Readiness level: AMBER

This means: Restricted size group sessions can take place outdoors and indoors.

Maximum group size:

  • Activities involving young people: 15 young people plus 5 adults.
  • Scout Network programmed activities: face to face programme activities for members of Scouts who are over 18 is in Red everywhere in England – this means that there can be no face to face section meetings for Network.
  • Adult activities with no young people present: volunteers over the age of 18 can meet in-line with restrictions in your tier for adults meeting together, to carry out essential volunteering tasks like campsite or building maintenance.

Relevant Government Guidance: National Youth Agency

Face Coverings:

  • Face coverings should be worn by all Scouts and older when indoors, adults delivering activity to young people are not required to wear a face covering.
  • Social distancing must be observed at all times.

Note: further information on what essential tasks / activities for adults means can be found here.

Craig McKee
District Commissioner for Ellesmere

How long have you been in Scouting and how did you get involved?
I joined Scouting as a Beaver and I’ve been through all the sections. I firstly got involved within a leadership role when I was 18 after our Beaver leader left, leaving me to take on the role otherwise the section would close. Since then I have spent a lot of my time concentrating on growing and developing Scouting across St Helens District as well supporting Merseyside County too.

What is your favourite Scouting adventure or memory?
There are so many in my time in Scouting I’ve been very fortunate to do so much. But I think my favourite Scouting memory was while I was doing my Explorer Belt in Latvia The Explorer Belt gives you such a good sense of freedom, it gave us the scope to travel and experience Latvian culture including going down a dry bobsleigh run! Doing the Explorer Belt has always made me think what other organisation gives the freedom of a country to three 17 year olds. If you ever have the chance to do the Explorer Belt I would recommend it to anyone!

What are you most looking forward to in your new role?
I’m really looking forward to getting to know all the Leaders as well as the Young People, working as one to make Ellesmere District the best it possibly can be.

HQ are continuing to develop a range of resources to support the delivery of a safe programme, both online and face-to-face. Please find below links to the latest programme support resources for leaders.

Press-play-and-go – pre-recorded online programmes
COVID-19 safe programme planning and activity ideas for all sections
Leaders experiences on restarting face-to-face Scouting

For more resources and support, please visit www.scouts.org.uk or visit our Coronavirus Information Hub.

On behalf of the County Team and Executive Committee, I would like to wish all of our volunteers, members and their families a safe and happy Christmas.

Kind Regards,

Andy Farrell
County Commissioner