Children were left unsupervised on a summer holiday boat trip as crew members left the vessel to drink alcohol, a mum has claimed.
The Island Trust launched an investigation following a complaint lodged by the angry parent whose daughter was on the sailing trip last summer.
The woman from Plymouth, who asked to remain anonymous, complained her 10-year-old daughter could not find any staff on board after she woke from a nightmare in the middle of the night.
Her complaint sparked a disciplinary probe by the trust but the mum took up her complaint with Plymouth City Council after she was left unhappy with the findings by the company.
She explained her daughter had gone on a week-long trip with the trust, setting off from Plymouth in September, Plymouth Live reports.
However, when the youngster woke up from a nightmare one evening, she claims she was unable to find an adult on board the boat.
After reporting the incident, the mum claims she had "doors closed on her" and now wants to warn other parents.
She has contacted the police, the council, and the Exeter-based trust, which said it was "taking the allegations very seriously".
It added that it had conducted a thorough investigation in September 2018, which resulted in "appropriate action".
The mum said: "My daughter, 10, was left asleep on a yacht with six other children, aged 10 to 14, whilst all crew left to drink alcohol with friends.
"My daughter woke having a nightmare to find no crew on board.
"All I want is for parents to know the dangers.
"To know that they are being left alone not just awake but in their most vulnerable state, and to be aware before they sign their children up to any of these sails."
She claims that two of the crew members have been issued verbal warnings following the alleged incident.
"The Royal Yacht Association have said it’s out of their hands, and the Children and Young Persons Safeguarding Board have also come back and said they can’t do anything," she added.
The Island Trust is a registered charity which was formed in 1973 and works with young people with learning difficulties, hearing impairments, special educational needs and behavioural difficulties.
In response to the claims, the trust, which often sails from Plymouth, said that it had "done the best we can to address the issues".
In a statement, a spokesperson said: "We are aware of the allegations made and take them very seriously. There was a thorough investigation and disciplinary hearing in September 2018 and appropriate action was taken.
"Following this, the Chairman of the Trustees, who is currently abroad, also corresponded on the matter with one parent.
"We believe that we have done the best we can to address the issues and we are sorry that the parent…does not agree. We do not think that there is anything further we can do. "
The complaint was also lodged with the local council, who have advised the company to carry out a review of their child protection and safeguarding policy.
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: "A complaint was received last November regarding concerns around child safeguarding and the disciplinary procedures of an independent organisation that deals with sailing holidays for children and young people based in Plymouth.
“While we take all concerns around child safeguarding seriously, it’s important to understand what does and does not fall under the authority of the Plymouth Safeguarding Children’s Board and the City Council.
“In this particular case a complaint was raised by the parent directly with the organisation about an alleged incident, which was dealt with in accordance with their own disciplinary policy.
"Neither the PSCB or the City Council have any influence or authority over the decisions taken by an independent organisation and are unable to comment formally on their employment decisions.
"It was not felt that the matter needed separate multi agency (i.e. Police and Children’s Social Care) intervention.
“All independent organisations, who work with children and young people should have, and maintain a child protection/safeguarding policy, practice and procedure together with a range of risk assessments, to ensure the safety and welfare of all the young people involved in their activities.
"If policy or recommended practice is breached it would be for them to investigate in accordance with their own disciplinary policies and procedures.
“Although neither the PSCB or the Council have any formal authority around the actions of the employer in this case, we have spoken to a senior representative of the company about reviewing their child protection/safeguarding policy following this complaint.”
Read More
Top news stories from Mirror Online
-
‘Universal Credit drove me to Spice’
-
Facebook request sparks stabbing
-
18 dead in rehab fire
-
Vile rant in McDonald’s
Source: Read Full Article