Keep Calm, Stay Connected, Be Safe

The tools on this webpage will provide practical information and tools to support the reopening of youth sector activities across a variety of contexts and settings.

You can access the formal guidance from the National Youth Agency here.

Working in partnership both UK Youth and the National Youth Agency have developed templates for you to use to support your planning, risk assessments and decision making.  You must only re-open provision if you are confident you can do so safely. The law on social distancing is subject to constant change and you must check the NYA website to confirm the current ‘readiness level’ and current ‘permitted activity’.

Contained within this page you will find information about key considerations for re-opening youth provisions.  Alongside this there will be templates and documents that you can use to help you prepare for re-opening to follow local and national guidance. Check back regularly as we are constantly adding to these resources based on feedback.

The nature of the Covid-19 virus is that we may see peaks and troughs in infection rates.  When this occurs, the Covid rating and the associated lockdown measures will change. It is important that all youth provisions have action plans and comprehensive risk assessments in place to respond appropriately to this in the moment.  This will enable more robust safeguarding of staff, volunteer and young people and clear information that can be shared to reduce anxiety.

Tools to support you re-open when safe to do so:

The following resources have been provided by Unite and we are grateful to them for sharing these with the youth sector:

Ten things to be aware of:

  1. Read the NYA Guidance: Managing youth sector activities and spaces during COVID-19
  2. It is a requirement for all centres, projects and units to develop an action plan with a comprehensive risk assessment
  3. Keep your plans and risk assessments under constant review
  4. Be aware of changes to the law or readiness levels (via the NYA website)
  5. Protect vulnerable individuals at all times and consider your responsibilities to those with protected characteristics
  6. Ensure social distancing is protected
  7. Involve your staff, volunteers and young people in designing your plans
  8. Ensure you clearly communicate changes to everyone involved
  9. Do not rush to re-open, only do so when you are confident it is safe
  10. Stay safe

The NYA guidance: Managing youth sector activities and spaces during COVID-19 can be found here.

Keep calm no logos