With government rules, regulations and guidance changing regularly it can be difficult for clubs to keep up with what they are allowed to do. This article summarises the BMC’s understanding of the constraints on club meets and access to huts, based on information available at the time and date of publication. Please remember to check for local changes that may affect your club or hut.

First produced: 21 October 2020

This version: 27 July, 12:55

General Considerations:

Please remember that legal minimums are just that – minimums.  Many organisations are asking their staff, volunteers and customers to go beyond these minimums, to provide both genuinely improved safety, and the reassurance that is essential for higher levels of use.  As with all other aspects of health and safety, people in any capacity are expected to take reasonable and appropriate steps to minimise their potential to harm those who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

As always, we have to stay within guidance and increasingly allow individuals to make their own choices.  Essentially indoor meets, outdoor meets and huts will soon be operating as close to "normality" as the guidance allows if the club and their club members feel comfortable doing so, with common sense around mitigation procedures.  It would still seem sensible to encourage good hygiene (washing hands, sanitising etc.) and also, importantly, an open window policy in huts.  We are heading in stages towards a full opening with much more emphasis on personal assessments.  Those who are risk averse can always choose to avoid huts or busy meets, and those that are less concerned can use them with enhanced care.

Specifics:

The next steps in Wales will be confirmed on Friday 6 August, with a phased move from Alert Level 1 to Alert Level 0 planned for Saturday 7 August, if conditions allow.

Huts – England

• Huts in England are now permitted to re-open without a government-imposed capacity limit.
• Hut operators still need to consider the risks from covid-19, in the same way that other risks are considered - through a risk assessment relevant to the property.
• Consider that some members may still be cautious about attending a hut in large groups.  Hut operators still need to consider the steps they can take to help members feel comfortable in returning to using huts.
• Click here for government advice on keeping safe following the move to Step 4 of the Roadmap
• Click here for BMC guidance on the re-opening of huts (in the process of being updated following the latest easing of restrictions, most principles are still relevant). 

Huts – Wales

• Huts in Wales are permitted to open for up to 6 people from different households, excluding children under 11, or an extended household.  You cannot meet with your extended household and an additional six people indoors, this is an either/or choice.  Meaning that if your household or extended household is already over six people, you could not meet with an additional six people at the same time in your home or in travel and holiday accommodation.  Click here for more detail (and then scroll down to “Private dwellings and travel and holiday accommodation”).
• Hut operators are still required to undertake a specific assessment of the risk of exposure to coronavirus at the hut, and take appropriate steps to minimise those risks to all users of the hut (club members, visitors, volunteers, etc.)
• Click here for BMC guidance on the re-opening of huts (in the process of being updated following the latest easing of restrictions, most principles are still relevant. 
• There is some financial support available for huts in Wales impacted by the forced closures – check out Covid-19 Support for Business for more information.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – England

This section is for meets based in England, if a club from England is holding a meet in Wales the points in the subsequent section must be followed.

• There are no restrictions due to covid-19 for clubs or club members meeting in the outdoors.
• Click here for government advice on keeping safe following the move to Step 4 of the Roadmap
• Consider that some members may still be cautious about meeting up in large groups.  Clubs may wish to still use some of the steps contained in the guidance produced by the BMC to help members feel comfortable in returning to meets.
• Car sharing in England is now permitted.
• Remember to check any restrictions that may impact on your whole journey if your route will take you over a border in to Wales or Scotland.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – Wales

This section is for meets based in Wales, if a club from Wales is holding a meet in England the points in the preceding section must be followed.

• There are no number limits, due to covid-19, for clubs or club members meeting in the outdoors.
• The organiser of an outdoor activity in Wales has a legal duty to undertake a covid specific risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to and spread of coronavirus. Click here for more information.  Click here for the guidance produced by the BMC.
• Consider that some members may still be cautious about meeting up in large groups.  Clubs may wish to still use some of the steps contained in the guidance produced by the BMC to help members feel comfortable in returning to meets.
• Car sharing in Wales is now permitted but not recommended – click here for more details.  The expected mitigations are detailed here.
• Remember to check any restrictions that may impact on your whole journey if your route will take you over a border in to England or Scotland.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – England

• There are no limits to the number of people who can meet indoors, and so club meets are able to resume.
• However, it is important that all clubs contact the climbing wall prior to any visit to ensure compliance to the rules at that wall.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – Wales

• Climbing walls are permitted to reopen and groups of up to 6 people from different households may meet in a wall.
• Small-scale indoor wall club meets are therefore able to resume.
• However, it is important that all clubs contact the climbing wall prior to any visit to ensure compliance to the rules at that wall.

For the current position in Scotland please go to the Mountaineering Scotland website.

Useful links

UK Government: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread from 19 July [England]
Welsh Government: Coronavirus
 

* Mountaineering activities include rock climbing (trad & sport), bouldering, hill /fell / mountain walking, scrambling.  It does not include mountain biking, caving, kayaking and other such activities that are outside of the direct remit of the BMC.

Quick reference guide of what clubs currently can and can’t do, from 19 July

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