Give clubs a chance

T

HE idea of the Scouts, youth sports teams, the cadets, Sunday schools and all the other fantastic activities provided by volunteers for youngsters coming under state control via a watchdog is appalling.

While the Department for Education has insisted that its consultation – sneaked out under the cover of Brexit – is nothing to do with imposing tough regulations on clubs and organisations, we agree with campaigners that the questions being asked seem to be leading to that conclusion.

There have been terrible cases of sexual abuse of youngsters in some organisations and radicalisation in a small number of madrasas but the burden of regulation is already making it difficult to set up clubs for our children.