Coronavirus (Covid-19) support page

On Sunday 8th November we will be hosting a virtual opportunity to come together as a County to observe an Act of Remembrance.

To take part and find out more, click HERE to visit our webpage.

Please always check this website for the latest guidance on re-starting Scouting safely. There is lots of guidance on programme, protecting ourselves & others and premises.

Following the announcement of a four-week lockdown in England from Thursday 5 November, the National Youth Agency (NYA) has now issued guidance about what this means for all youth sector activity. From 5 November Scouts and all other youth activities will move to Red readiness level.

This decision by the Government means that there can be no face-to-face activity with young people or adult volunteers. Only online meetings can be delivered until further notice.

We expect these restrictions to last until 2 December, when the lockdown is currently scheduled to end in England.

Read the Guidance for Leaders.

You can watch this video to understand the process and read this one page guide.

Also:

• You can only deliver programme digitally.
• No residential or overnight activities can be carried out.
  

Please contact your District Commissioner if you have questions

Useful links:

• Framework for the safe return of Scouting.
• Guidance for Executives and Commissioners (Approvers) 
• Guidance for managers of premises (including where 3rd used by non-Scouting).
• Communicating with people.
• Submit your Risk Assessment for Approval

The great indoors

The Great Indoors – over 100 activities that young people can do with their parents / carers.

Carry on Scouting badge a creative idea developed by the amazing team in the Forest Of Dean. Lots of activities which will help young people earn an occasional badge.

The teams at World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and UK Scout Headquarters are in the process of creating Programme ideas to support Scouts at home. Check here; scouts.org.uk and scout.org regularly.

County activities during lock down

You can see some of our previous activities here:

• We Will Survive Camp
• Water Activities Day

Other ideas 

On the right / below you will see other ideas that have been shared by you!

We want more of your ideas, if you have some please email youth.commissioner@gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk

Scouting guidance has now been updated in this framework.

This means as of today, adults can meet together in groups in line with Government guidelines.

• Socially distance (2m where possible, otherwise 1m+) If this is not possible a face to face meeting should NOT take place.
• If experiencing Coronavirus symptoms, stay at home and advise all others that they should stay at home.

You can

• Meet outdoors in groups of up to 6.
• Meet indoors with people from upto 2 households

The safety and welfare of all members should be considered when deciding whether Any face to face meeting is necessary.

Tools

Where needing to meet with groups of more than six people, you can still meet using digital tools. 

• Zoom – See our supporting materials
• Facebook groups 
• Google Hangouts – Step by step guides
• Microsoft Teams – Step by step guide
• Skype
• WhatsApp

We as a County Team have been and will continue to use Zoom for video conference calls and WhatsApp to chat and share short messages.

This webinar is great and shows how you can deliver engaging online sessions to young people

If running online meetings with young people, you must read and follow this guidance

Which platform should I use? – Read here for guidance.

This is a great webinar showing you how you can run engaging virtual meetings.

Questions

• Can I have Executive meetings via Conference Call / Video call? – Yes – the Charity commission states that business may be conducted remotely. More information.
• Can I validate learning with my TA via Video call? – Yes, we will be working with TAs to help them with this, in the coming weeks.
• Can we have an face to face appointments panel meeting? Yes – as long as outdoors and the total number of people any adult may come in contact with is no more than six.
• Can we have a face to face validation session? Yes,  – if indoors (from the 4th July) meet only one person in a day. If outdoors, do not meet more than 5 others in one day.

Scouts, first and foremost is about developing young people to become a positive influence on our communities.

Why not get involved in Care for Care homes where we can really make a difference to thousands of people across the UK.

Find out more here

Watch this introductory video from Ed Stafford

If you do take part don’t forget to record your action

All face to face training between now and the end of July has been cancelled or postponed.

New

We are now offering online classroom versions of the following courses:

• Safeguarding
• Module 7 – Scouting for all
• Module 11 – Administration
• Module 12A – Delivering the quality programme

Please visit the training calendar for Wood Badge courses or Safeguarding training.

Mandatory training

• Safeguarding training can still be completed via elearning.
• Safety training can also be completed by elearning.
• GDPR Training can be completed by elearning.

With these please send a copy of your completion certificate to your TA or LTM / LTA to update your training records.

Getting started

Getting started training can still be completed

• Module 1 can be completed on line here.
• Module 1 for Executives can be completed here.

Please send the certificate to your TA and arrange to validate your learning through conversation.

We are working to develop solutions that will allow us to deliver more of the Core Modules and Young Leader training, remotely – Watch this space.

In these uncertain times it can be really easy to feel distant from those that we form great friendships with throughout Scouting. Being apart from our Scouting family can feel like a bereavement.

With a huge diversity of members across our County, some will stay in touch and connected via Social Media, some reliant on email and there will be some that do not use technology in the same way.

How can you keep in touch with each other to help them feel connected? Please think of those that have less confidence with technology.

At this time, it can be easy to let your own health and wellbeing slip. This is as important as the wellbeing of those we support. 

Guides and to support you and others

• 5 tips for supporting each other’s wellbeing during lockdown
• COVID-19 – A Guide for Young People
• Please do take time to be kind to yourself .
• Check out this additional guidance – Coping with quarantine.

Bereavement

At this time, it is possible that we may experience the loss of friends, family, colleagues or others that we support in Safeguarding. 

There is some really useful support on the Scouts Website, please take some time to read this page on Bereavement support

Conducting meetings

The NCVO has published some useful guidance to help Executive Committees consider how they can best support Scouts locally during this time.

Also published this week is guidance for charities from the Charity Commission.

The Scout Association has approved an amendment to the standard constitutions in POR which allows meetings to be held remotely. It also allows decisions to be made electronically. This is valid immediately and will be updated in the next update to POR, in early April. The wording is as follows:

• Electronic voting (such as email) is allowed for decision making of the County/District/Group Executive Committee and its sub-Committees when deemed appropriate by the Chair. In such instances at least 75% of committee members must approve the decision.
• The County/District/Group Executive Committee & its sub-Committees can meet by telephone conference, video conference as well as face to face in order to discharge its responsibilities when agreed by the appropriate Chair.

AGMs

Managing premises

Cranham Scout centre are now open and you can use this amazing resource for great Scouting experiences.

Find out more at the Cranham Scout Centre website

They have been given a “We’re good to go” mark which is the official UK mark to signal that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow Government and industry COVID-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

If you have a bookings or questions please contact the management team on info@scoutcentre.org.uk

The County admin team are being furloughed for 3 weeks, returning for 1 week – if you attempt to contact us via phone, your call will not be answered. 

Please contact us via email at: admin@gloucestershire-scouts.org.uk

Whilst Face to Face Scouting has been suspended, managers and commissioners could not try to complete new DBS Applications.

As of the 6th July DBS applications can now be completed. 

Guidance on doing so can be found here. A summary of key points:

• Copies of ID must be scanned / photographed and emailed to the person checking ID. ID verifier must confirm receipt.
• The person checking ID must see the person via video call or face to face (following Government guidance). You must see the person you are verifying.
• Checks are carried out and you must be assured the ID is that of the person you are speaking to. If in doubt DO NOT PROCEED.
• Once verified, you must delete all copies of the ID and relevant data that you held and confirm this to the volunteer. 

Any members whose DBS expired whilst Face to Face Scouting will have 90 days from the 7th July to renew their DBS.

Managers should now act on expiry dates and work through their expired DBS as fast as possible.

Members whose DBS has expired may continue to meet digitally during this period. All members must follow this advice when meeting with young people online.

If you have any questions please speak to your line manager.

Below are the related communications that have been received or sent in relation to Scouts and Coronavirus (Covid-19)

• Email to DCs, GSLs & Group Chairs (22/3)
• Support at this time (from HQ) (1/4)
• Disclosures during the Coronavirus Situation (3/4)
• Facing challenging times together (5/5)
• How to talk to young people about racism (5/6)
• Manager’s update – Amber & DBS applications (6/7)
• Bring everyone back safely – an update from the Scouts (8/7)