Latest Coronavirus Information from ACRE

Page updated 30th March 2021.

Now, with the government heralding a new ‘Roadmap to Recovery’, ACRE has published a new suite of information to help village halls reopen. 

Issue 9 of the ‘Re-opening Village and Community Halls’ Information Sheet’ has now been published by ACRE. The new information sheet is ACRE’s best interpretation of the Government’s regulations and includes sample checklists, notices and a useful table of activities. It clearly sets out what village halls can and cannot do over the next few months as Covid-19 restrictions are gradually eased, and is illustrated in a new ‘activities table’ as an addition to the updated Appendix D.

From 12 April, a limited number of additional activities will be permitted, including supervised activities for children, weddings and wakes for up to 15 people and indoor markets. On 17 May, a greater range of activities will be permitted subject the ‘rule of 6’ but it will not be until 21 June at the earliest that all activities, including dancing get the go ahead.

Now is the time for halls to start making the necessary plans to re-open!

ACRE Information Sheet v9 - Update for Village & Community Halls   30th March 2021

Activities already permitted may continue beyond 12th April     16th March 2021

The process of unlocking will apply in four steps across England, without reverting to Tiers, with a minimum five weeks between each step.

Each step is dependent on all four of the following conditions being met. All dates are “no earlier than” and the Government will confirm a week beforehand. When accepting bookings, it would therefore be prudent to consider the dates of the latter two steps as more likely to be changed than the first two.

1. The coronavirus vaccine programme continues to go to plan.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently reducing the number of people dying or needing hospital treatment.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospital admissions.
4. New variants of the virus do not fundamentally change the risk of lifting.

Preparing for re-opening

Halls are encouraged to start planning to re-open in line with the 4 steps outlined in this latest information. A checklist of points to consider is given in Appendix A of the ACRE Information Sheet, opening your village hall.

See all of the ACRE resources below.

Please subscribe (see button below) to make sure you receive the latest updates from us directly into your inbox.

Subscribe

Appendices

The documents highlighted in ORANGE are the latest updates, but please be aware all information is subject to amendment/update as a result of the changeable environment.

We will update the documents as and when we receive the appropriate guidance/updates ourselves. We will also send out emails when any significant changes are made so please make sure you are signed up to receive our email updates.

Appendix_A_V2_4.7.20_Reopening_Checklist.docx      6th July

Appendix_B_V2_4.7.20_Hirers_Survey.docx      6th July

Appendix_C_covidsecureposter_16.12.20.docx      20th December

Appendix D Social Distancing March 2021     30th March 2021

Appendix_D_Activities_Table_March 2021.pdf     30th March 2021

Appendix_E_Special_Hire_Conditions    20th December

Appendix_F_Risk_Assessment_for_Hall_Committees_March 2021.pdf   30th March 2021

Appendix_G_Risk_Assessment_for_Hall_Hirers_March 2021.pdf    30th March 2021

Appendix_H_Opening_your_Village_Hall_after_lockdown.docx    3rd July

Appendix_I_Opening_your_Village_Hall_after_lockdown.docx    3rd July

 Appendix_J_Performances_16.12.20.docx   20th December

Appendix_K_Exercise_v8_16.12.20.docx      20th December

Appendix_L_20.7.20_Suspected_user_with_Covid_19.docx#

Appendix_M_TestTrace_3.9.2.docx      1st October 2020

legionella-guidance-covid-19.pdf    3rd July

Guides on reopening Halls and Churches - 20th August

Please find below two excellent guides to help halls and churches with re-opening preparations.

IF_DO__Safer_Churches_Aug_2020_Covid19.pdf

The Safer Community Centres guide: A comprehensive guide for village halls and community buildings.

Click Here

NHS Test & Trace Service

NHS Test and Trace is a key part of the country’s on-going COVID-19 response. If we can rapidly detect people who have recently come into close contact with a new COVID-19 case, we can take swift action to minimise transmission of the virus. This is important as lockdown measures are eased and will help us return to a more normal way of life and reduce the risk of needing local lockdowns in future. Please refer to the document below: (Added 6th July 2020)

FAQ_TestTrace__Maintaining_Records_of_Staff_Customers_and_Visitors_for_NHS.pdf       

Useful information for user groups

The Government has also published new guidance for organisations or individuals who provide community activities, tuition, holiday clubs or after-school clubs for children, as well as their staff and volunteers, which acknowledges that these are often held in village and church halls. Please click the link below:

gov.uk/protective-measures-for-holiday-or-after-school-clubs-and-other-out-of-school-settings-for-children-during-covid-19