Amber – Digital programme delivery, restricted outdoor group sessions, no residential activities
The current national readiness level issued by Scout Association can always be found here
As you may be aware the readiness level for returning to Scouting has changed from Red to Amber which means that restricted activities can be resumed once the return process has been fully completed by Sections, Groups or Units. This covers ANY activity where a young person is in attendance.
Adult volunteers must follow the governments social distancing guidelines where young people are not involved (planning meetings etc) – including the guidance around the number of households that can meet indoors and outdoors at any one time.
No face to face scouting can take place until your section/group or unit risk assessment(s) have been approved by the district and you have received the approval confirmation email from them. The risk assessments need to be carried out by the relevant leadership team in collaboration with their group executive committee.
However, please do not feel pressured to return to face to face activities before you and your fellow leaders, parents and young people are ready.
Oxfordshire return to Scouting documents to help your return can be found below:
Quick Guide to Returning – overview of the levels and the process to be followed
Return to Scouting – full details of the Scout Framework, return process, forms and guidance available
Risk Assessment ideas – risk assessment example with some ideas and further guidance
Return to Scouting Activity Form – please complete and upload this form alongside your risk assessment – it will provide all the additional information your district will require to approve your return.
Full Scouts guidance & documentation
Link to Smartsheets to submit your risk assessment
As scouts, we deliver a range of activities in a range of environments (places/locations). Each group/unit 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 environment a section is planning to operate in. If that environment 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.
Examples of different environments for risk assessments: meeting outside of your normal meeting place, water activities at an approved centre, water activities on public waterways, meetings in public locations (local park, town centre, etc).
Getting back together safely: The COVID Code
In getting everyone back together safely the following code must be followed at all times:
- A COVID-safe risk assessment has been completed and we have communicated control measures to volunteers, young people and parents and all are encouraged to raise concerns
- Additional hygiene measures are in place
- Social Distancing will be observed (check current distance determined by your Government)
- Maximum group sizes will be limited and determined by scouts.org.uk and members will be consistent where possible
- Make adjustments for young people and adults vulnerable or affected by COVID, and consult to make sure return plans are accessible and inclusive
Current restrictions
- Maximum group size is 15 – this is both adults and young people in the group
- There must be at least 25m between groups of 15
- No young person or adult can move between groups on the same day.
Therefore, a leader cannot run activities for two different sections on the same evening nor two different groups of 15 one after the other.
- Each Group must be able to work independently (e.g. a leader in charge is required for each Group)
Returning to Scouting
We are all really keen to make the process as quick and efficient as possible to avoid any delays to Sections returning, which is why the guidance above has been developed.
Whilst we appreciate the return to Scouting form is a further form to fill out, it will avoid us having to reject risk assessments due to lack of information. In looking at the risk assessment template alongside the Commissioner approver checklist, we realise that there will be additional information needed to enable approval. By completing all the questions on the form, your District Commissioner should have all the information they need to be able to review the risk assessment and provide feedback on any adjustments necessary or give you the green light.
We can do virtual scouting and we encourage all groups and units to continue (or start), to do this to stop a potential drop off in numbers of both young people and adults. If you need help, please contact your District Commissioner who will be able to point you in the direction of ‘someone’ in your District that has become an expert in it!
What you can (and should), do is start to think about, plan and prepare for when you feel ready to return to face to face activities. This means thinking about what activities you may be able to do and where you can do them – don’t forget whilst in Amber you can only plan outdoor activities for young people you will need to wait until we move to Yellow to be able to do activities inside (although the numbers are likely to continue to be restricted).
Once you have a plan in place for returning to face to face activities:
- Discuss it with your Group Scout Leader
- Obtain the approval of your Group Executive Committee
- Your Group Scout Leader then needs to submit the risk assessment(s) and Return to Scouting Activity Form to your District Commissioner via Smartsheets
- Wait for your approval email
Thank you for all your continued support
This page was last updated on 24 July 2020
