be honest.

honkeytonkwoman38 · 29/08/2022 20:27

Friend of my daughter was spiked at Leeds festival this weekend too. Also my daughters tent was set on fire. Behaviour seems to have been worse this year at both events.

catinboots123 · 29/08/2022 20:28

The footage on TikTok of both Leeds and Reading is awful. So many tents set on fire, people having Al sorts of missiles thrown at them. Loads of people injured and they couldn't get out because the exits were blocked.

No way would I let a teen of mine go to either next year.

I hope you DD is okay OP and the also the friend of the daughter of the PP

OldWivesTale · 29/08/2022 21:23

honkeytonkwoman38 · 29/08/2022 20:27

Friend of my daughter was spiked at Leeds festival this weekend too. Also my daughters tent was set on fire. Behaviour seems to have been worse this year at both events.

I think all these girls need to report this. It's shocking!

Theendofnature · 29/08/2022 21:32

Such a worry

legosunqueen · 29/08/2022 22:25

I've been posting in the Reading thread over the weekend...another mumsnetter linked to this article https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/29/reading-festival-violence-tent-burning?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

I'm appalled that the West Yorkshire police aren't concerned about the blatant arson going on, & the spiking stories are so alarming too, DS aged 16 was in purple camp which had tents set alight...he did have a great time but says he will stay in the secure Camping + if he goes again...

Original poster
Whoops1 · 29/08/2022 22:42

Wow, I’m shocked. I really hope the friendis ok, honkytonk woman, and your dd is ok. Her tent burnt! Was she there? Did she lose her stuff? Awful.
I hope the other girls are ok. Spiking, that’s just beyond appalling.
DD only had Friday night tickets, which I’m really thankful for. She said it was great fun and she got an Uber back to the air band b they’d found, so I’m pleased she’s sensible. Utterly horrified to hear about spiking.
agree with you, oldwivestale finding their own way is good, but not when there’s quite so much nasty ness.

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