Clubs, Huts, Meets and current Covid-19 Restrictions

Posted by Jane Thompson on 05/01/2021

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.

First produced: 21^st October 2020
This version: 5^th January, 10:10

Huts – England

Club huts in England should be closed.
There is financial support available for huts that have been forced to close due to local restrictions and national lockdowns - please tkae note of the recent announcement by the Chancellor. Click here to check out what else you may be able to access. If your local council hasn’t already been in touch with you following previous restrictions and lockdowns check out the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) and the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum).
Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Huts – Wales

Club huts in Wales should be closed.
There is financial support available for huts that have been forced to close due to local restrictions and national lockdowns – please take note of the Covid-19 Support for Business.
Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – England

The message is to “stay at home” at present, and therefore club meets should be suspended.
Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Club Meets (Outdoor) – Wales

The message is to “stay at home” at present, and therefore club meets should be suspended.
Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – England

Climbing walls are currently closed, therefore indoor club meets should be suspended.
Travel between England and Wales is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

Club Meets (Indoor Climbing Wall) – Wales

Climbing walls are currently closed, therefore indoor club meets should be suspended.
Travel between Wales and England is not currently allowed, except for essential travel such as for work or education.

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

Useful links

What does Lockdown #3 mean for climbers and hillwalkers in Wales
National lockdown: Stay at Home [England], includes what you can / can’t do
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 can and can’t do

	I reside in …
	England	Wales
Can I organise or attend an outdoor club meet?	No - the message is to “stay at home”.	No - the message is to “stay at home”.
Can I organise or attend an indoor climbing meet?	No – indoor walls are currently closed and indoor meets suspended.	No – indoor walls are currently closed and indoor meets suspended.
Can I travel to a club hut?	No - club huts are closed and the message is to “stay at home”.	No - club huts are closed and the message is to “stay at home”.
Can we have a club meet in a pub or café?	No - pubs & cafés are closed and the message is to “stay at home”.	No - pubs & cafés are closed and the message is to “stay at home”.

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Anonymous User

22/10/2020

Great article providing the rules that we must abide by to reduce the spread of Covid 19 in our area.
Thanks for sorting this out.

Like this comment (4)

Anonymous User

02/12/2020

Hi guys

The guidance here about groups of 30 does is not the same as the 2/12 update saying only up to 6 - Can you de-conflict please?

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Anonymous User

04/12/2020

"From Wednesday 2 December outdoor club meets (in mountaineering activities) will be able to resume for up to 30 people if the club is following the BMC guidance"

The BMC guidance link just takes you back to this page. Where can we find this information?

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Anonymous User

04/12/2020

I think the BMC is completely out of touch, Ramblers groups in theory up to 30 are able to organise group walks, subject to strict risk assessment and management rules, they even have a bar code to log members on walks
Can the BMC get into the 21C and look at interests of all at this time . Not just those wanting to go vertical solo

Like this comment (5)

James Evans

22/12/2020

Comments about regs above, please see legislation.Gov.uk
Rule of six applies to most gatherings.
Organised sport is an exemption allowing you to go over this number, a rugby, hockey or football game for instance.
No one can have a gathering larger than 30.
Hence no organised sport over 30.
Compare our sport to touch rugby, an hour of coming in to close proximity with 20+other people.
The key is these gatherings are happening outside, where transmission has been shown to be low.
Our challenge is making the inside elements of what we do work. Car sharing, accommodation, parking, evening socialising and buying supplies in the area of a meet.
My intention is to increase the number of local day meets and scale back the longer distance trips.
Thankyou to the BMC for being clear with their guidelines.

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