Getting everyone back together safely

Given the Government’s guidance, all face-to-face Scout meetings, activities and events have been suspended from Tuesday, 17 March 2020. This suspension applies to young people and adults, and will be until further notice.

We will continue to follow official guidance. The safety of everyone involved in Scouts, both young people and adults, is our number one priority. That is always at the heart of our decision making.

As lockdown measures start to ease we are working with youth sector partners and the National Youth Agency government body to understand what a safe return to face to face Scouts may look like when the readiness level reduces from red.

Below is the framework and set of guidance on how elements of face to face Scouts could take place and the safety measures we would need to take into account. You can review this guidance now and start to make local plans for how you would implement some face to face activities once the readiness level in the nation was reduced.

Check what the readiness level is in England

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask us!

The Scouts Framework – for face to face activities The Scouts Framework is aligned with Government-approved guidance for the Youth Sector developed by the National Youth Agency. This framework will apply in every nation within UK Scouting and walks through: – the permissions process for restarting any face to face activity – the key considerations to be ready to restart face-to-face activities and how these will be phased – Legal and liability conditions – Key control measures for everyone to follow

In line with government-approved Youth Sector Guidance, we expect to see a phased approach to returning to
face-to-face Scout meetings and activities.

This is broken down by four levels:
ï‚· Red, for when the rate of infection remains consistent or growing
ï‚· Amber, for when the rate of infection is reducing consistently
ï‚· Yellow, for when there are very few cases in the population and a full track and trace system is operational
ï‚· Green, for when there are no new cases or there is a vaccine readily available.

The District Commissioner and District Executive have recognised roles for health and safety in a defined geographical area. They need to be assured that all necessary checks, controls and preparations have been considered and adopted before agreeing that any face-to-face Scout meetings or activities may take place in each Scout Group and Unit within their District.

Tynemouth Scouts have nominees who will approve the risk assessments. These individuals are: Darren Bailey, Sean Mulligan and Peter Thorp – to send your risk assessments for District Approval please send them to ra@tynemouthscouts.org.uk using Darren Bailey as the named approver.

Everyone needs to assess and manage the risks of COVID-19. Volunteer line managers have a legal responsibility to protect other volunteers, young people and those who come into contact with the groups from risk to their health. This means they need to assess the risks they face and do everything reasonably practicable to minimise them. At the same time, we need to recognise that we cannot completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19. Districts are responsible for supporting leaders to have rigorous written assessments and achievable action plans.

As Scouts, we deliver a range of activities in a range of environments. Each group must complete a written risk assessment and action plan for each section and for every environment they wish to operate in. The risk assessments used to authorise re-starting face-to-face activities are for the place or environment a section is planning to operate in. If that environment or place changes significantly enough for the risks to change, a new risk assessment must be completed and authorisation sought. These risk assessments do not replace regular weekly risk assessments in relation to specific activities, these should be complementary.

Note: The Group Scout Leader along with Darren, Sean and Peter should review these risk assessments regularly, or when Government guidance and NYA readiness levels change. They should record any adjustments and update the County with the date of the latest review.

Guidance for completing risk assessments and approving face to face activity

Guidance for Leaders – Developing your risk assessments for returning to Face to Face Activity. For any face to face activity to start written risk assessments will need to be completed and approved locally. 

Guidance for Commissioners and Executives – Approving local face to face activity

Guidance to support Commissioners and Executive Committees approve local face to face activity and a checklist list to support Commissioner and Executives who are approving the risk assessments

The Guidance and support sections below are to help you plan the practical sides of some face to face Scout activity. The guidance covers a range of different situations you may want to plan for and talks you through what needs to be considered when you are preparing for safe return to face to face. This will support you in completing the written risk assessment required to have any face to face activity approved.

Planning a safe and enjoyable programme

Speaking with parents, carers and young people

Getting everyone there safely

Working safely with the public

Knowing what to do if something goes wrong – including first aid

Supporting those made more vulnerable by the crisis

Protecting ourselves and others

What to do when our buildings are used by others

Keeping our buildings safe and secure

Finding a safe place to meet

Getting Scouts back into the great outdoors – campsites and activity centres

Helping others get back into the great outdoors – opening campsites and activity centres for the public and third parties

If you require any further guidance please get in touch with us or visit the UK Scouts Coronavirus page.