AIBU or is this a MAJOR safeguarding issue?

[Whatthefudgeisthis]

NC for this,

I’ve been absolutely stunned at the ignorance shown by the organisers with this one! A naturist night at the water park 😱 this place is designed for kids entertainment, it’s basically loads of water slides a wave pool and play area etc
Who in their right mind would take a child to such an event. Obviously I’m not shooting down naturists, each to their own, but this is an event that ANYONE can attend. Known paedophiles have attended these events, with one saying that he can’t even swim. What the actual fuck is going on? Who thought this one up?
If adults want to swim naked that’s their call, but why open the event to children too?

I’m pretty sure I’m not the one missing the blindingly obvious here, but I’m so amazed at the stupidity I had to share and maybe raise some awareness.

www.stokesentinel.co.uk/whats-on/family-nude-swimming-session-coming-2589946

These events are being held across the country, so there’s possibly one near you.

Good grief. And ' under 5s go free'. Horendous. I'm genuinely shocked. This needs to be stopped.

Makes you wonder who the person is that organised this and what their intentions were doesn't it.

They had one of these in Calgary (I think) that went off without incident but the next time it made the media and was canceled because of the uproar around it.

I've lived in a country where nudity (mixed sex) is normal at saunas and health spas. Kids are allowed sometimes in one I went to too. I always wondered how this works with paedophiles.

In the case you mention, if the paedophile is known, how so? If they've had a conviction wouldn't it contravene a rule of release that they're around naked kids?

What the fuck!!!!??? I'm sure I read about a similar event in the USA being cancelled due to complaints. I think someone needs to be spoken to!

Already happened in Blackpool.

www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/crime-campaigner-says-naked-family-2610305

Sorry, there’s a few different stories on this site and I didn’t know which one to choose.

There’s been paedophile hunters going to these events protesting, so I’m guessing it’s either people they’ve come into contact with or know of.
Not sure what it’s like where everyone else lives, but we seem to get a few paedos in the local paper every week, so we see quite a few photos, and there’s always the uk database or whatever it’s called. That’s got a lot of photos on too.
Not sure how it works with regards to them being around kids? I live near one, he got 18 months for abusing an 8yr old boy. We live near 3 schools and a 2 minute walk from a playground so technically he has the same kind of access to kids?

This is causing a massive shitstorm in the Stoke region, including protests outside the venue.

Signed petition.

I know next to nothing about naturism but what's the difference between this event and a naturist club? Because kids up and down the country will be taken by parents to naturist clubs which I guess could be open to paedophiles trying to enter.

But this is for families, is it not?

We went in numerous beaches where no one wore clothes (not naturist clubs, just beaches where no one bothered with clothes: N Norfolk, Germany, Greece in places frequented by Germans), and it was no big deal.

The event is a club event. I am surprised they would allow non members.

Do they allow single men? As I understand it lots of naturist clubs / camps that have families don’t allow single men.

Silver lining.... A good way of social services identifying thoroughly shit parents.

@Twerking9til5

It states that the event is open to non members

Can’t they make it adult only ? No issue with that. But no kids

My kids would never even dream of attending this anyway . But still

Naturists aren't perverts.

Everyone - including naturists - may need to take steps to ensure perverts do not access events, especially family events.

Many paedophiles are men with children of their own, so not admitting single men wouldn't solve the problem.

As I understand it lots of naturist clubs / camps that have families don’t allow single men.

If that’s true, then it’s probably less risky than a water park on a typical day isn’t it? I’m pretty sure waterparks, public swimming pools and beaches would be a magnet for paedophiles anyway.

From what I've read the event is for naturist families and any children must be accompanied by their parents or guardians at all times. The event is on for under two hours I believe. All the outcry is just over the top- simply because you don't understand the naturists doesn't mean you can ban their events simply because you hear the words 'children' and 'nudity'. If you are concerned about peados turning up and abusing kids then I hate to tell you this but you better ban kids football teams, scouts, boys brigade as with those things you are actually leaving your children unsupervised with potential peadophiles. Whereas this event might have kids naked but they will be with their parents supervised for the entire event. Also, better ban nudity on beaches whilst you're at it

I am not a nudist and I totally underatand why people are concerned.

However, I now live somewhere where communal changing rooms for swimming and nude saunas are the norm. My kids often swim naked at the lakes near our home and there are no changing rooms there so people get changed in the open.

When we first got here I was very unfcomfortable but now I am actually quite happy with my kids seeing naked adults. I like that they will have a realistic view of what human bodies look like instead of just seeing airbrushed models. We all get changed for swimming in a room where men and women of all ages are also getting changed. I actually find it quite liberating now.

And we all know that wearing clothes doesn't protect kids from sexual abuse and anyone attending for sexual gratification will struggle to hide it when everyone can see their errection.

Yes I'd have thought that parents from naturist groups would have a pretty good grasp on the importance of keeping their kids supervised.

There was a naturist club in the village where I grew up. I never went but certainly other families and their kids went a lot.

At risk of being shot down in flames. If you are here and watching your children like you should be there is no more risk than a normal swimming pol. You have no idea what a person is thinking when they look at your child, whether your child is naked or not. Your child is not any more vulnerable naked. I am sure there are thousands of people walking the streets thinking all sorts about another human being, but if said human being is not aware of it then no harm is done. Probably not explained it very well.

@WFTisgoingoninmyhead

I absolutely agree with your point

OMG that is beyond belief.

Even if it was just members only that is unacceptable. Paedophiles would just become a member, tons of them don't already have convictions obviously! and plenty paedophiles have their own children.

Signed.

To those saying it's no different if children are in swimwear, of course it is - just because you are watching your child, why would it be okay to have a paedo lusting after their exposed genitals, just because they can still lust if not exposed doesn't make it alright to think 'oh you may as well expose them anyway as they are still going to lust'!!! Also the paedo is likely to get off on being allowed to expose themselves to children.