Demanded that I sign a formal disclaimer for my child

[kdkdkd]

My daughter has recently begun instruction on the catholic catechism which is being delivered through church volunteers.
On enrolment of my daughter, I was asked if she had any disabilities and I explained she had type 1 diabetes and asked if that was a problem with the church halls public liability insurance. I asked this question as I assumed (rightly or wrongly) that asking this question was insurance linked or why else would they ask!
I was then given a letter to sign which was a disclaimer stating that should anything happen to my daughter while she was in their care, I would take no legal action against them. I refused to sign the letter on the basis that this group were discriminating against my daughter. They have now notified the parish priest that unless I sign the letter, they will withdraw their instruction for all of the children.
Should I just sign this disclaimer to keep them from walking away and effecting the instruction for the remainder of the children ?
Is this blackmail?
Is this legal in any way?

 

[phoenix]

I suspect that such a disclaimer is illegal, and probably wouldn't hold water if you did sign it... but I'm not a lawyer.
I think the suggestion that if you don't sign it then the other children will also be discriminated is immoral.
I think you should get advice from the citizens advice bureau .
I also think that if the Priest doesn't support you over this then you should contact the Diocesan authorities because I hope to goodness that they won't countenance it (even if it does mean the loss of volunteers)
I did find this on CAB site

Examples of services which must not discriminate against you if you are disabled include services provided by: hotels, banks, building societies, solicitors, local authorities, advice agencies, pubs, theatres, shops, telesales, railway stations, churches, doctors, law courts and public transport. It does not matter whether the service is free or has to be paid for.

Generally speaking, insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against you if you are disabled, but they may sometimes be able to treat you less favourably if they can show that this is based on reliable information about insurance risk

 

[hanadr]

Contact the Diabetes UK careline. they know the law. that disclaimer probably isn't legal. If someone asked me for such a thing, i'd ask to see their CRB document.
Hana
[Diabetes UK.org]