Re-opening Village and Community Halls

This information is changing on a very regular basis. We do our best to keep our website as up to date as possible.

Focus on Opening of Pre-Schools

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has issued recent guidance for village hall management committees to help them make the necessary preparations for the phased re-opening of community premises. It is based on the Government's recovery plan roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 crisis - 'Our Plans to Rebuild'.

The legislation to allow halls to be open for use by a pre-school is now in force. It allows for early years childcare provided by a person registered on the Early Years Register under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006.

Latest update (4th June 2020) includes new Q&A regarding before and after school clubs on page 5.

For full information download the ACRE Guidance, click on the button below. 

ACRE Guidance     Updated 4th June 2020

Preparing for the wider opening of early years and childcare settings from 1 June

Key points from Dept for Education Guidance 12th May 2020 regarding re-opening of nurseries and early years childcare settings

Halls must remain closed for non-school or essential activites

Apart from allowing Pre-Schools to re-open from 1 June, please remember that The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 are still in place which state at clause 7:

A person who is responsible for a community centre must ensure that, during the emergency period, the community centre is closed except where it is used to provide essential voluntary activities or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency).

Cleaning in non-healthcare settings

Government Regulations on how halls comply with safe opening are not yet available. However, RAD suggests that halls begin to prepare by referring to the ACRE Guidance for Pre-Schools and also follow the Government guidance on the cleaning in non-healthcare settings and minimise the risk of Legionnaires Disease.

Refer to the Health and Safety Executive page on Legionella and the refer to this practical guide on controlling legionella in unused water systems.

Phased return of Sport & Recreation in England

This is the latest Government guidance (updated 1st June) on the re-opening of outdoor sports and recreation facilities. You can access the full guidance for providers of outdoor facilities on the phased return of sport and recreation on the gov.uk website.

Staying Covid-19 Secure Poster

Letter to Parish Councils

This information is taken from the email update sent on 26th May. To see a full version of this please click on the link below.

Update 26th May

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