Age Requirements at SPI Events

Spooky Paranormal Investigations Ltd (“SPI”) primarily operates adult paranormal investigation Events.

Selected suitable Events may permit guests aged 12–17 where SPI and the Venue are satisfied that under-18 attendance is appropriate.

Under-18 attendance is not automatically permitted at every Event.

This Policy explains the age, approval, supervision and conduct requirements which apply where an under-18 guest wishes to attend.

Nothing in this Policy removes or restricts any statutory rights.

1. Standard age requirement

Unless an individual Event page expressly states otherwise, SPI Events are for guests aged 18 and over.

A person under 18 must not be booked onto an Event simply because another SPI Event has previously permitted younger attendees.

Age requirements may differ between Events and Venues.

2. Selected Events for ages 12–17

SPI may permit guests aged 12–17 at selected Events which are considered suitable for younger attendees.

The minimum age may be higher than 12 for a particular Event where required by:

the Venue;
Event conditions;
operating arrangements;
safeguarding considerations;
the nature of the location;
the timing of the Event; or
another reasonable Event-specific requirement.

Children under 12 are not permitted to attend any SPI Event.

Where ages 12–17 are permitted, the young person takes part in the ordinary mixed-age Event; SPI does not provide a separate child-specific investigation session.

3. Contact SPI before booking

Unless the Event page expressly confirms that under-18 bookings are accepted, you must contact SPI before booking for yourself and an under-18 attendee.

You must receive confirmation from SPI that under-18 attendance is permitted for that particular Event before completing the booking.

Contacting SPI does not guarantee approval.

SPI may need to consider:

the age of the under-18 attendee;
the Venue;
Event timings;
access and safety conditions;
safeguarding arrangements;
Venue rules;
the nature of the investigation; and
any Event-specific restrictions.

4. Parental responsibility required

Every under-18 attendee must attend with a parent or another person aged 18 or over who has parental responsibility for the child.

SPI does not permit an unrelated adult to act as the sole supervising adult for another person’s child.

For example:

a parent attending with their own child is permitted where the Event has been approved for under-18 attendance;
a parent attending with two of their own children may be permitted;
a parent attending with their own child and that child’s friend is not sufficient supervision for the friend;
a parent or another person who has parental responsibility for the friend must also attend.

SPI volunteers, hosts and other representatives do not act as substitute parents, guardians or childcare providers.

5. Maximum supervision ratio

One adult may supervise a maximum of two under-18 attendees, provided that adult has parental responsibility for both.

SPI may impose a stricter ratio for a particular Event where reasonably necessary.

6. Remaining together throughout the Event

The adult who has parental responsibility and the under-18 attendee or attendees must remain together throughout the Event.

They will normally be placed in the same investigation group.

An under-18 attendee must not investigate independently or be left under the supervision of another guest.

If the supervising adult who has parental responsibility leaves the Venue, the under-18 attendee must leave with them.

An under-18 attendee should not deliberately be left one-to-one with an SPI team member or volunteer. A temporary exception may be necessary only for an immediate safety, medical or safeguarding need.

The attending parent or other person who has parental responsibility for the child remains responsible for the under-18 attendee throughout the Event.

SPI may normally rely on the supervising adult’s confirmation that they have parental responsibility unless there is a reasonable reason to seek clarification or proportionate evidence. SPI does not routinely copy court orders, birth certificates or similar documents.

SPI may require reasonable information or acknowledgements relating to:

the child’s age;
emergency contact details;
Event rules;
safety information;
supervision requirements; and
other information reasonably required for the Event.

8. Event suitability

Some SPI Events are unsuitable for under-18 attendees even where other SPI Events permit them.

Relevant factors may include:

late-night or overnight timings;
prolonged darkness;
confined or restricted spaces;
historic building hazards;
stairs or difficult access;
sensitive historical subject matter;
Venue-imposed age limits;
safeguarding arrangements;
the nature of particular activities; or
other Event-specific conditions.

SPI may therefore designate an Event as 18+ only.

Under-18 participation must end before 2:00am. An individual Event may impose an earlier under-18 finishing time, but not a later one.

9. Nature of paranormal Events

Paranormal investigation Events may involve:

darkness or low-light conditions;
sudden or unusual noises;
electronic investigation equipment;
quiet periods;
discussion of death, tragedy, folklore or paranormal subjects;
unusual historic environments; and
activities which some younger people may find unsettling.

The person who has parental responsibility is responsible for deciding whether the Event is appropriate for the maturity and comfort of the child, subject to SPI also approving attendance.

10. Participation in activities

An under-18 attendee is not required to participate in every investigation activity.

A young person may stop participating if they feel uncomfortable or distressed. They should tell the person who has parental responsibility for them and an SPI representative.

Where reasonably practical, SPI may consider an alternative activity, area or method of participation.

An alternative cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance.

11. Accessibility

Accessibility requirements affecting an under-18 attendee will be considered in accordance with Accessibility at SPI Events.

The supervision requirements in this Policy continue to apply where an accessibility adjustment is made.

12. Behaviour and safety rules

Under-18 attendees must follow the same reasonable safety, Venue and conduct rules which apply to other guests, together with any additional age-related instructions.

This includes following reasonable instructions given by SPI representatives and Venue staff.

Behaviour which may result in intervention includes:

entering restricted or unsafe areas;
running, climbing or other dangerous behaviour;
interfering with investigation equipment;
deliberate damage;
repeated refusal to follow reasonable safety instructions;
deliberate disruption of the Event;
harassment, threats or serious disrespectful behaviour; or
behaviour creating a significant safety or welfare concern.

13. Warnings and removal from an Event

Where appropriate and safe, SPI will normally give a reasonable warning before requiring an under-18 attendee and the person who has parental responsibility for them to leave because of behaviour.

Immediate removal may be necessary where conduct creates a serious or immediate concern, including:

violence or threats;
deliberate serious damage;
dangerous behaviour;
serious harassment;
entry into a significantly unsafe area; or
another serious safety or safeguarding concern.

Where removal results from a serious or repeated breach of clearly communicated Event rules, a refund will not normally be provided for the unused part of the Event, subject to statutory rights.

14. Alcohol and illegal drugs

Alcohol and illegal drugs are not permitted at SPI Events.

The supervising person who has parental responsibility must remain capable of properly supervising the under-18 attendee throughout the Event. Legitimately prescribed medication is not prohibited.

15. Photography and filming

Where an under-18 attendee is present, SPI will exercise additional care when taking or using photographs, video or audio.

SPI will not intentionally make an identifiable under-18 attendee the principal subject of promotional advertising, an interview or a testimonial without appropriate permission from a person who has parental responsibility for the child. The young person’s own wishes will also be taken into account.

Further information is available in Photography & Filming at SPI Events.

16. Age verification

SPI may reasonably request evidence of age where this is necessary to confirm that an attendee meets the Event’s age requirements.

SPI will not routinely copy identity documents. A copy will be retained only where genuinely necessary, lawful and proportionate.

Any personal information collected for this purpose must be handled in accordance with applicable data-protection law.

17. When under-18 attendance may be refused

SPI may refuse under-18 attendance where:

the Event is stated to be 18+;
approval was required but was not obtained before booking;
the attendee is below the minimum age for that Event;
a required person who has parental responsibility for the child is not attending;
the permitted supervision ratio is exceeded;
the proposed supervising adult does not have parental responsibility for the child;
reasonable required information or consent has not been supplied;
a Venue restriction prevents attendance; or
another genuine Event-specific safety or safeguarding condition is not met.

Where a customer books contrary to a clear age restriction or approval requirement which was made available before booking, a refund will not normally be provided solely because the under-18 attendee cannot be admitted, subject to statutory rights.

18. Emergencies

In an emergency, the person who has parental responsibility remains responsible for the child and must follow reasonable instructions from SPI, Venue staff and emergency services.

SPI may take any reasonable immediate action necessary to protect the safety or welfare of attendees.

19. Safeguarding

SPI takes safeguarding seriously where under-18 attendees are permitted.

Under-18 attendees must remain under the supervision of a parent or another person who has parental responsibility for the child throughout the Event.

See Safeguarding & Child Protection.

20. Event-specific age information

The individual Event page may contain additional age-related requirements.

Where clearly provided before booking, Event-specific requirements may include:

a higher minimum age;
different permitted timings;
specific access conditions;
additional supervision arrangements;
Venue-imposed restrictions; or
confirmation that the Event is strictly 18+.

21. Bookings made contrary to the Age Policy

Customers are responsible for checking the Event’s age information before booking.

Where under-18 approval is required, do not book until SPI has confirmed that the under-18 attendee may attend, unless the Event page expressly states that under-18 bookings are accepted.

Booking a ticket does not override an Event’s age restrictions.

22. Contact SPI

If you wish to ask whether an under-18 attendee may attend an Event, contact SPI before booking.

It is helpful to provide:

the Event name;
Event date;
the age of each under-18 attendee;
the number of adults attending; and
the relationship between each supervising adult and under-18 attendee.

Contact:

Spooky Paranormal Investigations Ltd

Email:
hello@spookypi.co.uk

Company number:
16540220

Registered office:
71–75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ

Website:
spookypi.co.uk