Managing youth sector activities and spaces during COVID-19
The National Youth Agency (NYA) as the Professional Statutory and Regulatory Body for youth work in England has, in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, developed youth sector specific advice and guidance. The guidance will support local providers, leaders, volunteers and young people to remain safe when engaging in youth sector activities. It is intended to guide the youth sector in opening up services for young people at the right pace and time.
This guidance must be used in conjunction with the readiness framework and your existing safeguarding policies and procedures. It is complementary to government guidance on social distancing, travel and other measures which must be adhered to.
Roadmap Step 1A from 8th March 2021 (in England)
From the 8th March and until the start of Step 1 B the youth sector will remain at Readiness Level RED. However, it will be possible to provide the following support:
- Online and digital youth services to all young people (irrespective of need/vulnerability).
- Detached youth services (see additional guidance here).
- 1-2-1 sessions for high-need young people (indoors).
Support group sessions (indoors or outdoors) are now permitted for all young people if one or more of the following applies:
- Vulnerable children and young people
- Other children or young people, where the provision is:a) Reasonably necessary to enable their parents and carers to work, search for work, undertake education or training, or attend a medical appointment or address a medical need, or attend a support group.
b) A targeted one-to-one session or group to provide support and assistance for a specific issue.
c) Being used by electively home educating parents as part of their arrangements for their child to receive a suitable full-time education.
d) For the purposes of obtaining a regulated qualification, meeting the entry requirements for an education institution, or to undertake exams and assessments.
If one or more of the above apply, then young people may be invited to attend a ‘support group’. Youth sector providers do not need to provide evidence that any of the above criteria has been met for a young person to attend. It is the responsibility of parents not to send their child/young person to attend sessions if their child/young person does not meet the above criteria.
A support group must be by invitation only and include no more than 15 young people, plus workers/volunteers per session. If venues are large enough and have distinct separate spaces, then from the 8th March 2021 more than one support group is permitted. Youth sector providers may also provide back to back sessions as long as there is sufficient cleaning of the venue between sessions.
Between the 8th and 29th of March, no open access or drop-in services are allowed. The one exception is to provide a 1-2-1 triage services to assess young people’s needs. Trips, visits remain prohibited until step two.
Guidance Document
Everyone should read the guidance document below and follow the recommended actions and requirements. This guidance is intended for use in England (Version 5). Click on the image below to view the guidance documents.
