Cadets on cruiser

[Daydream believer]

Our club has a lot of cadets in the 8-17 year age range ( circa 40No.) The commodore has it in his mind to buy a small cruiser to give them some experience /idea of what they can aspire to,. Something like a Eboat or Robber come to mind ( dare I say it - an anderson 22 has been sugested!!) However, funds & resistance from some of the " longer serving" members has put the brake on the idea.
So I have offered to take some cadets on training runs around the river & in the Blackwater estuary. Probably doing a couple of the local BJRC races with some of the older cadets.
But i have been thinking about how I stand on this. I will of course study the club policy on dealing with minors & i will contact the RYA for advice but I wonder what experience any forumites might have had.
Things that spring to mind
Parental permission---In writing??
Another adult present- I am pretty sure that i would insist on this
Should I be assessed for being with minors?
What protective equipment- obviously life jackets but what about , say, head gear, harness lines etc
Risk assessments
Insurance do i tell my insurance company? Will I/should I be covered by the club insurance?
Am I over thinking this and is it any different to , say, taking my next door neighbour's kids for a sail or a couple of friends for a sail.
But is it? This is club training. Or is it?

What are forumites feelings/ experience re this please

 

[duncan99210]

There's little difference, as far as I know, about taking young people out in your boat compared to taking adults except for the child protection side of things. So things like insurance and the like will be no different from the requirements for adults.
The club should have a child protection policy in place if you already have junior members. That policy will lay down the formal requirements for your interaction with minors within the club environment. Given that you are proposing being at sea with minors, you will almost certainly need to hold a DBS clearance certificate. I would also expect you to need a second adult on board, who will also need a DBS check. Speak to you club Welfare/Child protection officer about this, you'll have to get it right before you can go ahead with it.
It's a bit of a nause and it takes time and money but well it if you can get it off the ground.

 

[europe172]

Are you a member of the club committee? Are you acting as an officer of the club? If so I would not do it.
If you are offering to take cadets for a sail as a private individual than written permission from parents and another adult experanced sailor would be ok, you would be responsible for their safety. Just my opinion

 

[Seajet]

If you can contact ' sans bateau ' - used to be ' Galadriel ' of these forums he used to take minors on annual short range club trips of some kind, he took pains to keep everything correct but I think he ran into problems with todays' rules, or otherwise felt unhappy, I'm pretty sure he felt he had to give it up which sounded a shame for the kids.

 

[Impaler]

Perhaps you could take a parent or two?

 

[EdWingfield]

Before retirement I worked for an Authority of the Port. Training and work experience was part of my job. Both undergrads and children.

For children we'd ask a parent or guardian to apply in writing to my Chief. - this would ensure consent + insurance cover. We would discuss the requirement for Personal Protective Equipment (some of which we could loan).

I would never take more than 1 at a time, certainly no parents as YOU need control.

Health and Safety at work 74 applied. It was a hazardous environment. One interesting thing; I had to check with child they were eg. comfortable with what we were about to do. eg. heights, confined spaces. If they were uncomfortable with what we were about to do, I was not allowed to persuade them otherwise.

I was never required to have any checks by Work or by parents.

I can imagine a Club being extremely nervous about these issues.

 

[Kwik Decision]

If the red tape is too much, consider approaching one of the many Sail Training organisations, to see if you could organise a weekend, or longer voyage for a group of your Cadets. Discovery Sailing Project would be very happy to hear from you, as would others (and yes, I am part of Discovery).
http://www.dsp.uk.com/home.html

 

[EdWingfield]

My apols Mr Daydream, I forgot to mention that you should take a look at Children Act 2004

 

[[70521]]

I understand the RYA are pretty good at advising clubs on that sort of thing.

 

[Pye_End]

Child protection seems to get more and more complex. There should be someone at the club who administers this - worth going through this with them.

 

[mlines]

I do this but with a different cadet organisation. Our organisation requires:

1. Recognised certification - in my case RYA Powerboat Level 2
2. Recognised first aider on boat - in my case First Aid at Work
3. Organisational DBS check (was CRB) - although in theory transferrable between organisations they insist on their own. Also insist that it is repeated every 5 years.
4. Second adult (can be over 18 cadet with DBS - can also be the first aid certificate holder)
5. Risk assessment for activity
6. Dynamic risk assessment on day.
7. Good practice (but not essential) - no lone individual of single sex. i.e. if girls attending then must be two girls (and vice versa of course)

This sounds a lot but once you have it set up then it is ok and easily repeated.

For each trip then make sure someone on the shore knows the activity and its timings (to report when late)