Elitist camping group

[hipslikecinderella]

I have been introduced to an evangelical christian activity/camping holiday. It is for children and they take 2/3 boys and 1/3 girls - all children have to go to a top prep school.
Historically the man who set up the Trust who runs the hols has been accused of abuse on the camps.
He died and the trust did issue a statement after that to say they were investigating.
Anyway, my main issue is with the private prep thing . The reasons I have heard are mainly cost and also that the activities may be very glamorous and state children wouldn't be used to them.
However, we've also been told there are large bursaries available, although they are never taken up.
Aibu to think it's all a bit odd.....?

I went to one as a child, I loved it

Can you give us the link?

Wow. Crazy.

Stick with PGL

Steer clear, OP. If there's one nonce in the organisation, there's probably more. Also, do you really want your DC being fed superstitious misogyny with their holiday activities?

Well, blimey. Website isn’t very forthcoming, is it?

The fact it’s specifically set up to allow only pupils attending fee-paying schools is regardless of all the rest.

Was thinking that @NoSquirrels... front page: safeguarding and precious allegations

This is hilarious. Plucky independent school pupils will be able to indulge in high class activities that oiks can't handle, such as, according to their website: board games, cookery, drama workshops, music and netball (though hopefully not ruined by too many of those boisterous gurlz.) That's my DC's holiday sorted!

they said 50/50 and the girls take over

LOL

I don't get it, OP. Why would you or anyone touch this with a bargepole?

www.iwerne.org/events/summer/

Don't understand the need to limit it to private school children.

They are a Christian organisation but they don't like girls or state school pupils and they have a recent history of abuse on site. I bet Jesus is so proud of how they are spreading his values.

It says it took over holidays from scripture union-I went on one of those and it definitely wasn’t high brow or elitist!

Does piss me off that they get the benefits of being a charity, yet are allowed to limit their audience to a very select few. Might need to do some digging there.

This sounds all kinds of wrong.

For me this is a no on so many levels -
Christian
Evangelical
History of abuse
Uneven split of sexes
Private prep school only

There doesn’t seem to be a single positive. Unless you are an evangelical Christian in which case you can cross off my first two major shudders.

I think this is where someone i know sends their children. Have always found it/him frankly creepy.

It sounds so insular-further reading of terms says they work with teachers from particular schools and students from those schools will be given priority. I wonder if this is where Mumford singer met Carey mulligan-they met at a Christian camp apparently.

On looking at the website, it's exactly the same as PGL.
With the added extras of abuse and brainwashing religious views, at just ten times the cost.

I used to go on these in the 80s when it was run by scripture union... Used to go with a friend from school, a bog standard comp! Yes most of the children there were private school and seemed posh (compared to us) but didn't make any difference to us or them... Seems like things have changed with the new organisation?
Definitely wasn't t heavy with the religious stuff either, my friend and I weren't into all that, and didn't really seem like anyone else was particularly! I just remember amazing activities and amazing food and good laughs.

I love the segregation. One camp for 'the larger boarding schools and associated preps in the South'. One camp for slightly less prestigious independent schools - but definitely still in the South. One camp for Londoners.

And one special one (shhhhh....) for northerners.

What is your aibu? Just run

The camp for Northerners - is that ALL of us oop North, i.e. Cumbria, Cheshire, County Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, Lincolnshire, Westmorland, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester? Or can those of us in Scotland, North Wales and Northern Ireland go to? Obviously if our DC are at fee paying independent schools. No state school oiks allowed.

On a serious note, even if my DC went to the eligible schools, there is no way I'd send any of them to that camp.

Seven minutes a day of Christian teaching doesn’t seem very much for a Christian camp. Would barely cover a ‘thought for the day’ and hardly evangelical.

The private prep school thing doesn’t sound very ‘inclusive’ although if you were trying to ‘reach out’ to this group there may be something to be said being able to tailor your message.

Concerns about abuse would put make me run a mile unless there was serious action taken since then (eg. new trustees, bringing in safeguarding experts, full disclosure of previous concerns and actions taken, new staff, additional safeguarding measures, etc)

its work sharing the gospel with pupils from independent schools

I don't remember that bit from the bible

How would one go about 'tailoring' the Christian message to the upper classes? Do you mean being able to preach in Classical Hebrew or is it more to do with shortcuts to the Kingdom of God?

I don't understand what the question is. The abuse in the linked organisations is well-documented, which on its own should be a big red flag.