David Lloyd Safeguarding concerns

[EmmaCra]

I’m extremely disappointed with David Lloyd Gidea Park and how they handle safety—especially when it comes to teenagers.

My son was threatened by an adult man in the pool area. Despite being made aware of this, staff were too afraid or unwilling to approach the adult male or revoke his membership, which ultimately resulted in the police being involved and an ongoing investigation. As a parent, that alone is deeply concerning.

What makes this situation even worse is that my son has now been given a minimum one-year ban for entering the sauna area—while the adult who threatened him appears to have faced little to no consequence. The punishment feels completely excessive and grossly unfair given the circumstances. It comes across as though the club is more concerned with avoiding bad publicity than protecting young members.

You can put a nice, expensive club in Romford, but if standards of behaviour and accountability aren’t enforced equally, the environment doesn’t magically improve. Safety should come before image—especially where children are concerned.

I would strongly caution other parents to think carefully before assuming this club is a safe space for teens. UPDATE 11/03: we still have not been contacted, no letter received or email replied to regardless of the false reply to this review on Google.

I agree with the others that more info is needed here.

How old is your son? There’s a massive difference between a 13/14 year old and an 18/19 year old.

What actually happened with the adult man who threatened him? What was the threat and what caused him to threaten your son? Were you there, or are you taking your sons story as gospel?

What reason was given for your son being given a ban? You mention entering the sauna area - was he not old enough to be there? Was this the first time it happened or had he been told repeatedly? Was he acting inappropriately in there? Was the threatening man incident related to the sauna incident?

Ultimately, it’s your job as a parent to either supervise your child, or ensure they know how to behave if there in their own. It isn’t for the gym staff to be responsible for your son. Do they have rules around under 16/18 being unaccompanied?

2 issues the
first one the van from the sauna is correct
2nd we’d need the unbiased details of what went on

What was the threat OP

Sexual assault?
Physical assault?

Financial exploitation?

What was your son threatened with exactly

What has the club given as the reason for banning your son, whats written down exactly?

Why has he been banned from the sauna? Did he proposition the other man? (Assuming he’s 16+) Just a thought…. Seems a v specific place to be banned from.

He’s banned from the whole place for a year, because he entered the sauna and is underage (and was probably misbehaving as well). He isn’t just banned from the sauna.

How do you know this?

Two separate issues.

1. Altercation with another patron in the pool - what was the nature of this? Why do you think your son was in the right? How do you know what sanctions have/have not been taken against the other patron?
2. Your son being banned from the sauna wouldn’t relate to a situation in the pool. Either he did something wrong in the sauna or is too young to be going in there in the first place. I’ve read the Google reviews and there are lots of complaints about teenagers using the sauna when it is out of bounds. Can’t see your review on there either.

How do you know this?

Reading comprehension?

It’s in the OP. He has been given a 1 year ban for entering the sauna area. He hasn’t been banned from the sauna. He has been banned because he entered the sauna and shouldn’t have. The ban applies to the whole place, not the sauna.

Omg. It is in the OP. Reading comprehension.

He was banned for entering the sauna area which kids are not allowed to do. He wasn’t banned from the sauna. He has a one year ban from David Loyd because he broke user policy, and it has caused an issue which ended with police being involved.

It all sounds a bit odd. I have experience of DL clubs and have seen many times young people asked their age by staff or asked to leave the hot tub.

But they just either confirm they are 16 or they leave. No drama needed and certainly not a banning offence or police matter.

So they banned your son becuause another member threatened him for no reason.

Pull the other one.

Well OP doesnt set out that clearly if its from the sauna or the whole place, you can infer either, so please dont be rude and patronising, its not necessary is it

You also said 'for misbehaving', this is not in the OP, what has he done. You also said 'because he is underage' and there is some difference in other posts as to whether he needs to be 16 or 18 to access the sauna. OP doesnt say his age, unless Ive missed it which is possible.

And apparently the story is he was threatened in the pool. Not knowing the layout, its not clear if the pool is in the sauna area or a different area, so why would he be challenged in the pool if it is an issue in the sauna.

I thought you were posting because for some reason you knew the OP or the boy or the club staff and had inside information. Im not the only person who is asking you how you know these things either.

Dont be so rude to people.

Most dl clubs have a fairly standard layout.

the sauna and spa area leads off the pool area.
so I would assume the two incidents are related.

It’s precisely because the OP didn’t post any actual information that means we know he was behaving badly. Are you new to mumsnet? It’s always the way with posters whose kids have had some consequence that they don’t agree with and they miss out all the info… the kid has done something.

A man has pulled him up for it, he’s been going into places he shouldn’t and David Loyd don’t put up with any of that. So he’s been banned. But I will bet my house that this is not an innocent lad who gently walked through the sauna area by accident.

It is also quite clear that the year ban is from the whole facility.

Ha ha good one 😂😂 so your son went in a prohibited area was asked to leave refused and made someone angry and got a years' ban and you get the police involved to tell off the nasty man for daring to call your son out. Oh my I am beginning to understand where the off the charts level of entitlement are coming from in modern society.

This. DL near us are brilliant and quick to stamp down on inappropriate behaviour and not following rules and regulations.

Your son was in the wrong. Not sure what safeguarding has to do with anything either.

Like some others, I initially misread this as banned FROM entering the sauna rather than FOR doing it. If he’s banned because he entered the sauna, by definition he shouldn’t have been there. No venue bans you from being somewhere you’re allowed to be.

My guess is the “threatening” man simply pointed out that the OP’s son shouldn’t have been there and didn’t back down when the son got all “What’s it got to do with you?” Hence it’s escalated.

I wish my gym was this proactive. There's a huge “Relaxation area - no talking” sign over the jacuzzi, but everyone ignores it and they all yammer on like demented chimps. The staff don’t take a blind bit of notice.

OMG. Thanks for confirming. With unnecessary rudeness. I wasn't the only one so it patently wasn't that clear in the OP.

Totally agree with you - totally unnecessary rudeness. It really wasn't clear at all and sounded like two issues were being conflated. I don't know why people can't just respond normally without the need for: Omg. And: reading comprehension. I can read thanks and I also have manners.

What's with the attitude? Some of us give the benefit of the doubt where information is lacking, rather than jump to assumptions. Also as you gave me a reading lesson, here's yours: David Lloyd.

Ironically, having read the Google reviews - looking for this issue - it appears there are lots of people complaining that the staff there don't act on this issue. So maybe a patron finally did?!

I’m dyslexic but luckily doesn’t affect my ability to comprehend the information in a text.

And posters like the OP don’t get the benefit of the doubt. When crucial information is very deliberately left out after someone has been given consequences, it is never because that person is innocent.

The OP has not come back, and with some details missing it is difficult to form much of an opinion.