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: 8 June, 10:00

On Monday 17 May 2021, England moved to Step 3 on the Roadmap out of restrictions

On Monday 7 June 2021, Wales started a phased move from Alert Level 2 to Alert Level 1.

Huts – England

• Huts in England are now permitted to allow 6 people from different households or 2 households (can be more than 6 people) to stay at the same time.  Social distancing must be maintained throughout the hut, including in sleeping accommodation, bathrooms, kitchens and lounge areas.  Click here for more information about expectations with social distancing.  Some huts may not be able to accommodation 6 different households during the same stay.
• When huts have been closured during recent lockdowns and/or local restrictions financial support has been made available.  Click here to check out what you may be able to access.  If your local council hasn’t already been in touch with you check out the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) and the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum).

Huts – Wales

• Huts in Wales are permitted to re-open as a self-contained facility for single household / extended household use.  No shared kitchens, sleeping areas, bathrooms or indoor communal areas are permitted (“communal areas” does not include a reception area or corridors, lifts and staircases used to access other parts of the premises).
• It was announced by Welsh Government that wider opening of accommodation would be permitted from 17 May, at Alert Level 2.  However, the regulations only permit one household (or extended household) to gather indoors in a private dwelling or a holiday accommodation – this includes those staying overnight and those only wishing to use the facilities during the day.  This means that very little has changed for huts and clearly restricts many huts from continuing to reopen for use by more members. Click here for BMC guidance on the re-opening of huts.
• There is some financial support available for huts in Wales impacted by the recent forced closures – check out Covid-19 Support for Business for more information.
• Plus, if hut operators can demonstrate a loss in turnover of 60% or more for May/June 2021 in comparison to May/June 2019 there is additional support.  Applications open on 24 May and close on 7 June (update: this deadline has now been extended to 14 June).  Click here 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 next section must be followed.

• Organised club meets in England are able to resume and guidance from the government does not specify any limits to the number of people on the organised meet nor to the distance that is permitted to travel to meets.  These club meets must follow the guidance produced by the BMC.  The BMC encourages clubs to act responsibly and keep group sizes to a minimum wherever possible, consider avoiding popular venues as well as minimising travel.
• Groups of up to 30 people are able to meet in the outdoors, with social distancing.  If clubs expect, or plan, for more than 30 people to attend a meet then the club must follow the guidance produced by the BMC.
• Car sharing in England is now permitted (with some limitations) – click here for more details.  It is important to consider all the points in the link when planning a journey.
• 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.

• Club meets in Wales are able to resume, for up to 50 people, if the club is following the guidance produced by the BMC.  The BMC encourages clubs to act responsibly and keep group sizes to a minimum wherever possible, consider avoiding popular venues as well as minimising travel.
• Club meets for young people (under 18-year olds) are permitted to resume with numbers limited by your risk assessment if the meet is solely for young people (adult leaders are allowed) and if the club is following the guidance produced by the BMC. 
• Groups of up to 30 people are able to meet in the outdoors, with social distancing.  If clubs expect, or plan, for more than 30 people to attend a meet then the club must follow the guidance produced by the BMC.  In Wales, children under the age of 11 are not included in the total group number.
• Car sharing, in Wales, with people not in your household, is not recommended.  Click here for more detail.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – England

• Climbing walls are permitted to reopen.
• A maximum of 6 people from different households are permitted to meet indoors, therefore club indoor climbing meets will be able to resume for small groups.  However, it is important that all clubs contact the climbing wall prior to any visit to ensure adherence 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 may meet in a wall.
• Small-scale indoor wall club meets are therefore able to resume.

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

Useful links

BMC:  What has changed from 12^th April in England [England]
UK Government: Roadmap out of the current lockdown [England]
BMC: Wales Lockdown Easing [Wales]
Wales: Welsh Government: Coronavirus control plan (alert levels in Wales)

* 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 17 May

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