Tree climbing for young-uns!

[conkers]

I have been asked to take a group of 7 to 10 year olds, including my own son tree climbing.

The group he attends is a bit like scouts but for hippies without the formality of uniforms etc...

 

Does anyone know the legalities involved, especially with regards HSE and insurance?

 

Has anyone done this or similar?

[skyhuck]

I have been asked to take a group of 7 to 10 year olds, including my own son tree climbing.

The group he attends is a bit like scouts but for hippies without the formality of uniforms etc...

 

Does anyone know the legalities involved, especially with regards HSE and insurance?

 

Has anyone done this or similar?

 

:scared::scared:

 

If I were you I would only take children who were accompanied by one of their parents,and I would get legal advice re HSE and insurance,in fact if I were you a may not do it,

[Steve Bullman]

im sure the hse issues along must be a nightmare....but heres something else to consider....i dont think just anyone can take children on activities these days? the lad who works for me is 19, and a kickboxer. He is soon to start helping instructing at his club and because of this had to sit a 3 hour test (CRB?) to assess if he was suitable to be around children.

[conkers]

Done the crb.They just check if your dodgy around kids. Anyone who wks with children has to.

 

It would be v safe on a beley system on a ladder type tree with two trained climbers and one belay.

[christreeroot]

Id be happy to give you a hand conkers - we have got to get these kids out doing proper stuff like we did when young instead of playing playstation etc...... pm me if interested

[carl pedley]

Should work fine, I’m a part time rock climbing instructor and I have found that a petzl gri gri is best for belying because you don’t have to hold on to tight to the dead end of the rope (can get hard work), and helps pull small kids up to give them a hand, be warned the kids on the ground getting bored, have had more problems with that then ones in the air.

[benedmonds]

I used to take kids climbing on rocks and swinging from trees etc.. at an outdoor studies centre, had to do my single pitch award with the BMA:

 

"This award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to supervise climbers on single pitch crags and climbing walls. Common activities undertaken by an SPA holder will be roped climbing and bouldering "

 

I rekon if you have a climber who's done that, and you are top roping you'd be fine. Your woodcraft group presumably has some insurance check if your covered. You'll have to do all the risk assessments and Method statements obviously.

 

I'm no expert so get further advice but don't be put off doing it by doom and gloom merchants. Risk is good for kids. There was an ineresting thread on kids tree climbing a while back on the UKTC forum.

 

Ditto to keeping the ones on the ground interested, wouldn't want more than 5 at a time. We always had a "round robin" system where you split the group up with a bunch of other activities.

[skyhuck]

Conker please be careful,did you see the case on the news of the couple that have been sued over the accident on a bouncy castle they had hired for a child's party,I have 4 kids of my own and they have a tree house, swings, slide, trampoline, etc,kids should be out try new things and taking risks,IMO,but in todays clam culture you really have to watch your back.

[Ian150482]

Got to agree with Skyhuck. You smile at anyone in the wrong way and you'll get suwed(not sure if spelt right). You cant do anything these days.

[conkers]

Ha ha. Benedmonds. How did you know it was woodcraft?

 

Cheers Christree for offer.

 

Covered by woodcraft insurance but I reckon Bryant wouldnt go near it!

 

Very scary thought having to be responsable for kids dangling on a rope 20ft up.