Voluntary work, is it worth it?

The volunteers who give their time willingly and freely should not have to deal with a child who is different, at least one of the parents should volunteer too to ensure their child is cared for according to his needs. I am amazed that the scout association has had to pay money to these very cheeky lawyers who expect other people to be responsible for their child in difficult circumstances.

maryeliza54

In the OP it is said the THE JUDGE awarded....blah blah.
Maybe you should have read it.

*over

Under no circumstances would I volunteer to supervise children who were in any way 'needy'. If that boy had drowned on a camping trip or set a tent alight by not following rules, the parents would sue, so they sue because he had needs iver and above the other lads attending the camp. They don't have enough volunteers to allocate 121 supervision.
What next?
How about a disabled person going on a cruise and expecting the crew to get him/her into bed and shower, cut up food etc.? That scenario is no more ridiculous than the one we're talking about. It's a slippery slope.

Parents are lawyers says it all.

GG RTFT - or rather, my informed factual posts. THERE WAS NO JUDGE - and the boys and his parents had some of their lawful rights ignored. I do wish someone would explain why they believe the scouts should be able to act with impunity in the face of the law - is it because it’s only the law to do with disability and so it doesn’t matter but if the roof of the scout hut fell down on your dgs’s head because H and S inspections had been ignored you would perhaps think that legal action and compensation would be justified?

Thanks Durhamjen ?

Truly unbelievable.
How did the judge calculate the amount awarded?
What will that money be used for? The child? Haha...I doubt it.
It's a litigious society and I hate it.

‘Entitled and suing culture’ Wow - it’s not as if children with autism are entitled to the protection of the Equality Act or their parents entitled to the protection of the Data Protection Act - whatever next? You’ll be saying that the alleged sexual abuse of scouts shouldn’t be investigated because you know well the abusers were volunteers so that’s all right then - why should the Scouts or any other organisation with volunteers be able to pick and choose which laws it observes and which it doesn’t? The voluntary world has moved on, the world in general has changed - voluntary organisations have to move with those times - when I was a brownie/guide many disabled children were in institutions or residential schools or kept hidden at home out of shame - they wouldn’t have troubled the local brownies or guides or cubs or scouts

nas-email.org.uk/YA3-5J76I-JOJHF8-320W5I-1/c.aspx

The link, Eglantine.

"On the 29th March, the Rt Hon Dame Cheryl Gillan MP has called for a debate in parliament to recognise the lack of understanding of autism and the impact this has on autistic people and their families.

We need you to get your MP to attend the debate. Using the form opposite add your personal story to encourage your MP to speak up for you in Parliament, so we can make sure understanding autism is on the public agenda."

I know my MP will be attending. It is to be broadcast on parliament TV.

Lots of voluntary organisations have mandatory training - for example Citizens Advice, Basic Ist Aid, Basic Health and Safety, Data Protection, Safeguarding- being a volunteer doesn’t exempt you from the law and the rules f an organisation- fine if you don’t want to , don’t do it, leave it to those who want to do the role properly. Wildswan so you only skimread the article - quite

It's a minefield isn't it. Dealing with one child with one level of autism (or any other special need), is totally different to another. How can we expect voluntary organisations to cope with having one child with autism, another with mobility issues, or hearing impairment, or visual impairment, or ADHD, etc etc. They will do what they can, but have to maintain the ethos of their work alongside the safety of all participants.

It sounds harsh but we cannot expect everyone and every organisation to cater to every need. It is just not realistic. Voluntary organisations bend over backwards to improve the lives of their members but they must be allowed to know their own limits and capabalities.

I only skimmed through the article, but do hope that the parents of the boy volunteer regularly with the Scout troop or other organisations.

What are they going to debate Durhamjen? It's a genuine question, not the start of an argument

I can’t see how this can be resolved, the parents say that the child didn’t need one to one supervision, but because of the child’s difficulties I am sure that the Insurance companies will now demand that one to one supervision is in place.

How would a volunteer who only sees the child one day a week, know how this child is likely to react? The obvious thing to do is to err on the side of caution.

Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

So you wouldn't like to cope with an autistic child, annsixty?

Leaders in the Scout organisation can't do it without training so it is easy just to add it in..
Of course you can be made to do training - you agree to it before they take you on!
I woukd say that it is one if those communication problems and it was handled very badly.
As a volunteer I would not be willing to take a child away in what may be dangerous circumstances when they can't be relied upon to follow instructions. However, it doesn't need one to one all the time and they need to get the parents on board and not antagonise.
The Scout organisation are one if the few places where children can take risks- a shame if that ends because parents can't work with them. They also struggle to get volunteers and it will become even harder if volunteers feel that they they don't get the support they need.
Sad really because the Scout association have many children with special needs and usually the parents are very grateful and fully supportive.
Relations seem to have soured in this case- I bet it was just handled very badly.

The Guardian quotes that a representative of the Scouts association are calling for mandatory training of volunteers to deal with children with other or different needs, my words ,not theirs, but the meaning is there.
That would be me out of the door, that is taking volunteering to a different level, fine if they want that training, but made to undertake it, no.

If you go on autism uk website, you can ask your MP to ensure (May's favourite word) they go to that debate.

I agree entirely with your posts jura*. I, too, was a volunteer at Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and trying to get anyone to commit to volunteering on a regular basis, let alone on weekend camping events was a was a nightmare. Our Scout group was on the point of folding because of a lack of volunteers.

A debate on autism on Thursday in the commons.

Isn't the case in the news today because it's National Autism Week?

Not surprised that the case was settled out of court since it is generally cheaper than a full blown court case.
In my younger years, when common sense was generally in vogue, I gave my time as a volunteer youth worker and also as a Guider but I would not do that today in this entitled and suing culture.

I didn't say most people.
I do know people who have given up volunteering roles though, because they have had too much responsibility put onto them.

maryeliza- they will choose not to because they will be terryfied of being sued, and framed by parents.

Not sure exactly what detail was shared- but yes, I agree. Maybe the Scout group felt it had to to explain their reasoning- but.. yes- they should have given their reasoning without publishing actual detail.

My grandson is very active, very intelligent, loves his school, sport teams and Scouts. But he is highly allergic to egg, or the tiniest traces of egg. Not an intolerance that would give him tummy ache or diaorreha (sp?) - but an full on anaphylectic shock - requiring immediate adrenalyn and intubation. We hate him having to be treated differently, he hates too - the only one in his school who has a packed lunch- and he can't go on school or sport or Scout trips, unless one parent goes with and takes all their own equipment and food to cook separately. Really sad- and we feel for him. But he is different- and we know neither school, rugby, swimming team or scouts can organise to make him safe- so parent's or we do.

If a child has a rare disorder preventing him/her to be in a wheel chair, should he have the right to go on ski trip? What about a child whose parents' can't afford a school trip - to what extent should the school have to support - or should the trip be cancelled because one child can't afford it. The result - there will be no more camps, no more trips, no more out of school activity- finished, for all. Justice at last.