Headliners (UK) COVID 19 Update –5^th January 2021

As the Government has announced a third National lockdown in England and the Northern Ireland Executive are considering further measures, Headliners (UK) wanted to update our young people, partners and funders on what our charity is doing to ensure the health and safety of our workforce, young people and the continuity of our charitable operations.

In response to the UK Government’s announcement of an England-wide lockdown from January 5^th to February 22nd 2021 and the continued restrictions in Northern Ireland, Headliners (UK) is once again adapting our services to support vulnerable young people.

The change in the National Youth Agency COVID Guidance (NYA) has resulted in Headliners (UK) responding by transferring our services online where required. The NYA guidance requires that youth organisations adhere to the RED readiness guidance. This Version 4.2 guidance published on 5^th January 2021 applies to all age ranges for England. For Northern Ireland, Headliners (UK) are following the Northern Ireland Executive guidance and EANI Youth Restart guidance.

Where Headliners (UK) are providing services, the organisation will ensure that any delivery of support groups to vulnerable young people will meet COVID Secure standards and we will put the following measures in place:

• With everybody’s health in mind, we implemented work-from-home strategies for our all team during the January / February 2021 lockdown and we have transferred the majority of our service delivery to young people online.
• We are using an online sign up system for young people and parents.
• We have reviewed and updated our Online Delivery Safeguarding Policy
• All our projects and programmes were and continue to be subject to detailed COVID Secure Risk Assessments.
• Headliners (UK) have reviewed our Business Continuity Plan in light of COVID and will continue to review it

Headliners (UK) has followed the guidance provided by the National Youth Agency COVID Guidance to ensure all our operations and delivery were COVID-Secure. The RED readiness level allows the following activities only, subject to a COVID Secure Action Plan and Risk Assessment This means that the following youth activities are permitted:

• Online and digital youth services
• Detached/outdoor local youth services
• 1-2-1 sessions with vulnerable young people (indoors)
• Small group work session indoors with vulnerable young people (consistent with social distancing guidelines)
• Youth sector providers are allowed to provide support and services to vulnerable young people indoors during periods of RED readiness. Youth sector providers should work within the spirit of lockdown and must not provide open access/drop-in services at this time.

Headliners (UK) will work hard to ensure that we can provide support to young people who need it by adapting and responding to the updated guidance with measures that include:

• Attendees will be formally invited at a specific date and time by a member of the Headliners (UK) staff member.
• Support group sessions indoors in community facilities in bubbles of between 2 and 15 persons are permitted (excluding staff/leaders/carers).
• Social distancing, hygiene and other COVID-secure measures are required.
• Leaders and workers are not included in the support group number (15 young people + staff is allowed). Social distancing and all COVID measures must be in place.
• Our team members will adhere to strict COVID measures of sanitisation of all equipment and surfaces in any delivery area.
• Home visits are not permitted.

Our workforce have been provided with COVID PPE back to work kits and for any face to face delivery we will ensure all our operations are COVID Secure by:

• Thoroughly risk assessing any venue we would use against COVID Secure requirements.
• Ensure there is regular hand sanitiser stations and clear COVID signage.
• Operate support groups only for vulnerable young people in compliance with NYA guidance.
• Face coverings will be required to be worn by young people and staff whenever delivery of 1-2-1 youth support groups takes place indoors.
• Regular ‘breathing breaks’ will be taken outside so that young people have the chance to take off their masks and take in some fresh air.
• During delivery, staff will ensure that other staff and young people are compliant with our COVID guidance (they are distancing, wearing masks, regularly sanitising/ washing their hands).
• All staff have been trained and are aware of what to do if a young person or member of staff displays COVID symptoms. We have clear procedures in the event of this happening.
• If young people or staff members need to take public transport, they will be required to comply with current government guidance that state that it is a legal requirement for users of public transport to wear a face mask/ covering unless they are exempt from doing so.
• Young people undertaking 1-2-1 support group support will be asked before they enter the session if they have come into contact with anyone with COVID and also if they have any symptoms before they enter the building.

The Coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing restrictions across the UK has enabled us come together to draw out our greatest strengths with respect, teamwork and leadership. We are very proud of how the young people we worked with and supported have shown resilience, determination and courage in continuing to enable their voices to be heard.

We are also very proud and thank our fantastic team of staff for all the hard work they have put into providing interesting, engaging, supportive and innovative delivery sessions over these very challenging months and we anticipate that this will continue for the coming months.

Headliners (UK) have and will continue to put our beneficiaries, our workforce, our volunteers and our communities first in everything we do and to keep people safe.

Thank you and stay safe.

 

Mrs Ali Talbot

Chief Executive – Headliners (UK)