Reading festival

[Letmeout21]

15 year old wants to go to reading festival. Almost 16 by the time it comes round. Would you? Have you ever been?
Some points...
*Had a really tough tough time and needs something to look forward to
*suffers with mental health and poor decision making
*Hasnt got many friends so I don’t actually know the 2 friends she’d be going with plus their older cousins that would be over 18 and need to accompany them
*I can’t be sure she won’t drink, she probably will. I’m not convinced she wouldn’t do drive if offered and others were.

As you can tell I’m not keen but she’s begging and using her mental health to bribe me saying how happy it will make her ect.

They’re in year 10, so more 15 than 16 too

My niece went when she was 15 with 2 friends, my brother also went to keep an eye on them, they didn’t mind, he kept mostly out of their way but stayed close.

It’s very well organised and pretty safe as far as music festivals go but I think a just 16 is a bit young personally.

Depends how responsible the cousins were. If you trust them and share your concerns, then ok.
I'd want to meet the 'friends' several times too.

I let my two boys go at 15 with friends on a day ticket and I picked them up. Then weekend tickets from 17.

My DD went the year she was 17, she turned 18 a couple of weeks later.

I’m not sure I’d let her go at 15, nearly 16 if meant camping to be honest.

How far away is it from home? We have one of the big festivals on our doorstep at 15/16 I’d drop DD off and then pick her up at the end, although we went too usually, so she usually met up with us when she wanted money/feeding/on the way out.

I live locally and would say it's pretty safe for that age group. (Been to worse!) I'd maybe look to earning the right to go in terms of knuckling down and doing the school work next term, and I'd also ensure that they are aware of the dangers of drugs and drink. I'd also make sure she knows about the pastoral care groups that will be at the festival - safe places she can go to.

No, not at 15 to a festival without parents. 17 maybe.

Reading is fine. There’s lots of people around to who can help if necessary
Plus there’s many charities and churches helping out with food and drinks
Also there’s good bus and train links , the town is within walking distance
I’m sure the organisers will carefully consider the social distancing appropriately
I’d let my kids go- in fact my dd was 16 the first time she went

I agree that it will help with the mental health I really believe that our young people need some normality
Hope she has fun

Maybe on a day ticket with me picking her up at the end of the day. Definitely not overnight.

This year more than ever people are going to over do the partying and 15 is just too young to be around that.

I'm not sure which way to vote as I don't know if you're asking if YABU to let her go or YABU being apprehensive!

But, my DS is the same age. I'd let him go on a day ticket but not all weekend unless I knew another parent was going to be onsite too

Not overnight before 6th form for me.

Forgot to say, Defo not overnight. I guess if I knew the friends it’s be different. Especially the other girls 18 year old male cousins.
She’s pressuring me to make a decision as tickets are going.

Like others said, just do a day ticket and say that you might let her camp next year if she is responsible and doesn't drink.

My nearly-17yo will be going, but just for the day. First festival. If he likes it and wants to camp next year then he will hopefully be able to contribute to the ticket. This year it's a post-lockdown treat. They need something to look forward to.

Day ticket- absolutely fine! All the action happens at night.

It’s alright, gone downhill the last few years. I was going at 15, I left after one day at 18 as it was a badly planned year - bands playing to an empty field due to security mess ups.

Worth adding, my nearly-17yo should be vaccinated by the end of August, but your daughter will be too young. That may not bother you, but it was extra reassurance for me.

I’m starting to be persuaded I think 🤔

Am I the only one thinking it won't go ahead? (Although I hope I'm wrong!)

Mine all went the year the did their GCSEs.

Let her go but give her the big drug so each first, drugs are literally everywhere there.

A day ticket I'd say yes, kids need to start taking small risks as teens. My experience, which was 20 years ago now so might not be relevant, was that the campsites got a bit rough, lots of drunk teenage boys, it was loud and you didn't want to go too near the porta loos as the weekend went on. But the actual arena was always well managed and felt safe. I'd imagine the crowds far better managed now than then.

Always a good weekend to go to the Oracle if you aren't going to be at the festival because everyone seems to avoid Reading town centre that weekend.

I've been to Reading most years over the last 20 years. There is no way I'd allow a 15 or 16 year old to go with two friends you don't know (and older cousins who presumably you also don't know).

Reading has so many drugs and drug users. If you don't trust that your child would be able to make safe choices, I wouldn't let them go. It can be difficult to find help if you need it, especially as a young person who may not know how to handle things.

As a compromise, I'd prob let them go on a day ticket, but not let them stay for the weekend. I'd also insist on meeting the friends several times too.

I went when I was 15 and there was a huge amount of drugs there. I also got separated from my friends.