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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

PGL

43 replies

Notagoodtime · 10/05/2021 12:47

DS has the opportunity to go on PGL in a few weeks time. We were unsure if it was going ahead until today so I have tried to put it to the back of my mind. Ds wants to go but I have reservations but not sure if I am being unreasonable. DS has food allergies and it worries me I will be 3 hours away if he becomes poorly. Secondly I still feel a bit anxious about everything opening up too quickly. Ds would like to go. I know I can be overprotective so would like others opinions please.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 10/05/2021 12:53

You have my sympathy. It's scary letting them go away with food allergies. What year is he? I'm playing ultra cautious with covid but I'd let him go.

FWIW mine went to PGL in year 6. He has an epi pen but only a couple of severe allergies so we were lucky. I get the impression that pgl is very geared up for different diets.

Original poster
Notagoodtime · 10/05/2021 12:56

Thanks megle that is reassuring. He is in year 6

OP posts:
Thamesis · 10/05/2021 12:59

I also have a child with allergies, one of them serious so they carry an epipen. It's tricky when they start to do things without you. If it is a school trip, are the staff aware and manage the allergies well at school? Is your child old enough to be aware of his allergies?

Dustyhedge · 10/05/2021 13:04

Personally I’d discount covid. The children will have been in each other’s pockets in the classroom and a trip is likely to do them good.

The allergies is a different beast and partly it depends on how serious the allergies, how confident you are in the school, how well your child can manage and the procedures at PGL.

Original poster
Notagoodtime · 10/05/2021 13:10

Thanks all. I guess what I’m worried about is that occasionally we can’t work out why he has a reaction. He hates to make a fuss so I worry that he wouldn’t tell anyone or it would happen after they have gone to bed. I always hear him if he starts coughing

OP posts:
sweeneytoddsrazor · 10/05/2021 13:10

I have taken children to PGL for a number of years, it is brilliant. There is full medical questionnaires sent out via the school or group organisers regarding allergy so they are aware. There is always a good choice of food including hot/cold, vegan/veggie etc, bread and butter, f

sweeneytoddsrazor · 10/05/2021 13:11

Fruit and salad bar. H

sweeneytoddsrazor · 10/05/2021 13:11

Sorry phone playing up. He will love it

Sirzy · 10/05/2021 13:12

Places like that are well set up to cater for allergies.

Personally if he wants to go I would let him, don’t let him think he has to be held back by his allergies.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 10/05/2021 13:14

He won't be in a room alone most are for 4 people so if he starts coughing one of the others can fetch an adult

PurpleMustang · 10/05/2021 13:17

Mine went in Yr 6 and really loved it.
I suppose you could make your own enquiries with the site regarding his allergies to feel comfortable. Then it would be a case of do you feel comfortable that the teachers will look out for him, take him seriously if he goes to them not feeling well. You could also ask in the room allocation how far away are the teachers, next room/along a corridor. I think when mine went the teachers were in rooms in-between the kids

Ponoka7 · 10/05/2021 13:22

My youngest DD went to PGL with her SEN school. The children had a range of conditions, which included food allergies and needing special diets. They were all catered for and loved it. Your overprotectivness will damage him, if you start to restrict what he can do.

EvilOnion · 10/05/2021 13:27

I went to the PGL when I was 10 and again when I was 12, they were the most memorable holidays I've ever had!

I shared a dorm with 4 other girls so didn't feel lonely and most of the activities were outdoors and would probably be naturally distanced anyway so wouldn't worry about Covid restrictions either.

Food wise I remember there being lots on offer and a friend I met there would only eat set food so they catered for her and made the same stuff every night to make sure she was fed so I imagine it would be better now with allergies etc.

pingster · 10/05/2021 13:30

My sons has coeliac and has been to PGL several times. They've always been really careful with food and he's not had any problems with cross contamination or being given the wrong thing to eat

AFS1 · 10/05/2021 13:34

A girl in my daughter’s year has very serious food allergies. Her parents stayed in a travel lodge near the PGL site and the girl stayed overnight with them each night. I don’t know them well enough to know if emotionally the girl was ok with sleeping away from her friends, but it meant she got to do all the activities. Would that be an option?

Gemma2019 · 10/05/2021 14:08

PGL is brilliant for allergies. It really is a great experience for children so I'd really recommend letting your DS go.

SnowdaySewday · 10/05/2021 14:46

@AFS1

A girl in my daughter’s year has very serious food allergies. Her parents stayed in a travel lodge near the PGL site and the girl stayed overnight with them each night. I don’t know them well enough to know if emotionally the girl was ok with sleeping away from her friends, but it meant she got to do all the activities. Would that be an option?
I've taken a child on a residential who had a medical condition that in rare circumstances might mean they could need to be hospitalised. Their parent booked a B&B a few minutes away for the two nights of the visit. The child stayed on site overnight and didn't know their parent had made the journey, but the parent was reassured by being close in the unlikely case of there being an emergency.
An0n0n0n · 10/05/2021 17:24

Youll always be scared. Let him go and accept and acknowledge to yourself that you feel anxious (and thats ok!) But that the solution is that that is something you will deal with rather than controlling the situation x

Coffeealways · 15/05/2021 03:21

I have the same dilemma. DC also year 6 going to PGL in a couple of weeks. DC has a severe allergy but we are letting her go eventually. The PGL is adventure PGL which means there are all sorts of risky climbing activities etc., which scare me a lot.

Whoactuallyneedsaname · 15/05/2021 07:37

Like @SnowdaySewday, I work with a child who could potentially need a great deal of support in the night. His foster carer comes on all our residentials and books a nearby AirBnB. The child has absolutely no idea she has travelled to the trip location, and I’ve never needed to call her - but she has the peace of mind of knowing she’s nearby if needed, as do I, and she’s had the pleasure of a good number of selfish trips away where she can hunker down with a book and not be needed for anything.

Whoactuallyneedsaname · 15/05/2021 07:40

Sorry, just also to add - my dad was incredibly overprotective and I was not allowed on residentials. My class had a bonding experience without me and I felt very excluded not only during the trip but also afterwards (think Phoebe from Friends after the others have all been to London). I can only imagine how worried you must feel but I think it’s really important you try and find a way to make this work for your son.

Singlebutmarried · 15/05/2021 08:09

I didn’t even realise these were still a thing! But then the penny ja dropped its who DDs school use for their trips, there’s a sever nut allergy in her year and there’s not been a problem with food there.

I have also now looked and possibly sending DD horse riding for a week later in the year.

Littlebluebird123 · 15/05/2021 08:10

I can understand your concerns but I would recommend talking them through with the teacher who is going on the trip. They will have the full information about how they will manage it, and can reassure you.
I have been on quite a few residentials and as the teacher I barely sleep as I'm patrolling/reassuring/checking in on kids. I want them all to have an amazing time and you just have to accept you're 'on' the whole time.

The kids all really enjoy it. It's such a brilliant opportunity so I would do what I could to ensure they could go.

Macaroni46 · 15/05/2021 08:11

I've been taking classes of primary children to PGL for over 20 years. They deal brilliantly with allergies and medical conditions.
I understand how scary it is for you but it'll so beneficial for your DS to go whereas keeping him home will be damaging.
Both the PGL and school staff will look after him.

Coffeealways · 15/05/2021 17:05

My child is also going to PGL, and it’s the one with massive swings and abseiling, zip wires and ropes. It’s quite scary to send a small child to such a risky activity.