RYA Safe & Fun

Safe and fun is perfect for ensuring an instructor doesn't get into situations where he or she is left open to allegations, and ok at teaching instructors how to spot issues themselves. It isn't designed to stop sex offenders.

DBS checking doesn't teach anything, it just shows that the person in question didn't have a criminal record at the time of the check.

Safe and Fun might help instructors pick up on something off with another instructor, and will have taught them what to do with that info. However, it is pretty basic.

Any commercial centre will expect both, and more clubs do too.

Only real diligence works, one or two individuals need to make sure all safe guarding measures are being followed and absolutely never relax - as a parent I've been to clubs both my kids wanted to join until I was convinced people like this were involved.

Originally posted by 423zero many groups within organisations that run child/youth groups scouts, girl guides etc, have been forced to close, due to lack of volunteers, people citing fear of being accused of abuse (maliciously), very difficult issue.

DBS 'checking' is often cited as  areason for  people  not volunteering, interestingly  enough ususally by those wo are looking for excuses  why they  don;t volunteer  despite being vocal that there aren;t volunteers ... 

It is not a check ,  you cannot 'pass it'  although you can ' fail ' by virtue of being on one of the barred lists. 

Despite the gossip ridden ature of some  organisations i have never been made aware of a  situation where DBS  disclosure information has been released , primarily becasue  access to the disclosures  is  very limited by the DBS themselves .

the biggest  boundaries to volunteering are lack of flexibility and  idiocy among other  more long serviing  volunteers ...  closely followed by  internal sh*t stirring  by people who really ought to be shown the door  but  don;t do enough  to get caught out.