Welcome back!

17^th September 2020

To All Parents/Carers of 1^st Bramhall Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers,  Leaders, Trustees

 Getting back together at Scouts safely

 The good news is that Scouting is now able to re-start some face-to-face activities. Scouting is designated by the government as part of the essential Youth Sector and so exempt from the “Rule of Six” regulations.

Following on from our letter of 12^th July, we give below more details of how we will operate in 1^st Bramhall and to advise you of new safety measures we have put in place. Of course we need to be mindful that this an ever-changing and dynamic situation and we will follow all government rules and guidance from the Scout Association. Our priority is to keep young people and adults safe.

• Group sizes will be limited in line with Government-approved guidance for the Youth Sector developed by the National Youth Agency.
• Thorough risk assessments have been undertaken and approved to ensure that the Bramley Centre and all Scouting Activities are Covid-Secure.
• At the Bramley Centre an enhanced cleaning regime is in place from a professional contractor supplemented by the sanitising of all touch points before and after each meeting and all Equipment after use.
• Additional hygiene measures have been put in place. Hand sanitisers are widely available throughout the Bramley Centre and we maintain adequate stocks of PPE. Social distancing will be observed. Separate entrance and exits are in use.
• A protocol for dropping-off and collecting young people at the Bramley Centre is in place and must be observed at all times. A copy is attached. Please read it before coming to the Bramley Centre.
• New control measures are in place for all activities to manage social distancing and hygiene.
• Adjustments will be made for young people vulnerable or affected by Covid 19.
• Anyone developing symptoms during an activity/meeting will be isolated in a well-ventilated, dedicated, safe room whilst waiting to be collected to be taken home.

As we told you in July, returning to Scouts will happen in phases, and will vary from Section to Section (ie, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers), and at different timescales; the first of which will let us resume some activities (outdoors and indoors) in small groups. Returning to face-to-face Scouts is voluntary for all young people, parents/carers and volunteers.

Because numbers attending face to face meetings are restricted, please reply promptly to invitations to attend. Please don’t waste your place by not attending if you have agreed to. It is not fair on others who wish to attend

We need your full co-operation at all times if we are to successfully and safely resume our much-missed Scouting. Please help us by:

• Not sending your child(ren) to a meeting/activity if they have Covid 19 symptoms, or anyone in your household has symptoms, has been tested and is waiting on results, or has tested positive.
• Ensuring your child(ren) has washed their hands thoroughly before attending.
• Washing their uniform/activity kit after every use.
• Observing our drop-off/collection protocol.
• Making us aware of any underlying health condition of your child(ren).

Finally, the extra work involved in putting on activities requires additional adult help. Please don’t wait to be asked. Please contact your leader to offer help. It does not need to be a big commitment – possibly just helping setting up or taking down, or helping with supervision. We are all in this together.

As always, we encourage all parents and carers, young people and volunteers to ask questions, raise any concerns and provide feedback.

We are all really looking forward to welcoming everyone back.

Best wishes,

Andrew Corrie (“Skip”)                               Richard Buckley

Group Scout Leader                                    Group Chair