COVID 19 LMC Statement

[Sarae]

LMC COVID Statement

Following guidance from the BMC on running outdoor meets, the Club is resuming small ‘day’ meets, offering a range of activities, for not only new joiners to get a taste of what we get up, but for the more established members to keep in touch.

The meets list has been updated and is `live` on the leedsmc.org website.
The meet leader will post up the BB a list of places for others to join, filling these up as members post up (as usual). The leader will assess risk based on the activity they are leading.
We want to keep these organised events small, as per guidance. So no more than 6 in an activity group. If there are more participants then two separate groups/locations should be used.

As with the risk of accidents whilst climbing, mountaineering, walking, the meet leader and the club cannot be responsible for any COVID risk. Attendance at an event is purely at the risk of the individual attendees. All attendees should familiarise themselves with the latest government guidance and follow the guidance accordingly.

Our approach ( which is not exhaustive, continually to be updated/reviewed) is as follows;
• We will be retaining records of who attended on a meet, and require your contact numbers to be up to date on the club database for purposes of track & trace.
• You should take Gel/Hand sanitiser and use regularly.
• No sharing of food or drink
• Keep social distance
• Any sign of COVID symptoms from an attendee or a member of their household you should not join the meet
• Positive COVID test result – should not attend a meet until a health official has stated you can return to normal society !
• Follow government guidance on travel
• Meet leader – Welcome briefing to be held with focus on COVID/social distancing


We have taken advice from the BMC information listed here; https://www.thebmc.co.uk/covid19-restarting-club-meets


Sara
Chair of LMC

[Lindsay M]

Further to this I am cross-posting Martin's climbing specific statement ( which includes a few extra considerations):

Following guidance from the BMC on running outdoor meets, the Club is looking to resume small ‘day climbing’ meets primarily for new joiners to get a taste of what we get up to and to meet some fellow climbers.

The aim is that a meet leader will organise a location and a competent second and will post up on the calendar and bulletin board with a list of places for others to join, filling these up as members post up (as usual). We’d like the existing active members to support this through offering to be meet leaders/seconds and help introduce new members to the club.

We want to keep these organised events small, as per guidance. So no more than 6 in a climbing group. If there are more participants then two separate groups/locations should be used.

The club Is taking all reasonable precautions against COVID, however, individuals should ensure they are happy and assess the risk with the activity they are undertaking in relation to COVID. Attendance at an event is purely at the risk of the individual attendees. All attendees should familiarise themselves with the latest government guidance and follow the guidance accordingly.

General approach (not exhaustive, continually to be updated/reviewed)
• We will be retaining records of who attended on a meet, and require your contact numbers to be up to date on the club database for purposes of track & trace.
• You should take Gel/Hand sanitiser and use regularly avoiding immediate contact with ropes/slings immediately afterwards.
• No sharing of food or drink
• Keep social distance
• Any sign of COVID symptoms from an attendee or a member of their household you should not join the meet
• Positive COVID test result – should not attend a meet until a health official has stated you can return to normal society !
• Follow government guidance on travel
• Meet leader – Welcome briefing to be held with focus on COVID/social distancing

Normal requirements
• Required - Harness
• Required - Helmet
• Required - Know how to tie into a rope
• Required - Know how to belay
• Preference : rock boots/chalk bag

The usual meet protocol will be followed. A BB post will go up, places taken, weather forecast watched, people drop in/out, rain will come, meets will be cancelled at the last minute, others will take place in glorious autumnal sunshine. Hopefully the weather will give us a few nice weekends before the end of the year.

[Marq]

Any further guidance with regards to the group of 6 now in force in England?
Thanks,
Marq

[Sarae]

** Update on 10th September
Following the statement by the Prime Minister on 9th September relating to restrictions on groups of people meeting in the outdoors in England (the 'rule of 6') we can confirm that if clubs follow the steps as detailed in the BMC guidance above then organised club meets will be able to take place with more than 6 people attending (still with an absolute maximum of 30 people).
Details about this clarification can be viewed on the Sport England website under the heading 'Group sizes'.

If club members wish to head outdoors in England in an informal way the 'rule of 6' people in a group will apply. **

The last line suggests that we do not need to undertake risk assessments for 6 or less

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Please see above. This is what I received from the BMC this week end.
Marq, not sure if this answers your query, but its hot off the press?

[Marq]

That's fine thanks.
Marq

[Will S]

Thanks for keeping on top of all this Sara, and the rest of the committee.

I'm sure you are all having a hectic time at work too, so to do this, and carry Karl too must be a real headache. It's appreciated.

[Sarae]

You are too kind!

[Sarae]

Yesterday evening an article was posted on the BMC website to attempt to unscramble all the changes to regulations and guidance recently produced by governments (for England and Wales) that relates to club meets and to club huts. For your perusal and delectation, the article is at

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/clubs-huts-meet ... strictions

and will be updated should guidance change.

Also attached is a communication from the Association of British Climbing Walls regarding indoor climbing walls welcoming clubs back to them. This can also now be accessed via the article on how to restart club meets - http://www.thebmc.co.uk/covid19-restarting-club-meets.

The LMC will obviously follow the guidance and recommendations outline in the articles on club events/meets. #Justsaying!

Sara