We have been told that 15 and 16 year olds cannot help the Woman's Institute wash up without every volunteer being police checked at a cost of over £30 for each CRB. Madness or what?

[seekinginspiration]

We have been told that 15 and 16 year olds cannot help the Woman's Institute wash up without every volunteer being police checked at a cost of over £30 for each CRB. Madness or what?

I've checked it out with the D of E people, and yes it is true. Britain has gone bonkers when our legislation will not allow older children to become socially responsible. At 15 and 16 children should be able to be trained to deal with life and hot water. I'd be gobsmacked, if any of the W.I or their husbands would flirt with a volunteer, but even if they did, Britain needs to get a grip. Don't moan about the lazy youth, STOP WRAPPING GOOD YOUNGSTERS UP IN COTTON WOOL... let them help.

BBC Saturday 21st June Anti-stab workshops for children, More than 10 teenagers have been stabbed to death in London this year. Children as young as 10 are taking lessons in how to avoid being stabbed. Specially adapted self-defence classes are being run by a martial arts school at All Souls Clubhouse in Camden, north London, for 10 to 16-year-olds. The workshops will teach youngsters how to deal with confrontations and advise them to run away from potential attackers or hand over their property.
A total of 16 teenagers have died as a result of violent crime in London since the beginning of the year.

It is sad.

Many firms are refusing to take GSCE year kids for work experience for the same reason.

we have volunteers where I work (local government) but they don't need to CRB checked...

I think it might be only if you will be alone with the volunteer

I really don't understand this.

What about youngsters like Scouts and Guides, or Duke of Edinburgh Awardsters etc who help out regularly as part of their community service projects? You're not telling me they have to be CRB checked too?

If this is true then I totally dispair (again) for what this country's coming to. How on earth can we on teh one hand expect our young people to have any sense of social duty if this kind of barking mad legislation is applied at every turn?

if you think that's mad Dh only finished his registration as a social care worker(he works in a care home). he's starting a nursing course in sept and even though he has just renewed his registration he still has to do CRB check. then appear before a panel to explain driving convictions, FPO for speeding nearly 10 yrs ago. this will take approx 14wks. they still haven't sent out the paperwork so he can't start his placements on time if they don't get a move on.i would have thought that the fact that he's been cleared for registration (which is the same process) would at least count for something, espas it's an annual renewal process in which you have to do a CRB..... i can see why people can't be bothered to volunteer if you have to go through all these checks just to wash up with the WI.

Bella - I'm pretty certain they do. I am an occasional parent helper (literally once in a blue moon) at DS2's pre school and I have to be CRB checked and have an Ofsted medical form filled out by the doctor.

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When I used to go into DCs primary school to hear children read I had to be CRB'd first, whic I totally understood. DH is now a governor and has had to be done too, which is totally understandable for when he goes into school during the day.

But washing up at the WI??????????????????? What on earth do they think's going to happen? All the ladies I know locally who go to WI are made of strong stuff (we live very rurally and most are farmers or farmer's wives, so pretty hardy)and could handle any situation. I certainly wouldn't argue with any of them!!

Why would the young volunteers be checked?

IMO they are the vulnerable people so actually all the members of the WI should be checked in case they are a danger to the young volunteers?

Thanks MN, so its not only me who thinks this is barmy. duomonstermum Lets hope your Dh persists and goes to that panel. There are so few men prepared to do any work with people under 18: voluntary, mentoring or paid ... and they are so needed. The Woman's Institute for which I am trying to get volunteers has an average age of 75 years. They cannot lift heavy stuff, stretch or bend, yet when they ask for help they met with POLITICAL CORRECTNESS from policymakers.

I think the op does mean the WI ladies have to be checked not the voluteers.

Agree it does look the other way round though

why are there 2 threads on this ?

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I heard of one case where the person who was in charge of ensuring all other helpers were CRB checked, was the one with the criminal record for abuse.......no one checked him..

although I totally appreciate what you say cod, I can understand where the OP is coming from too.

I used to sing in a church choir and gave a lift home to a 15 year old girl. I was told that I should only do that if there was someone else in the car with us. I have known this girl since she was 5 and know her Mum which struck me as a bit mad TBH. It will get to the point where people won't be able to help each other out.

They don't do this in other European countries afaik - are they rife with pervy molesters?

seeking, it's the fact that he has to do the same process over and over. he expects to have to do it but imo having to go in front of a panel to explain something that happened 10yrs ago which has no bearing on the job description is a waste of time and makes people feel as if they're being scammed. can anybody honestly say that they can remember the circumstances in which they ended up with points or even better a tv licence fine esp if it has been years since it happened...... a CRB just shows that the person has/hasn't been convicted so it's no indicator of intent.

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I agree with Cod about people getting themselves into a position of trust before acting, which is why it's important that anyone working with children in a childrens setting is CRB checked.

This is a bit different though. These people are already members of the WI. They haven't joined up to ingratiate themselves with the teenage volunteers who are basically lifting tables and washing up.

However I agree if this process manages to weed out someone with a previous conviction and avoid the risk of them harming a child, it would possibly be worth it. Just seems like a sledgehammer approach.

cod, are we then to be suspicious of everybody who volunteers to work with children?? cos if that was the case there would be no children's activities at all. no one has a problem with the check (i don't think0 it's the way that it seems to be applied without using common sense. a 15-16yr old is very different to a 3-5 yr old and as such we should be able to exercise some common sense. again, it doesn't show intent so you can have someone with a clear check who joins for the wrong reasons. tbh with the ammount of info that is held i can't see why a) it costs so much and b) why it takes so long.

"are we then to be suspicious of everybody who volunteers to work with children??" - I'd say - no, BUT we do have a duty to ensure that our children are safe

This doesn't make sense. All 16 year olds can legally work in Britain. So does every employee of every company need a CRB check if a 16 year-old is taken on?

The Belgian ones just pick kids up don't they? They don't groom them from positions of authority?

OK, that's 1 small country, with quite a few nasty men in it, who would not have been prevented from doing what they've done by CRB checks I don't think?

Any more?

I work or have worked with the following organisations and have been required to have a new crb check done each time: Children's liturgy group; Scouts; volunteer at petting zoo.
It is no big deal. It protects us aswell, from false accusations, as it hightlights the issues around working with kids.
I don't think it is madness. If you are anywhere near under 18s it should be a matter of course.
I am speaking here as someone who WAS abused btw, by someone I knew. A cbr check wouldn't have stopped it, but the existence of such procedures would have made it a more prominent issue in other's eyes.

And seekinginspiration, you sound like a DM columnist in your OP today!

i fully expect to be checked when i volunteer for stuff to do with DSs school. it just felt like cod was tarring people who genuinely want to help with those with other intentions. i know that was prob not the way the post was supposed to interpreted.