Would you let a 16 year old daughter go to Boardmasters?

[BeLilacScroller]

Interested to hear from those who have agreed (or disagreed) to their 16 year old daughter going to Boardmasters. How did you decide it would be safe (or unsafe) as I see mixed messages everywhere about it.

My DD is going this summer, she's 18. I wouldn't have felt delighted about it if she'd wanted to go 2 years ago, but lots of them do it so I would probably have let her.

How far away is it from
you OP? It’s a long way from us which would put me off

I've stayed in the hotel next door and gather a lot of parents stay and the kids come and check in with them / take a shower etc?

I went to Glastonbury at 16 and in hindsight was probably too young. It was amazing and nothing bad happened but it very very easily could have. I saw someone shooting drugs with a needle in the campsite which was... eye opening.

So yes if you can find a way of also being local?

16 is too young IMO but if the kids ask it would be hard to say no. I would try and talk my DD out if it

My DD went last year at 16. We stayed down the road in case of emergencies but was all fine and she loved it so is going back this year.

She is a sensible girl with a solid group of mates who I know look after each other so I wasn’t too worried.

When my elder girls were 16 they both wanted to go to Glastonbury and it was a proper dilemma as I’d have let DD1 go easily, but even now they’re in their mid-twenties I worry constantly about DD2.

Another parent wouldn’t allow her DD either so in the end they begged, cajoled and persuaded SIL to go with them so they had an adult, but a cool one, not me or the other mum 😂

Get yourself a ticket, that should put her off.

Is this the Newquay one?

I said no to my 16 year old DD as she was a liability at that age, drinking and staying out late without messaging me.

then MIL bought her a ticket .. I was fuming. She went and she had a great time .. there’s lots of support there. It does seem young though to go off like that though.

Theyll be fine.

When DD went 3 years ago one of the other group parents stayed down the road

Both my DD went the summer after GCSEs. It's basically a kids festival, they had a great time. For the older one I stayed nearby which wasn't really needed.
Let them grow up, it's scary but it's got to happen.

I have had a red line for all of mine, not before the end of year 12. That year of 6th form really makes a difference to their maturity

Tricky one because as others have said, plenty do go at this age, so it's a difficult one to say no to unless you have specific concerns about her maturity and behaviour. If she's normally sensible and has a good friendship group I'd say it's a bit unfair to say no.

My DD has been going to boardmasters with her dad since she was 16. They both love it! The festival site itself is well organised and safe. They are very strict in serving alcohol and bringing drinks onto the site. It’s quite a small festival and gears quite young so a great first festival. The issues we hear year after year always seem to be in the camping areas. So I would agree with others stay close and insist she stays overnight with you. Lots of parents camp at the watergate bay/the view camping site which is walking distance(massive hill) to the festival. There’s a wonderful hotel in watergate bay itself but it’s very expensive. Porth and Newquay have much cheaper options but a regularly bus service runs between Newquay and the festival site. So that way she gets to experience her first festival with the benefit of hot water, being able to charge her phone and you know she’s safe.

Depends who with.

I'd want to be within an hour's drive (ideally closer). Friends kids went last year. One had her drink spiked and needed to be extracted. Besides that, they had a great time - she even went back the next day.

No. My son asked because his mates are
going (also 16). We are 4-7 hours away depending on traffic. He’s not allowed. He will be at 17 though.

My sons are 16 and 17 and definitely not going.

Depends on the 16 year old but it’s pretty feral there IME. Having been to lots of festivals, BM wasn’t the wildest but it was the one where I saw loads of absolutely wasted teenagers in a mess.

It seems to be a rite of passage post gcse festival here. All the friendship groups went so hard to say no. If it’s any comfort they’ve up their safeguarding over the last few years. Make sure they camp in the quiet or family camping fields make that a term.

I wouldnt be that happy about it but given that at the age of 16 they can legally move out if they want to, id let her go as I am aware that I cannot control her every move after 16. However I would have a talk with her about drugs if she is not already aware and educated about them. 16 can be a vulnerable age for seeing ppl take and enjoy drugs.

It does seem to be mainly a post gcse right of passage and a huge amount of 16 years ago olds go. If she has a good group of friends who will stick together she will have a great time.

I think it depends on the maturity of your DD. Mine is one of the youngest in the year but is pretty mature. She went down to BM in a mixed group of 8 classmates, more boys than girls. We gave her an extra AirTag tracker and loads of power banks. She was fine, declined the offer of weed from the tent next door and came back safe.

I went to a similar festival when I was 16, in my 20s now.
My mum was adamant I wasn’t going. Until I told her that I’m 16, I have the money saved up from my part-time job, and I’m going to go either way so would rather it not be behind your back.
She decided to let me go, but I don’t know if I’d be happy with my 16 year old going now!

I should think it’s a headache for the organisers with so many under 18s. They’re officially children and if there is any issue involving police / emergency services they won’t be able to entrust them back to friends. They’ll be wanting an adult to come and take some responsibility. ( everything I’ve seen on social media about BM has been shit so I appreciate I’m biased )