Roadmap out of lockdown for Uke Groups
The Roadmap out of Lockdown for Ukulele Groups
(Taken from guidance provided by Making Music”)
The Department of Culture Media and Sport updated their Performing Arts Guidance on 15 March. This focuses on what groups can do currently and unfortunately does not cover what will be possible as we move along the road map and out of lockdown. It does have some specific guidance for non-professionals once they can return (see COVID secure rehearsals below).
DCMS have also previously pointed us towards the Government guidance on Reopening businesses and venues to provide clarity on how the road map will affect leisure time music. We have based our guidance below on this.
What can my group do?
From 29 March: DCMS guidance specifically mentions non-professional activity and allows for activity to take place within social contact limits. This means Six people or two households can meet outside to rehearse. This can be in a public place or private garden. Anyone meeting in public should think carefully about what might happen if people stop and watch – which is not a permitted activity.
The guidance states:
"Outdoors, non-professional performing arts activity will be permitted from 29 March, within the legal gathering limits. People can take part in non-professional performing arts activity outdoors in groups of up to 6 people, or as a group of 2 households. A group made up of 2 households can include more than 6 people, but only where all members of the group are from the same 2 households or an exemption applies (for example a support bubble). Social distancing should be maintained between people who do not live together or share a bubble."
Larger numbers can of course still rehearse online.
Provisional roadmap
DCMS have pointed towards the Government guidance on Reopening businesses and venues to provide clarity on how the road map will affect leisure time music.
Below are some provisional dates and activities that set out what groups might be able to do further down the line based on the Reopening businesses and venues guidance. The dates are the earliest possible dates the government has said activities might be able to take place. It is all subject to government review and confirmation, which we expect to get approximately a week before each of the dates below.
We anticipate that DCMS will release more information on each step of the road map at a later date and will update this page when they do.
Step two (12 April earliest)
Community centres and other public buildings can open but the Government guidance on Reopening businesses and venues says:
“indoor events that bring people together - even if they do not mix with other households - must not run until Step 3.”
Indoor rehearsals will not be possible at step two.
The same guidance does allow for outdoor activity:
“Outdoor gatherings or events, organised by a business, charity, public body or similar organisation, can be organised, subject to specific conditions: that they comply with COVID-Secure guidance including taking reasonable steps to limit the risk of transmission, complete a related risk assessment; and ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits (unless another exemption exists, such as for work purposes, or supervised activities for children).”
So, outdoor organised rehearsals will be possible in step two with no formal limit on the numbers that can take part, but with some conditions:
Completing a relevant risk assessment – we have done this but will need to refresh
Having measures in place to mitigate risk (- again have organised this but will need to refresh
Managing numbers safely within social contact limits: “those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits”.
This means that the total number of people attending a rehearsal can be more than the social contact limit – but that they must always remain in sub-groups within social contact limits.
So, the social contact limit at this step will be 6. If your outdoor space would safely allow for 42 people (as an example) to attend, all 42 could attend but they would have to stay in a maximum of 7 sub-groups of 6 people. With no mixing / switching between the sub-groups.
Groups rehearsing in public should think carefully about what to do if people stop and watch – this would turn the rehearsal into a performance, which is not a permitted activity in step two
Step three (17 May earliest)
The Government guidance on Reopening businesses and venues says:
"At this step, both outdoor and indoor gatherings or events, organised by a business, charity, public body or similar organisation, can be organised, subject to specific conditions: that they comply with COVID-Secure guidance including taking reasonable steps to limit the risk of transmission, complete a related risk assessment; and ensure that those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits (unless another exemption exists, such as for organised sport or exercise, supervised activities for children or a significant life event)."
So, indoor and outdoor rehearsals will be possible in step three with no formal limits on numbers but with some conditions:
Completing a relevant risk assessment
Having measures in place to mitigate risk
Managing numbers safely within social contact limits: “those attending do not mix beyond what is permitted by the social contact limits...”
This means that the total number of people attending a rehearsal can be more than the social contact limit – but that they must always remain in sub-groups within social contact limits.
So, indoors the social contact limit at this step will be 6. If your venue would safely allow for 42 people (as an example) to attend, all 42 could attend but they would have to stay in a maximum of 7 sub-groups of 6 people. With no mixing / switching between the sub-groups.
Step four (21 June earliest)
The government hope to lift remove all social contact limits at this step. There will be more information on this nearer time following government reviews, in particular a promised government review as to when specific mitigations are no longer necessary, e.g. face masks, social distancing etc.
In summary
Subject to appropriate risk assessment and safety measures -
29th March Six people or two households can meet outdoors
12th April Outdoor rehearsals will be possible for larger numbers of people as long as they are in groups of no more than six but there could be say four groups of six separated by the appropriate distance. This would be the same as, for instance, 24 groups of 1 (i.e. individuals) being socially distanced – simpler to understand as everyone (other than family bubbles) are socially distanced.
17th May Indoor and outdoor rehearsals take place subject to the same conditions as 12th April.
21st June Hopefully restrictions on social contact will be lifted and subject to regulations at the time rehearsals and performances can take place