u3a News
COVID-19 ADVICE FOR INTEREST GROUPS IN ENGLAND FROM THE THIRD AGE TRUST
The u3a national body – the Third Age Trust – has produced Covid-19 advice for u3as since the first UK lockdown in March 2020. To read the full document, please click here: Covid-19 advice on u3a activities
We have reproduced below a section particularly relevant to Interest Groups from the advice currently offered on the Third Age Trust website.
You will also find useful guidance in Section 4: Advice on participation in u3a activities and Covid-19 tests.
SECTION 3 - COVID ROAD MAP FOR EASING LOCKDOWN IN ENGLAND & FAQS
England has moved to step 4 of their Lockdown Easing Road Map. Essentially this means there will be no limits on how many people can meet indoors or outdoors however businesses can and will impose their own safety measures which they will require customers to follow.
The Government is urging caution and whilst the cases are high and rising, everbody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious and key protection measures will be kept in place which include:
- Testing when you have symptoms
- Isolating when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- Wearing face coverings in crowded areas
Guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) measures for grassroots sport participants, providers and facility operators.
3.1 What is the procedure I must follow in order to resume my interest group activities face to face?
Check with any venue, premises or location you intend to use for the measures they will require for safe use and inform your group participants of these. Conduct you own risk assessment, considering where the group meet, any local group factors of significance and the nature of the activity you intend to do. Hazard levels will vary as will the complexity of the assessment required. In most sit down/discussion groups the risk levels will be low therefore good ventilation, hand and hygine, wearing face masks when moving around, could suffice. Meanwhile groups playing contact sports or sharing equipment may wish to consider additional mitigation measures which for example would be provided by National Governing Bodies for sports activities.
To summarise the u3a procedure for resuming an activity or interest group is as follows:
- Inform your committee of your plans and preparations for resuming (this could be through your Interest Group Co-ordinator, but it is good practice to keep your committee informed at this time).
- Where appropriate, download and follow a relevant Risk Assessment from a National Governing Body for your sporting activity (see links below) or use an appropriate u3a risk assessment template for your activity.
- Inform your members of what to expect and how to prepare for returning.
- Ask members to complete a personal assessment (pre-attendance) before attending. For some activities group leaders may decide to ask members to check in using the NHS App to scan their QR code or where required continue to keep a register of participants for 21 days after the activity for Test and Trace purposes.
3.2 What do we do if a member is not having the vaccine for health or personal reasons?
At present, there is no mandate from the Government that people must have the vaccine, therefore the Trust will not be issuing any requirements that members must have the vaccine, or that they can’t take part in activities without having had their vaccines.
3.3 Where can I get information about safety guidance from National Governing Bodies of sports organisations?
The link will take you to a list of some of these bodies in England: Sport & Recreation NGBs
3.4 When can u3a interest groups resume face to face meetings indoors?
There are no legal restrictions on the numbers who can meet indoors or outdoors although venues and premises where interest groups are run may want to continue to adopt certain safety measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and/or test and trace. It is important to remember that there is no obligation for Interest Group Leaders to resume groups in their own homes. They may have their own health and family concerns that might prevent them from resuming at this time and it is important not to place any pressure on people to resume activities they do not feel comfortable to undertake. If a group leader is not comfortable to resume activities in their home then an alternative venue should be sought.