Alert Level 2 moving to Alert Level 1IntroductionThis guidance outlines the general approach to opening buildings for community use at this time. Typically, within the Church in Wales, such buildings are Church Halls but can include multi-purpose churches too.Details of what Alert Level 2 means in Wales can be found at:Restrictions from 7 June 2021: frequently asked questions | GOV.WALESIn particular, attention is drawn to:Gathering with other people: restrictions from 7 June 2021 | GOV.WALESPermitted ActivitiesWelsh Government has introduced the concept of ‘Regulated gatherings’ and these encompass a broad range of activities that can be attended by people of any age. These activities include activities that were previously referred to as organised activities and allow for larger scale events.Regulated gatherings are those organised by a business, public body or a charitable, benevolent, educational or philanthropic institution, a club or political organisation, or the national governing body of a sport or other activity.Places of worship and buildings used for community activities, such as church halls, can now be open. Of relevance to local churches, the following activities are now permitted:regulated outdoor gatherings with a maximum of 4,000 people of any age (standing) and 10000 people of any age seated.organised indoor activities for up to 30 adults* (children under 11 and those working/volunteering at the activity do not need to be counted in the 30 limit)opening to visitors but with access carefully planned and controlled to maintain social distancingindoor supervised activities for children (NB this does not include activities such as children’s birthday parties or wider social gatherings of families and friends beyond the existing arrangements for meeting other people outlined in this guidance)wedding receptions and funeral wakes but with a limit of 30 people indoors and 50 outdoors.* NB the maximum number who can attend an act of worship (including weddings and funerals) indoors is limited to the safe capacity of the building rather than to 30 people. The 30-person limit applies to all activities other than worship.Celebrations and PartiesRegulated gatherings can include celebrations but only if organised by the bodies referred to above. The scope for allowing the hire of premises for celebrations is very limited at this time:‘Non-regulated gatherings, including celebrations or wider social gatherings of families and friends must follow the arrangements for gathering with other people, which is up to 30 people outdoors’‘Celebrations or wider social gatherings of families and friends indoors must follow the arrangements for gathering with other people, which is individual household or extended household only in private homes or up to six people from up to six households (not including children under 11 or carers of these households) in regulated premises.’Wedding receptions and funeral wakes can take place but with a limit of 30 people indoors and 50 outdoors.Use for Music RehearsalsChoirs and bands are permitted to rehearse indoors with up to 30 members under the indoor regulated gathering rules. Guidance on arrangements for rehearsal are available at: Rehearsing, performing and taking part in the performing arts: guidance for a phased return [HTML] | GOV.WALESFood and DrinkIf your parish operates a community café or similar these can be open at this time but there is separate guidance from Welsh Government for hospitality venues on how to do this safely. In summary, such venues are required to take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus. For example:customers will be encouraged to pre-book with details of all members of the group.contact details will be required for contact tracing purposesentry to the premises will be controlledlicenced premises should provide table service onlyall food and drink should be consumed at tablesphysical distancing measures will be applied, such as tables being spaced outface coverings must be worn other than when seated to eat or drinkWhen utilising outdoor spaces, hospitality venues are required to ensure that the use of physical coverings, awnings, gazebos, marquees and similar structures are implemented in a way that is aligned with current public health advice. Generally, this means that structures with a roof or ceiling must be open-sided (at least 3 sides or more than 51% open).Considerations for the Re-opening of Church Halls and other buildings for community activityIt is strongly recommended that any decision to re-open a hall and to permit community activities (either directly organised or by hire to third parties), should be clearly minuted by the PCC/MAC, with an explanation of the reasoning adopted in coming to that decision, in case questions are raised at a later date.In opening the hall, you are obliged by law to take all reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.The operation of the hall, and any activities within it must comply with Covid-19 secure guidelines. The principles of these are the same as for opening churches or any other building: maintaining two-metre physical distancing between people, ensuring regular hand washing/sanitizing and regular cleaning of premises especially surfaces.You should carefully review the Track Trace and Protect guidance referenced in the Welsh Government guidance. NB The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (Wales) Regulations place a duty on those responsible for the community centre to collect contact information from each person at the premises or, in relation to persons from the same household, from one of them, and retaining it for 21 days for the purpose of providing it to the Welsh Ministers or to a public health officer upon either’s request. A consent form and privacy notice can be found on the Church in Wales website.The NHS COVID-19 app is intended to help in this process but is not mandatory. The system involves the creation of a site specific QR code which allows people visiting to use the App. See https://gov.wales/nhs-covid-19-app-guidance-businesses-and-organisations This system does not replace the physical recording of attendance set out above.It is recommended that all public church premises (including churches, halls, offices etc) should display such a QR code.Church Halls are facilities provided by a MAC/PCC as building manager in which activities are organised. Some of these activities are operated directly by the MAC/PCC whilst others are operated by a third party (a user/hirer).Considerations for the MAC/PCC as Building ManagerAs the building manager, the MAC/PCC has an overall duty to make sure the building is used in such a way as to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This means you should take reasonable steps to ensure activity organisers plan their activities appropriately. It is not sufficient to ‘leave it to the user’. You should:Review the Guidance: Take time to work through the guidance from Welsh Government at Safe use of multi-purpose community centres (COVID-19) | GOV.WALESPrepare: Make sure the building is ready for use including maintenance checks, electrical and heating checks, check water systems (e.g legionnaires disease measures). The grounds and access routes should be tidy and safe.Survey and measure: survey the building to think about how its layout would impact on maintaining 2-metre distancing. Consider walkways and access routes in and around the building. You need to calculate the safe capacity for different activities whilst maintaining 2-metre distancing and subject to the overall limit of 15 people. With this information, you can discuss detailed use arrangements with each user.Signage: Ensure signage is in place to remind people of requirements. See Safety and physical distancing signs for employers: coronavirus | GOV.WALESPlan your cleaning regime: The general requirement is that areas of buildings that are used are cleaned before and after use. The section in the Welsh Government guidance headed Cleaning and Infection Control is very useful in helping you think about your cleaning regime. You should review your cleaning arrangements to ensure that an appropriate cleaning regime is reliably implemented.Hygiene: Whilst activity organisers are likely to include this in their own precautions, you should ensure sanitizer/hand washing facilities are available.Face Coverings: It is a requirement that all persons aged over 11 gathering indoors should wear a face covering. This applies to all activities and services within the building.Further guidance for the public is available at:Face coverings: guidance for public | GOV.WALESand for premises managers at:Face coverings: guidance on measures to be taken by employers and managers of premises | GOV.WALESThe public should be reminded of the requirement to wear a face covering and a standard sign can be found on the Church in Wales website.Ventilation and Heating: Ensuring good ventilation of your building before, during and after use are important risk control measures. Where practicable, non-fire doors and windows should be opened to improve ventilation. Types of heating that present a Covid-19 risk are those that take air from one occupied space in a building and move it into another occupied space, i.e. from one room to another. If your heating or ventilation system has this feature it must be turned off so that air is not moved from one space to another. The system can be used with the feature turned off. If in doubt, ask the company that services your heating. They will know what, if any, adaptation is needed to operate in a Covid- secure way.Toilets: Toilets are a particular challenge and will need detailed planning. WG guidance is that toilets can be opened providing that physical distancing and hand hygiene guidance is followed. These areas should be cleaned regularly using normal cleaning products with particular attention to areas that are frequently touched such as door handles and taps. Suitable handwashing facilities should be available including running water and liquid soap. Drying should be by paper towels or hand dryers (not communal towels). Paper towels should be in a dispenser and disposed of carefully. Specific guidance is available at Providing safer toilets for public use: coronavirus [HTML] | GOV.WALESRecord your arrangements (Risk Assessment): You must complete a risk assessment before re-opening. This should set out the precautions and mitigation measures you will put in place. This should then be shared with users/activity organisers. You should share this Risk Assessment with your Archdeacon too. A template risk assessment document is attached.Liaise with Activity Organisers: Make contact with your activity organisers to start discussing appropriate risk mitigation measures. You should check carefully that their activity is permissible under the latest regulations. They should provide you with a risk assessment for their activities within your building. This should be based on any government guidance for the safe operation of their particular activity. You should carefully study this to make sure that it dovetails with your own arrangements. Make sure they understand your arrangements for Track, Trace and Protect.A major part of managing physical distancing so as not to exceed the safe capacity of your hall (and the limit of 30) is to control access carefully. Generally, it should be for activity organisers to manage this as they are inviting people to attend. This will be easiest for pre- booked attendees. If attendees can simply ‘turn up’, the activity organiser will need to consider stewarding arrangements.If the PCC/MAC is not satisfied that proper arrangements can be put in place for safe operation, the activity should not be permitted. There may be sense in re-opening for a limited range of activities as a first stage. Groups that make use of the hall on a very regular basis e.g nurseries, would be a good place to start. It makes sense to work with trusted users as you develop your procedures.Considerations for MAC/PCC when directly organising an activity in the hallPermissible activity: You should check carefully that the activity is permissible under the latest regulations.Consider the activities you wish to undertake: The way these are undertaken will need to change to ensure appropriate precautions. Be creative to ensure activities can be undertaken safely but also enjoyably. Don’t forget that some elements of your activity might be most safely conducted on-line rather than in person.Risk Assessment: Prepare a written risk assessment setting out how you will operate the activity to comply with government guidance. The focus should be on physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning arrangements. The risk assessment template can be easily adapted for this purpose. You should prepare a risk assessment for each separate activity. This should be discussed and shared with all involved with running the activity.Physical Distancing Issues: It may be that essential activity will require some breaching of the two-metre distancing. You will need to consider carefully how this will be safely managed. This might include rigorous hand washing regimes before and after such a breach.7 June 2021