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 on a regular basis.

• Last updated:17th September 2020 2.30pm

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 subject to different guidelines than general social distancing guidelines and restrictions.

In accordance with the latest government advice, and in accordance with the current Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport / National Youth Agency guidance for youth groups, Scouting in Durham is at an Amber Readiness Level. The status of individual Scout Districts is shown below.

This has not changed as a result of the most recent restrictions introduced in Gatehsead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham (from 00:01 on Friday 18th September), which impacts households, leisure and hospitality and grass roots sport.

We are now delivering a mixture of face-to-face meetings (indoors and preferably outdoors) and remote 'Scouting from Home' model (delivering resources, badge and activity ideas to our youth members (i.e. delivered through various on-line resources and media).

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

Scouting from Home:

While some Groups are still not meeting face-to-face we are encouraging our leaders and other volunteers to develop ways of delivering Scouting for young people at home. See our Scouting from Home pages for more details.

Moor House Adventure Centre and Shop:

Moor House Adventure Centre has reopened on a limited basis for some customer groups. We are finalising plans to reopen Moor House for our members and also the County Shop. Orders for badges only can be made by emailing shop@durhamscouts.org.uk

Durham2020 and EuroJam2020:

Our Durham2020 international camp is postponed until the summer of 2022 and the European Jamboree is postponed until 2021.

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).

Future dates will be reviewed in the coming weeks and months as needed. 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

Other Useful Resources:

See these useful resources developed by Youth UK:

• Coronavirus support for young people
• Coronavirus support for youth workers