Dear Parent's,
With the start of the new term only some 5 weeks away, I would like to take the opportunity to update you on our plans for getting back to meeting up once again.
At this present time the Scout Association is taking it's lead from the Governments National Youth Agency as regards what we can and cannot do and the appropriate measures we need to have in place. Similar to Government, they operate red, amber, yellow and green graded alertness levels. Currently we are at amber which means we can meet outdoors but not indoors. To meet indoors we need to go to yellow.
However as you can imagine it is not just as simply as saying ok everybody out to Tedbury! To do so we have to first produce risk assessments, operating protocols and demonstrate how in practical terms we can meet, whilst ensuring we comply with the government guidelines on group meetings, social distancing, mask wearing etc.. These then have to be sent to the District Commissioner for approval before we can formally meet.
So, currently our leaders are busy working on all the necessary paperwork with a view to producing 2 sets of risk assessments. Firstly to cover us for meeting outside, which we can already do at amber, and then another for going to yellow so that when we are allowed to meet indoors, we are all ready to go.
In practical terms this means that as from the Thursday 3rd September we are, as things currently stand, proposing to meet at Tedbury campsite for our first 4 meetings. Due to the darker night's drawing in, there will be changes to the times for meeting up which will effect the Scouts and maybe Cubs as well. We will advise you further on this closer to September and once we get formal approval of our plans from District.
We do understand that some of you may be anxious about sending your child back to scouting. However please be assured that we will at all times be holding our meetings in accordance with Government guidelines and we will share the practicalities of the measures we are putting in place to protect your child, once they have been approved.
In the meantime, please keep an eye on our web site for updates and you may also be interested in the latest information on our national web site at:
www.scouts.org.uk/coronavirus
Regards,
David.
David Hoare
Chairman - 5th Frome Scout Group
?