Tier 3 guidance about community buildings, support groups and leafleting

Community centres and halls

Community buildings can be used for permitted, organised gatherings but should not host events for private hire or be used for social gatherings.

Permitted gatherings could include, but are not limited to:

Work purposes or provision of voluntary or charitable services
Providing emergency assistance
Enabling one or more people in the gathering to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm
Providing care or assistance to a vulnerable person or a person who has a disability

When deciding whether to open you must consider:

Can you meet your outcomes or deliver your service or activities online? This remains the safest way to operate services and classes.
If you can’t deliver online – can you run some, or all of your activities, outside?
Is it necessary that you meet face to face during this time?

If it is necessary to meet indoors:

You need to complete a risk assessment specific to your activity and premises
You must implement all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of the virus
You must keep a record of attendance for Test and Trace
Keep your risk assessment on site, with a named responsible person.

If you open, you must also consider:

Take all the usual precautions like social distancing, hand washing or sanitising and wearing face coverings.
It is not advisable to share equipment of any kind.
You must not provide or sell communal refreshments – although people can bring their own.
Cafe facilities must remain closed or offer take away (off site) only.

Please remember, reducing social contact with people from outside of our households and support bubbles is key to protecting ourselves, our loved ones and the wider community.

Support groups

Some support groups can meet. Up to 15 participants are allowed. Under-5s do not count towards the 15 person limit.

They must be formally organised groups
They can provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support, where they have to take place in person
They can’t meet in private houses
They may meet in community centres, which can open as long as they are COVID-safe, have undertaken a risk assessment and keep a record for Test and Trace.

When deciding whether to run a face-to-face support group you must consider:

Can you meet your outcomes or deliver your service or activities online? This remains the safest way to operate services and classes.
If you can’t deliver online – can you run some, or all of your activities, outside?
Is it necessary that you meet face to face during this time?

If you open, you must also consider:

Take all the usual precautions like social distancing, hand washing or sanitising and wearing face coverings.
It is not advisable to share equipment of any kind.
You must not provide or sell communal refreshments – although people can bring their own.
Cafe facilities must remain closed or offer take away (off site) only.

Please remember, reducing social contact with people from outside of our households and support bubbles is key to protecting ourselves, our loved ones and the wider community.

Leafleting

Leafleting is permitted but when deciding whether to do it you must consider:

Can you meet your outcomes online? This remains the safest way to operate
Is it necessary that you meet face-to-face during this time?

If it is necessary to take part in leafleting:

You need to complete a risk assessment specific to your activity
You must implement all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of the virus
Keep your risk assessment with you at all times.

Please remember, reducing social contact with people from outside of our households and support bubbles is key to protecting ourselves, our loved ones and the wider community.