Letting 15 year old Son travel to Europe by rail

Personally, I’d be much more worried about my teenagers partying (and almost inevitably drinking etc) at UK and European beach resorts. Even if there if some adult supervision, you certainly can’t watch them all the time. I don’t see a bigger risk in travelling in Europe, where it is much more accepted for children to travel unaccompanied to school etc from the age of 6.

I took myself, alone, to Geneva, aged sixteen. I'd travelled around the UK alone for years before then. I think people underestimate what teenagers are capable of.

Talk to your children all you like, trust them, if they are mature for their age.

It does mean that everyone their encounter is as trustworthy.

MissAdventure

Talk to your children all you like, trust them, if they are mature for their age.

It does mean that everyone their encounter is as trustworthy.

they might even come from families who have their disgusting washing machines in their kitchens in their ghastly new build homes

I think it isn’t a age thing, but more about whether that 15 & 16 year old are capable and mature enough to do this.

I expect they do.
That's why they can't be trusted.

MissAdventure

I expect they do.
That's why they can't be trusted.

Indeed. I’m not criticising KA for allowing her child to travel in this way. He was with a friend who is likely from a family KA has known as neighbours or school friends. Mobile phones and credit cards no doubt meant constant contact. Not like when my cousins hitch hiked to Goa to live on the beach aged 18.
My criticism is her outrage that the social work team phoned to inform her they’d had a referral. Imagine if the team hadn’t informed her, taken no action, and who ever made the referral then alerted the press alleging two tier children’s services.
Ms A would then have been justified in Outrage. Seriously, does she expect different treatment than Ms X on a housing estate well known to agencies

My mother lived her life in fear and anxiety, was risk averse, and overprotective, always expecting the worse, and and consequently I grew up with similar traits.

As I matured I realised how negative my attitude was, and made a conscious effort not to not pass it on to my children, encouraging confidence in them from an early age, and affording opportunities to develop independence as they got older.

Life is unpredictable at times and of course does have dangers, but I think we can only give our children the best preparation for negotiating life’s difficulties, not shielding them.

Yes, exactly that.
There would be terrible trouble if social services didn't at least check, so they have fulfilled their obligation, as they should in any case.

A storm in a tea cup.

thinking of the adult and old people recently dying abroad and in the news,,, I think as Emily says, a storm in a teacup!

Youth hostels in these cities..I went youth hostelling at 16 in the UK

Things are very different now. All sorts of risks and dangers that just didn't exist before.

I would not be happy if my 15 nearly 16 yr old grandson went off around Europe with a friend, I don’t think it’s safe.

EmilyHarburn

A storm in a tea cup.

100% agree.

Perhaps over reaction, here on GN, because KA is smug and snotty, has no actual talent - however, Social work team did their work properly.

Kirstie knows her son - we don’t.I also hope that he had a great time and if I were in her shoes I would also be furious.

Norah

Perhaps over reaction, here on GN, because KA is smug and snotty, has no actual talent - however, Social work team did their work properly.

I think she enjoys being provocative

Why the nasty remarks about Kirstie Allsopp.? ~You may not like her but dont use this thread to be downright bitchy.
Aveline , what are the risks and dangers that didn't exist before ? I think you could find that what is different is the amount of coverage on social media of "things "I do agree that if the child in question is mature then why shouldn't he travel with his friend. I don't know the child , but I presume his mother does.

Knife crime is up by about three quarters in the last decade.

There are a lot of comments saying KA knows her son best and should be left to make the decision about his abilities. That may be true, but believe it or not, parents do not always make the best judgments or act in their children’s best interests, which is why we have legislation and authorities to implement that legislation.

Do people think it should be a general rule that these decisions should always be left to parents, without interference from the state? Or only some parents, and if so, which ones? Maybe just the posh ones who can shout the loudest.

Speaking of which, Reece Mogg has said that the busy bodies who reported KA should boil their own heads.

That coukd have happened to him whilst he was chaperoned

Utter media storm without substance. Do not people realise that in many placed in Europe 7 year olds take themselves on public transport to school often involving train and bus journies. Its only outsiders who visit and are shocked by this. This says more about the UK and its culture than about Kirstie Allsop.

Galaxy

Social services will have contacted her because someone reported her, they're obliged to investigate, which in this case will I imagine involve asking a couple of questions.
There is no way I can comment without bias as she drives me up the wall.

She’s actually been told that a file has been opened and her responses to questioning recorded. If there are any more complaints they will want to visit her at home for interview. That file potentially won’t be closed until her son is 25.