Utterly Confused after the latest gov announcement

[Deleted User]

Okay so I work in a community centre. 
We're covid secure, have risk assessments in place, and do everything to limit the spread of covid 

We have many, many groups that hire out spaces for things like Yoga, Bowls, Art Classes, Pre school, etc. 
Obviously the pre school is exempt, but what about everything else? If all the other groups have to limit their class sizes to six people they will fold in a  few weeks, and the centre will end up closing.But we could class the bowls as "exercise" and the art as Education? 


As usual, what's on the gov.uk site is not clear and is contradictory. 
I'm obviously worried I'm going to lose my job now -  had recently started back full time, plus am waiting on a mortgage offer! 

Advice is welcome! 

superbigal

Ensure your "groups" are a maximum of 6 and then keep each "group" 2m away from the others.  Each group must NOT interact in any way with the other.
Thank you

[Deleted User]

So for example, the yoga groups have been having 10-15 people spaced out at 2 or more meters. Is this allowed? 

And for meetings, I just put six round a table, leave a gap of two meters, and put another six? 

Thank you 

[Deleted User]

I've been counting each "group" as a class in a separate Room.

So we could have Yoga in one room, a Spanish lesson in another......is it six people to a room? Or six people spaced two meters apart? 

jon81uk

Its a business so you need to operate in a covid secure manner. The changes don't affect that.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing#rules-in-other-venues-and-activities

Lots of advice on managing covid secure businesses here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19

This is very specific to your circumstances https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities#permitted-activities-in-multi-use-community-facilities-signposting-to-relevant-guidance

Also this https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation#organising-outdoor-sport-and-physical-activity-events
and
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/providers-of-grassroots-sport-and-gym-leisure-facilities

jon81uk

Here is the relevant text from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-multi-purpose-community-facilities#permitted-activities-in-multi-use-community-facilities-signposting-to-relevant-guidance

"From 14 September, whether indoors or outdoors people from different households must not meet in groups of more than 6. This limit does not apply to meetings of a single household group or support bubble which is more than 6 people. Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. Further information on social contact rules, social distancing and the exemptions that exist can be found on the guidance on meeting with others safely. These rules will not apply to workplaces or education settings, alongside other exemptions. See more details on what has changed.

If partaking in permitted activities users of COVID-19 secure community facilities should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (where it is safe to do so and capacity permits) it is important for all parties to maintain socially distant, 2 metres or 1 metre with actions taken to reduce the risk of transmission (where 2 metres is not viable) between households. For example, use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout visit.

A risk assessment should determine the maximum capacity of a hall or hire space while able to maintain social distancing according to the relevant guidelines. It should also identify points of high risk in the building and mitigating actions to address the identified risks. Centre managers should also consider what changes might be needed to enable safe access to the building.

[Deleted User]

This is the bit that gets me
 Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. 

So each class has to be limited to just six people, so only six in an art class, only six in a yoga class, etc. 

OR

is it more than six in the room at one time, but with social distancing? 

Like we've been doing anyway! 

jon81uk

DeletedUser said:

This is the bit that gets me
 Community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total, but no one should visit or socialise in a group of greater than 6. 

So each class has to be limited to just six people, so only six in an art class, only six in a yoga class, etc. 

OR

is it more than six in the room at one time, but with social distancing? 

Like we've been doing anyway! 

I read it as the second, you can have more than six but they need to distance. Groups of six can arrive and socialise together but not then mingle with other groups of six within the room.
Previously up to two households could be in each group, within a room with other groups of two households.
Think of a pub, groups of up to six meet, but the tables are distanced or there are perspex screens separating them from other groups of up to six.

I think the rules are changing on socialising, not on individuals taking part in distanced group activites and sports.

EducSupport

God botherers are given an exception as well - any numbers are allowed in a religious establishment for the purposes of praying !

SpiderLegs

I, perhaps a little cynically, take it as being -
anything that generates some economic activity is fine
anything that doesn’t, isn’t 

Thrugelmir

SpiderLegs said:

I, perhaps a little cynically, take it as being -
anything that generates some economic activity is fine
anything that doesn’t, isn’t 

Perhaps that’s because greater care is taken in such environments.