Please observe the following guidance and note that we have imposed some of our own guidelines on top of those from the Government / Welsh Government / NYA. The Guidance applies both in England and Wales and will come into effect on Monday 24 May for the B-PSA.
1. Groups must HAVE PRODUCED a Start Back Risk Assessment for meetings and have had it passed by Mark Napier This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for approval.
2. A Covid Risk assessment must be passed by GSM for every Section meeting in a Group.
3. All Sessions must be run in a fixed location, ie the location your start back risk assessment is written for.
4. Day trips are allowed but under the following restrictions. Any activity that is away from the location of your start back risk assessment is classed as a trip, NO OVERNIGHT TRIPS ARE ALLOWED.
a) The activity must start and finish the same day.
b) A Day away permit must be applied for.
c) A Covid risk assessment must be carried out for the trip, this must be detailed and include the travel to and from, plus any restrictions at the place being visited. This also applies to a hike. The Risk assessment must be sent to your AC for approval before the activity can take place.
d) All activities must be supervised, so a leader must be in attendance, even on a hike, they cannot remotely supervise the activity.
5. Ratios: please make sure that you have the correct number of leaders for children attending each section meeting, this is more important if you are working outside. Remember no leader can work with more than one section on the same day. Please use the current Supervision document if unsure.
6. First Aid: As previously discussed, the HSE cut-off date for First Aid extensions was 31st March 2021. Our supervision document clearly states that we have one Adult Leader qualified at each session and that is how we are insured. Therefore, we must comply and have someone qualified in attendance at every meeting.
7. There is now no limit on the size of groups meeting but they must be age appropriate. Numbers indoors must be limited to ensure that social distancing can take place and must comply with the rules for the venue being used.
8. 2m distancing must be maintained between everyone as much as possible. Leaders must keep a 2m distance from the members and each other. If they must go closer, work side by side and wearing eye covering for a short a time as possible.
9. Scouts (10+), Senior Scouts and all Adults must wear a mask indoors unless they have a medical exemption. Masks must also be worn outdoors (except for those medically exempt) as games often mean that the 2m rule is not observed. Face masks must also be worn while out hiking as it is difficult to maintain 2m spacing throughout the hike.
10.A bad weather plan is required for all outdoor sessions.
11.These rules are not to hinder meetings but are to help keep our members and their communities safe. Currently there is a new strain of the virus starting to affect the UK, which is more transmittable than previous ones. This may result in areas having to reintroduce more severe restrictions, so please be aware that we may have to change the way we meet at short notice. Recent data shows that the 12 to 18 year age group are responsible for the largest source of spreaders, they often do not show symptoms, but can pass it to adults.
12.None of our younger members and many of our leaders have not had their first vaccination, while most leaders have not had a second vaccination which means we must be careful to adhere strictly to our guidance, to ensure that we are not responsible for spreading Covid-19 in our communities.
13.Remember if you or your leaders do not feel safe, you do not have to return to face to face meetings. Please ask for advice via your AC if you need help to get back to face to face Scouting.
Keep safe and happy Scouting.
The Covid team
References for England:
1074-NYA-UPDATE-COVID-19-12_5_21_P3.pdf (joltrouter.net)
For England and Wales:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For Wales:
Alert level 3: summary | GOV.WALES
Leaving your home and seeing other people: alert level 3 | GOV.WALES