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[Kay]

I was wondering why more resources are not put into place for children to go to.

My friends son got a job (having not gone to University) because he learnt so much from the Scouts / Boys Brigade etc.,  I do not understand why the Government do not and cannot invest more in these type of facilities more and teach children skills so they too could get a job having had that experience.

It's not necessarily about Apprenticeships.
tt4n
Kay

[aracnid]

Kay
These groups are crying out for help in the form of volunteers, to help run the sessions and teach the children all the basic needs to succeed.  But this government in its heavy handed so called wisdom has stopped all assistance with the Police Vetting and Criminal Checks that cost an arm and a leg for each person.

[Geoff]

I used to run a kids football team some time ago. I coached them from the time they played in the league for 12 year olds up until they played in the 16 year olds competition. It was great fun and, I'm pleased to say, now the "boys" in the team are in their early 40's whenever we meet it's just like meeting old friends. I still socialise with some of their parents (my age group) as well.
 
But would I do the same thing today if asked?
 
Not a snowball's chance in hell, I'm afraid.

[Broadside]

Geoff,
Like you, I ran a kiddies football team from U/8s to U/16s.
My team was unique in that only four of the boys ,out of a squad of 16 ,had fathers - apparently!
Would I do it again? No.
 
Did you know that nowadays there is virtually no youth football clubs based in Hatfield.
It's all in WGC eg Welwyn Pegasus, Panshanger, King George 5 and even,
would you believe it - Hatfield Youth.
A bonus point for anyone who can tell us why that is.

[Kay]

Geoff - why wouldn't you do it today if given the chance? Isn't it sad that - today - children will probably end up neurotic because of the sillyness the Government have and are introducing..

tt4n - Kay

I used to run a kids football team some time ago. I coached them from the time they played in the league for 12 year olds up until they played in the 16 year olds competition. It was great fun and, I'm pleased to say, now the "boys" in the team are in their early 40's whenever we meet it's just like meeting old friends. I still socialise with some of their parents (my age group) as well.
 
But would I do the same thing today if asked?
 
Not a snowball's chance in hell, I'm afraid.

[Geoff]

Kay.
 
Quite simply because I object to the manner in which the government has, as you correctly allude to, imposed itself on the whole army of volunteers who, traditionally, in this country have quite happily given up their time to give kids something they might otherwise not have had.
 
Why should I go to the expense of providing some faceless bureaucrat with a Criminal Record Bureau clearance the value of which is worth less than the paper it is printed on? When I was running my team I was fully aware that I had a duty of care to the kids in the team. I had that awareness not because some petty government apparatchik had deemed me suitable to be with kids, but because, I believe, I am a common sense member of the public. The parents of the kids in the team also held the same view. Had they not done they would have taken their kids out of the team.
 
I fully agree with you that some kids will grow up mistrusting everyone. It is sad but, I am afraid, inevitable.
I

[Hatfield Girl]

One of my collegues coaches a football team and I think they practice at the University.  I'll find out.

[bbtzs]

I have been a scout leader for over 20 years and greatly favour Govt being well and truly out of the picture.

It is difficult to recruit new leaders and the modern family with both working parents needing to pay the mortgage has left people with little energy left for these roles.

If there is room for injections of funds it would be through grants but must be free of too much interference or prescription. The other way it would help is by help in paying subs. This was always what bugged me most about Scouts. The middle class parents could pay for the subs and camps etc but the kids whose parents were struggling had much tougher decisions to make. That should never have been the deciding factor but it so often was.

I throroughly recommend membership of The Scout movement for young people where there is a decent caring but practical culture and good leadership by volunteers who are unpaid. They are the the kind of people who deserve recognition rather than the dross that you see so much of on the honours lists every year. A Child who has been through the movement will be much better for it.