We are trying to set a youth club in our village. We need some advice however, on what the ratio is for the number of children per adult. We will have two groups one will be 8 -11 year olds and the other will be 12-16 year olds.
(E.C, 19 May 2009)
A.
Hello and thank you for your question.
The rules and regulations surrounding 'village hall' type events are, sadly, getting more and more involved, such an insurance and legal issues. It can be rather tricky to simply hold a jumble sale now and if you're thinking of an event involving alcohol, you can practically forget it.
Some local council, parishes or community organisers are more realistic than others, though, even though they must all abide by the rules, so if the person or committee that is in charge of your village hall is easy to approach and relatively flexible, you may be more successful.
These people are also good to have on your side in terms of helping you get funding - many local councils have community funding available for youth groups but it can be hard to make sure your group is on the list when the cheques get handed out.
In answer to your question about child to adult ratios, the official current government figures only actually go up to 12 years old, with numbers staying the same for ages up to 16.
It is actually your 'eight year old' cut off point that is more relevant, as for children aged eight, you need to have one adult for every ten children, up to 20 children; one adult for every eleven children, up to 22 children and one adult for every twelve children up to 24 children.
For children aged nine to twelve, the figures are slightly different. Here, you will require one adult for every twelve children for groups up to 24 and one adult for every fourteen children for groups up to 28. It is worth pointing out that, where you have groups of mixed ages, you must have the right level of supervision based on the average age of the majority of the group.
Now, who are these supervisors? This is another difficult area, because unless the adults are the parents or legal guardians of at least one of the children involved, they need to have suitable supervisory qualifications. There also needs to be enough supervisors to cover necessary breaks or for the adults to deal with an emergency.
The best advice is to have plenty of supervisors. Make it into a community event where people can meet while still allowing the young people of your community a little freedom. A good place to find further advice is your local council office as they can at least signpost you to a suitable community advisor.
Good luck!
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Do you need a qualified first aider at a locally run village youth club for children aged 7-16?
Emma - 13-Jan-20 @ 5:54 PM
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Children will be able to make a craft piece, play on tablets, have use of toys etc
What are the rules in this please?
Thank you
Stacey - 16-Jul-19 @ 7:00 AM
Can a married couple be joint signatories on a youth club account?
Dolphin92 - 12-Jul-19 @ 8:36 PM
Hi,
I work at a children’s holiday club based at a community garden/farm. This organisation is a charity and also works with vulnerable young adults who have various addictions needs.
One of these vulnerable young adults is now an apprentice and he now helps with the holiday club and is responsible for 8 children just as the rest of us play workers. My question is whether this is legal? The children’s ages are between 6-13 and younger children must be supervised by a parent/guardian.
Hope to hear from you soon
Earthling - 26-Oct-18 @ 1:04 AM
Can a 16 year old be in charge of a youth club
K - 27-Mar-17 @ 12:22 AM
Hello,
As an artist and mum who works from home, I recently realised that I would quite like to teach what I know to young children from the ages of 6 to 8 years old.
Could you please make it clear to me what legal obligations I should have in place to be able to teach art and crafts to children at my home safely?
It would only be for 2 to 3 hrs at the most.
Thank you
Sofi - 8-Jan-17 @ 12:32 PM
@Sue1602 - it's up to the club who will decide what it thinks is in the best interests of your child and who will also try to protect themselves from being sued or held responsible should he run off. So, yes, the club can make whatever decision it thinks is best. Regards, Jim.
JGF56 - 6-Dec-16 @ 12:46 PM
I have a son who has run away from home on a few occasions but never in the supervision of an adult always while out with friends now a youth worker has stated he is not allowed on a trip with youth club due to his behaviour at home (running away)then when I pushed further I was told as he was a risk in running off is this allowed does any one know my rights as I'm stuck and quite mad.
Sue1602 - 5-Dec-16 @ 7:10 PM
We have 40 children from age 6 to 16 that attend our youth club and have 10 volunteers helping out 4 are crb checked and have first aid training (up to date) we pay liabillity insurance. Are we covered to have that many kids and do we need more of the volunteers to be crb checked.
Maidmarion - 23-Sep-16 @ 5:32 PM
What is the youngest you can be to count as part of the ratio
C - 17-Jul-16 @ 2:10 PM
Hi! My husband and I run a plant nursery alongside a gardening business. Several clients have asked if we would be interested in running some sort of summer course for their children during the school holidays at the nursery.
We are probably looking at an age range of 8-12, max 10 children at any one time with 2 adult supervisors.
We would love to do this but are aware there may be several legal hoops to jump through and of course, want to be safe, responsible and legal.
Apart from a DBS check what legal requirements/qualifications does a supervisor need to have?
Do we need a licence for the site?
Are there specific requirements about toilet facilities - there is currently one loo but I am fully aware we will probably need any least one more
Are there rules about the children eating food on site if they bring their own packed lunch?
We already have public liability insurance, would we need anything else insurance-wise?
Is there anything else really obvious that I have missed?!
Many thanks for any advice you can give!
Katie - 17-Jun-16 @ 9:38 AM
Katie - Your Question:
Hi! My husband and I run a plant nursery alongside a gardening business. Several clients have asked if we would be interested in running some sort of summer course for their children during the school holidays at the nursery.We are probably looking at an age range of 8-12, max 10 children at any one time with 2 adult supervisors.We would love to do this but are aware there may be several legal hoops to jump through and of course, want to be safe, responsible and legal.Apart from a DBS check what legal requirements/qualifications does a supervisor need to have?Do we need a licence for the site?Are there specific requirements about toilet facilities - there is currently one loo but I am fully aware we will probably need any least one moreAre there rules about the children eating food on site if they bring their own packed lunch?We already have public liability insurance, would we need anything else insurance-wise?Is there anything else really obvious that I have missed?!Many thanks for any advice you can give!
Our Response:
If the children will be with you all day it will simplify your planning if you ask the parents to provide a packed lunch for each child. You will then just need to provide morning and afternoon snacks, and drinks. However, you should register with your local authority as a 'food business' if you serve any kind of food in your setting. Although you are not planning on running a holiday club, some of the fundamental details can be found via the Out of School Alliance link here which will allow you to cherry-pick the relevant advice to you and also provides details on insurances and food provision laws. I hope this helps.
WorkingWithKids - 16-Jun-16 @ 12:21 PM
Hi! My husband and I run a plant nursery alongside a gardening business. Several clients have asked if we would be interested in running some sort of summer course for their children during the school holidays at the nursery.
We are probably looking at an age range of 8-12, max 10 children at any one time with 2 adult supervisors.
We would love to do this but are aware there may be several legal hoops to jump through and of course, want to be safe, responsible and legal.
Apart from a DBS check what legal requirements/qualifications does a supervisor need to have?
Do we need a licence for the site?
Are there specific requirements about toilet facilities - there is currently one loo but I am fully aware we will probably need any least one more
Are there rules about the children eating food on site if they bring their own packed lunch?
We already have public liability insurance, would we need anything else insurance-wise?
Is there anything else really obvious that I have missed?!
Many thanks for any advice you can give!
Katie - 15-Jun-16 @ 2:36 PM
I want to start my own talent group/potential group
thulie - 8-Jun-15 @ 10:48 PM
I would first like to begin with Hi, I live in a county that is known as "methanberg" I absolutely loathe the nickname and it is embarrassing when I tell people I live in this county and they correct my using the right name and replace it with "oh methanberg" I know where that is... ve three children and want to change our community for the better. I don't want my children growing up ashamed of our area, my children are not the only children I have grave concerns for as far as their future and potential in life. I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me out on how I can do something that will be so beneficial to these children that are being pretty much thrown to the wolves. I have heard of a boys and girls club and there are some in surrounding counties but the families here rather spend money on drugs Rather than the welfare of their children. I would like a club to have here for our kids that would help them know that someone does care and someone is willing to stand up and fight for them and show them that there is so much more to life than what they have to deal with at home. I don't have a lot of money as do most of us in this general area but I am willing to work hard to help these children any way that I can, and would like to know what I need to get done for these children and for a brighter future
Saundra - 31-May-15 @ 3:11 PM
Hi
I am looking into starting my own Dance/Theatre School. I have a location which can fit upto 60 adults and I am wanting to hire it on a weekly basis.
I am wanting to work with children 9 - 16yrs old. I have qualifications in theatre and a degree in coaching. I also have a current CRB.
I am really wanting to run this alone with no assistance/employees, as after studio hire etc I will be coming away with a decent amount a week.
Some of friends run their own dance schools alone and I'm just wondering if this is a possibility where the regulations are concerned.
Lisa
Lisa - 7-Nov-14 @ 12:21 PM
My partner I are contemplating starting our own respite home for children. So far, we have tried everything we can to get advise from the relevant services and been faced with a brick wall! I am professional within the social care sector, however children with additional needs is not one I'm familiar with, although I feel passionate about taking on the challenge. I have approached people whom I feel will be able to sign-post me within my service and after a brief discussion with them and getting their opinions on the lack of respite services within my county, they close the door and want no further discussions.. I have written to several health professionals who work with children with additional needs asking for their advise and so far, I've had nothing back. We seem to have hit a wall and can't get over it. Who do I turn to for advise?
We have funds secured and set aside for the business, however, I have not made this clear in any correspondences and maybe this is were I'm failing to get the much needed support I need to get this business off the ground.
We have purchased a property that was previously used as a nursing home and we want to convert this to provide respite care and day care for children and their families.
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance
Bondangel - 11-Oct-14 @ 2:58 PM
hi can I ask what's the legal amount of children 7yrs and under a dance teacher can teach with nohelp ?
dance - 12-Sep-14 @ 2:52 PM
I am pondering with the idea of setting up a musical theatre school for around 30 secondary school children. Classes will be run once a week outside of school hours, likely of an evening or at the weekend. I will rent a space where the weekly classes will be held e.g. a local dance studio.
I will run the classes and am fully CRB checked. I also have GCSEs in Drama, Music and Dance as well as an A Level in Theatre Studies. I myself have more than 10 years experience in musical theatre. The children will not be working towards a specific qualification, they will just be improving their skills and working towards performances.
I would like to know how many other people I would need to fulfill the appropriate child to adult ratio. The other adults will not assist with the teaching but will just be there to oversee the class. I would also like to know how/whether this will differ if we take the children out of the studio for a performance e.g. at a local theatre or church hall.
Any advice you can give on the subject would be greatly appreciated!, especially with regards to any additional qualifications/requirements I will need to meet.
Muso - 6-Aug-14 @ 5:44 PM
Hi,
I run a performing arts school and I'm going to be running a summer workshop for a week in a couple of weeks time. I have 2 assistants currently helping me with the workshop, all of which have enhanced crbs, however a 15year old ex student has asked if she can help and assist. Whilst I know she's very capable of helping, are there any laws about her age? And does she need a CRB?
Many thanks,
marshpop - 18-Jul-14 @ 7:20 PM
Ok so im starting a youth centre that got taken over by a another organisation long story im opening it up again ther is around 60 to 70 children that attend,how many adults do we need?
Sophie-Jane Rance - 9-Apr-13 @ 7:26 PM
Hi, great site by the way.
I am a senior belt at a small kung fu group running out of a local village hall.recently my instructor has spoken about passing the club on to me and I have some questions about legal requirements for running a club with children.
I have had a CRB check with my main job already which is all positive and have in effect been taking the class whenever my instructor cannot attend.
Other than the CRB check, what other legal requirements need to be fulfilled to be able to legally cater for children of 12-16yrs (presently only 5-6 kids in the club).If I'm going to take over it would be good to ensure everything is correctly in place.
Many thanks for your help.
Jus - 11-Jan-13 @ 3:33 PM
Hi, I'd like to take groups of 12-16 year olds on trips to public places after school as business. Are there any different rules, regs relating to taking children out in public? thanks, any advice would be appreciated,
Lex - 17-Oct-12 @ 1:23 PM
im wondering what the staff child ratio should be at a high school youth club. Children aged between 11 and 16.
nic - 28-Sep-12 @ 2:19 PM
Jus want to find out ratios if i want to open a play n craft session for 6-14 yr olds at local community centre abd what requirements wd b to do so.
Noreen - 28-Sep-12 @ 1:53 PM
My daughter attends a karate club held in the local community centre, originally the class consisted of about 6 children but lately numbers have increased. The recent classes have consisted of 20-26 kids age between 4 & 9 with only one adult instructor and a couple of kids aged around 10 helping out. My daughter received a rather nasty injury last week and I think the class is now poorly supervised with only the one instructor. I am probably going to find another club for my daughter to attend but I am concerned about the adult to child ratio as one adult to 26 children seems highly inadequate especially due to the nature of the sport.
nita - 13-Aug-12 @ 7:34 PM
i'm thinking of starting a kids club for 4 to 10 years olds and i've only got 3 teenagers to help me my question is can a teenager be classed as an adult in a case like this ?(the avarage age of the teenagers is 16 ) thank you for you help
tinkerball - 6-Jun-12 @ 6:24 PM
Hi, I'm a dance teacher, my one friend is a volunteer teacher and the other is a secondary performing arts teacher. We are considering running after school dance and drama clubs within primary schools for children aged 10 - 11. We've completed some research and think we'll be looking at around 90 children attending. Would you recommend further supervisors? One of us will teach, whilst the other two assist/supervise. Or would you recommend we split the classes to two days per week as opposed to one? The space is huge, it's a dance studio that holds 150 people.Thanks,Laura
Loza - 1-Jun-12 @ 11:30 AM
Hi there I need some advise I would like to start a club around my area where I live for the kids to learn about how to play golf but don't know where to start, so if you could help that would be great. Thanks