Covid

Safely resuming face-to-face Scouts indoors

Covid policy in line with the Scout Association

Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, or who has been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms (within the last two weeks), should NOT come to any face-to-face activities, and should follow government guidelines on self-isolation and testing. If any symptoms develop within people that you are in close contact with, please can you contact one of the leaders so that we can action accordingly.

We’re also aware some young people, including young people with additional needs, might need new or different reasonable adjustments putting in place to support a return to face-to-face Scouts – we are happy to discuss this with you.

I’d also like to let you know some of the updates to our arrangements for making sure our indoor activities will be COVID-19 safe.

Arrival and departure arrangements

Please check your child’s temperature before you leave home. If they are unwell, please do NOT bring them to the meeting but instead telephone your section leader or update attendance via OSM to advise they will not be attending.
Parents will NOT BE allowed to enter the HQ building and a leader will be at the door to sign your child in/out as you drop off or collect. Parents are required to drop off / collect and depart immediately depart.
Parents are asked to MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING whilst waiting to drop off or collect
Do not attend more than 5 minutes before you scheduled meeting time – Please arrive to COLLECT ON TIME

Hand sanitisation, hygiene and personal protective equipment

Please can you child attend the meeting with their own hand gel. We will have some on site, but would rather all Young People use their own and that way we have allowed for any intolerances / allergic reactions.
Hands will need to be sanitised on arrival at the HQ. We will sanitise again during the meeting and before they depart
Children in “Scouts” will be required to wear a face mask to all meetings [updated 29 Nov 2021]

Social distancing

There are currently no government guidelines in place for social distancing, but where possible, we continue to space our Young people apart. Registers will be kept on OSM for track and trace purposes – please ensure your details are correct and up-to-date.
Parents will need to be responsible for their own social distancing from others.

Other measures in place

Toilets are still available at the HQ, but will be operating on a one-in-one basis, so we would recommend using the toilet at home prior to arrival
Hand washing facilities are available at our HQ, but will also be operating on a one-in-one-out basis
As usual, if your child requires any First Aid one of the Leaders will be there to assist and will be wearing the appropriate PPE
If a parent would like to talk to one of the leaders, please wait outside and not not enter the builder. The leader will come and speak to you OUTSIDE
At the moment, we will not be doing the usual drinks and biscuits. However, as some of our activities fall into the “cardio” bracket, please can your child come with their own drink and snack if needed. All drink bottles must be clearly labelled.
Please ensure that your child leaves with the items that they arrive with as we have no storage facilities for lost property and items left behind will be destroyed after one week

Track and Trace

(updated 29 November 2021)

All individuals who have been identified as a close contact of a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, irrespective of vaccination status and age, will be contacted directly and required to self-isolate immediately and asked to book a PCR test. They will be informed by the local health protection team or NHS Test and Trace if they fall into this category and provided details about self-isolation.
Further actions for educational and childcare settings may be advised by a local Incident Management Team (IMT) investigating a confirmed or suspected case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
For everyone else, isolation rules are unchanged. Individuals are not required to self isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 who is not a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19 who is not a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant, and any of the following apply:
• they are fully vaccinated
• they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
• they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.
We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so.
Adult volunteers who do not need to self-isolate, and children and young people aged under 18 years and 6 months, who usually attend an out-of-school setting or Youth Group, and have been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 who is not a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant, can continue to attend the setting as normal.