COVID-19

Safety Measures

We are continuously reviewing government guidance in relation to safety measures on what we can and can not do at your community centre.  For the latest government guidance in relation to the use of community facilities click here

To view our Risk Assessment please click here .  This should be used in conjunction with our Safety Measures below.

Due to COVID-19 we have implemented a number of different measures to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep our users safe.

All Visitors

DO NOT ENTER if you:

• have signs of a fever or high temperature

• have a persistent cough

• you have had contact with any possible source of the virus in the last 14 days

If you are safe to enter please ensure you:

• Sanitize your hands on entry and wash/sanitize your hands regularly

• Avoid touching your hands or face

• Adhere to 2m social distancing rules 

• Follow any one way signs around the building

• No more than 1 person in the toilets at any time (with the except of a parent/carer supervising a child)

• No more than 2 people in the kitchen at any time (BCA Volunteers Only).  All Groups are currently prohibited from using our Kitchen.

Enhanced Cleaning

Our rooms will be thoroughly cleaned at the end of every day that they have been used.

Group Leaders will need to ensure that they sanitize all equipment their group has used, including tables, chairs and all touch points, before they leave. 

Face Masks/Coverings

On 8 August 2020 it became mandatory to wear face masks/coverings in a number of indoor places including Community Centres.

In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering.   

This includes (but is not limited to):

• children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)

• people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability

• employees of indoor settings (or people acting on their behalf, such as someone leading part of a prayer service) or transport workers (see section 6) - although employers may consider their use where appropriate and where other mitigations are not in place, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidelines

• where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress

• if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate

• to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others - including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity

In relation to our community cafe, the guidance currently states:

"Face coverings are not required in restaurants with table service, bars, and pubs. If removing your face covering to eat or drink in an indoor premises with a café or designated seating area, then you can remove your face covering in this area only."

Whilst we now have to advise that face masks are worn inside the community centre (with the exception of in the seating area of our community cafe), we will never question anyone who is unable to wear a mask for whatever reason. 
We understand hidden disabilities, and we are working towards becoming an Autism Friendly venue.  One of our Trustees has received Autism Awareness Training and has 2 autistic children herself.  (All of our Trustees and volunteers were booked to attend Autism Awareness training before lockdown hit).

NHS Test & Trace

We are required to assist the NHS Test & Trace service by keeping a temporary record of our customers, visitors and staff for 21 days.  We are doing this by asking everyone attending any of our groups and/or community cafe to sign in.

For further information on how the NHS Test & Trace service works, please click here. 

Please remain vigilant over scammers who have been targeting vulnerable people claiming to be from the NHS Test & Trace service and asking people to pay for a COVID-19 test.  These tests are FREE.  Members of the public can order a test through the NHS website.  If you are asked by anyone to pay for a test, hang up the phone and do not provide any personal bank/card details.  

If you're told you've been in contact with a person who has coronavirus:

• stay at home (self-isolate) for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with the person – it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear

• do not leave your home for any reason – if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home

• do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for essential care

• try to avoid contact with anyone you live with as much as possible

• people you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms

• people in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms

Party Bookings

We are are currently only able to accept Party Bookings from our Members for outside parties for a maximum of 30 guests. 

We are unable to take bookings for larger than that on the basis restrictions might be lifted.

Payments

Contactless Payments are available at the community centre and are our preferred method of payment.

All bookings for room hire should be paid in advance via bank transfer.

Sanitizing

Every person entering the building must ensure they sanitize their hands on arrival and wash/sanitize their hands regularly whilst on our premises.

Sanitizing Stations are available in the lobby area and in each of our rooms containing:

• Hand Gel

• Antibacterial Wipes

• Disinfectant Spray

Venue Hire / Group Bookings / Capacity Limits 

Risk Assessment

Any person wishing to hire one of our rooms is required to carry out their own risk assessment of the premises to ensure that social distancing measures can be implemented and maintained.

Cleaning  & Sanitizing

All Group Leaders must ensure that they santize all community centre equipment used including tables, chairs and touch points after their group has finished.

Room Hire Periods

To ensure the safety of all our users, and prevent bottle necks of lots of people arriving and leaving at the same time, we will be reviewing all booking times and will be looking to allow 15 minutes both before and after the end of the time you currently book and pay for, free of charge.  This extra time is also to allow for the extra cleaning required and to give the rooms a chance to air out after people have left.  Any time over this will be chargeable at the normal hire rate.

As part of your risk assessment, it is imperative that you factor in the exact time you will need to enter and leave the building to help us facilitate our bookings and ensure the safety of all our users.

As an example, if you currently pay for 3 hours 3pm - 6pm, we will extend your booking to 2.45pm - 6.15pm at no extra cost. 
It is the Group Leaders responsibility to ensure that no-one arrives prior to this time, and that the room has been sanitized and vacated by the end time.  If you need longer than this, you must book this with us in advance to ensure that we can manage our bookings properly, and reduce any risks to our users.  To ensure the safety of all of our users, we will have to ensure that timings are stuck to.

Capacity Limits

In line with government guidance, our capacity limits for certain types of groups/activities have been reduced.

Please note that this is for guidance only and all groups are required to carry out their own risk assessment to establish social distancing measures appropriate for their group/activity.   The numbers below are the maximum we can hold based on the floor area and do not take into account any restrictions on bubble sizes which may be appropriate.

Safety Posters