This page provides the latest guidance and advice on how Durham Scouts are responding to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and will be updated as the situation changes

• Last updated: 30th December at 4.05pm

Coronavirus and Scouting in Durham

UK Scouting continues to base it's guidance and advice on government health advice, which can be found at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

All the latest updates from the UK Scout Association ("HQ") are available here

Note that Scouting is considered an essential service and is often subject to different guidelines than general social distancing guidelines and restrictions.

Following HM Government announcements on Wednesday 30th December Durham Scouts will move to Tier 4 (all districts are located in the local authority areas of Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Darlington and County Durham) from 00:01hrs on Thursday 31st December 2020. In accordance with the corresponding National Youth Agency guidance for youth groups, Scouting in Durham will move to a Red Readiness Level and all face-to-face meetings (indoors and outdoors) are suspended until further notice.

The status of individual Scout Districts is shown below.

Details of our comprehensive framework for safely returning to face-to-face Scouting can be found on the HQ Getting Everyone Back Together pages

The following risk assessment templates (with and without guidance text) can be used by Groups and Units returning to face-to-face meetings.

Risk assessment template (with guidance) v1 (contains all necessary guidance for use)

Risk assessment template (no guidance) v1 (faster to edit)

Scouting from Home:

All Groups / Units should return to the delivery of Scouting from Home while face-to-face meetings are suspended. See our Scouting from Home pages for more details.

Moor House Adventure Centre and Shop:

Moor House Adventure Centre will be closed for Scouting use while County Durham remains in Tier 4 (other customers may use the centre as allowed by law).

The County Shop continues to fulfil badge orders by post. Orders for badges only can be made by emailing shop@durhamscouts.org.uk

Other County Activities, Events and Training:

For the foreseeable future scheduled county meetings will now take place on-line, as will scheduled face-to-face adult training (with the exception of first aid training, which is currently suspended).

We are planning to implement a full calendar of county events and activities in 2021 (modified to comply with applicable restrictions). Please see the county calendar on the website home page for details.

Insurance Updates:

For the latest updates from Unity - the Scout Associations own insurance broker - see Unity Coronavirus Update. For activities and trips insured elsewhere, please contact your broker/insurer directly.