COVID 19 Hirer Information

Woman wearing facemask to protect against risk of Covid-19 at Deverell Hall

Updated 11th September 2020

The guidance for Community and Village Halls opening up during this period of Coronavirus (COVID-19) keeps changing as each day goes by. As Deverell Hall starts to return to a new normality, hall users have asked us what do they need to do to keep the facilities COVID-19 secure? Which steps and precautions should they be aware of when returning to use the hall?

Based on current Government Guidance surrounding Covid-19, we have produced a clear step by step set of guidelines which we hope will help you use Deverell Hall safely. Providing we all work together, we can keep the hall safe for everyone to use.

Whilst Deverell Hall is satisfied that we have taken all the steps necessary to ensure the building is Covid Secure (so far as is reasonably practicable), we cannot be held accountable for individual users not applying the regulations as imposed by the Government on their own specific type of events they hire the hall for.

In the event of any conflict between any applicable legislation (including the health and safety legislation) and this guidance, the applicable legislation shall prevail.

HAND SANITISERS AT EACH ENTRANCE POINT

We have fixed up hand sanitisers around the building, and at each entry point such as the MAIN SIDE DOOR and the REAR BACK DOOR.

When you enter the building, please use the hand sanitisers provided. This will help to minimize the risk of bringing Coronavirus and/or other germs into the building.

On entering and leaving our community hall facility, everyone (including staff) should wash their hands using soap and water, and/or use the Hand Sanitisers provided (these are located at both entrance points and around the building).

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Deverell Hall have reduced the capacity of people allowed to enter the building at any one event.

ANY USERS FOUND TO BE EXCEEDING the current limits of numbers below will have their booking cancelled with immediate effect.

Hall Users and Hirers should continue to socially distance from those they do not live with, or who are not part of their usual family bubble, wherever possible. It is important to exercise caution and good judgement so keep your distance where possible from each other (at least 1 metre). Remember to exercise good hand hygiene - wash your hands regularly and use the Hand Sanitisers provided (these are located at both entrance points and around the building).

Premises or locations which are COVID-19 secure will be able to hold more than 30 people, subject to their own capacity limits. But where gatherings are likely to have more than 30 persons, not only would we expect to be informed as the Managers of the building, but hall hirers would be responsible for taking additional safety steps to ensure safety of people using the building.

Main Hall Maximum 48 persons at any one event;
Upstairs Conference Room Maximum 12 persons at any one event.

14TH SEPTEMBER 2020 SOCIAL BUBBLES

From 14th September 2020, the Government issues a change in their guidance stating that people from different households must not meet in groups of more than 6. To help you understand this point, community facilities following COVID-19 secure guidelines can host more than 6 people in total. BUT no-one should socialise in a group greater than 6 people, and you MUST THEN remain within that group of 6, for subsequent meetings after this date!

Users of a COVID-19 secure community facility should limit their social interactions with anyone they do not live with. Whilst activities may have 6 or more people participating (for example that might be 30 people attending for one meeting) then it is important for all those people to stick to their "social bubble" and not mix or interact between groups within the larger overall number of attendees. Use of face coverings and encouraging good hand hygiene on entering premises and throughout the meeting remains in place.

CLEAN WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN

Deverell Hall pay a cleaning contract team who will clean the hall each morning. However, every group that then uses the hall for the rest of the day have a responsibility to clean where they have been.

IF YOU USE PLASTIC CHAIRS AND/OR TABLES then please make sure you wipe them clean with the provided blue tissue and sanitiser sprays, before putting them away again.

Every morning the hall is thoroughly cleaned and door handles, contact surfaces, toilets and kitchen facilities are checked and sanitised by the cleaning contractors. However, every group that goes into the hall has a responsibility to play their part too. For example this is a list of suggestions that can help to keep us all safe:

Clean down tables when you're finished - don't just expect someone else to do it;
Don't leave tissues, paper masks or gloves around - these will be treated as "clinical waste";
If you use towels or tea-towels supplied by your group, please make sure you take them away and wash them;
Use anti-bacterial wipes where possible on door handles - it takes 2 minutes;
Without stating the obvious if you have a cold or cough stay home.

Where possible, try to keep doors open to help ventilate the building but remember to shut and lock them when you leave.

FACE COVERINGS - PROTECT YOU AND OTHERS

Face coverings are instead largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Deverell Hall, like many premises, are obliged to take reasonable steps to promote compliance with the law.

Following recent updates and Government Guidance, the wearing of Face Coverings in Community Centres, which includes Village Halls, will be mandatory in Regulations from 8 August 2020.

Whilst evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, if you are infected but not yet developed symptoms, it may provide protection for others you come into contact with.

Please note: Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3, or for people who already have breathing problems. Also be aware, that wearing a face covering may inhibit communication with people who rely on lip reading, facial expressions and clear sound.

Professional protection.
This face shield is designed to protect your whole face from spray and splatter, droplet, dust, oil smoke and so on. Safety face shield with egonomic design is suitable for most people.
Made from transparent PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) with Double Sided Anti Fog, Reusable, and protective cover which can be cleaned with disinfectant.
Definition large screen with great anti-fog effects, and provides unrestricted visibility for you.

If you would like to order these style of face shields please advise us, and we can order them in for you, or point you in the right direction.

RECORD KEEPING OF PEOPLE ATTENDING

You should assist this service by keeping a temporary record of your group members and visitors for 21 days, in a way that is manageable for your organisation, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed. This could help contain clusters or outbreaks.

Deverell Hall may request access to these records if there is a report of Coronavirus from one of the groups and/or hall users. We are registered with the ICO and hold a current certificate.

In line with Government thinking "Test, Track and Trace" Coronavirus Strategy, Deverell Hall are asking every Group to provide their own Visitor Sign In Book which they should ask all people attending their meeting to sign-in on arrival. Name and a contact phone number is suffice, and a A5 Pad or Notebook would be a reasonable suggestion to use. By doing this, if for example a group had a reported incident of Coronavirus it would be easier then to contact people and advise them to the best course of action.

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

Deverell Hall will look at all hirer groups and/or requests for casual hirers to determine whether an activity may still pose a potential risk to other hall users.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL GROUPS ACT responsibly and do their part in taking every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of their own members, and of those following them in after their meeting.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A HALL HIRER to keep up to date with changes that may affect your own group and take any other reasonable precautions you may deem necessary to ensure that members of your group meetings are safe.

It should go without saying, but for the avoidance of doubt - if you already have a cold, a cough or Covid-19 symptoms DO NOT ENTER our building, and stay at home. If you have Covid-19 symptoms call 111.

Hand sanitisers at entry points added;
Yellow lines painted on exterior entry points to indicate social distancing measures;
Exterior signs erected reminding people of social distancing;
Interior signs about cleanliness, hand-washing, social distancing installed;
Preschool Parents and/or non essential visitors now restricted from entry into the building;
Additional cleaning of contact surfaces increased;
Risk assessments completed.

Apart from cleaning, we needed to look at all risk assessments, and with that in mind we conducted and created specific risk assessment for Covid-19. You can view this specific risk assessment by clicking here or on the button below:

RISK ASSESSMENT: COVID-19

We are always busy which is great. We have over 20 regular hirer groups who use the facilities each week and at weekends. If you are looking for availability for casual hire, then we advise you to contact us early.

There may be various reasons why we could not help you with your booking enquiry. We do our best to help most users of the hall, but perhaps there was a prior booking for the date/time you wanted. Or the type of request was not available at our hall. We will advise you of other places to try if we cannot help.

Sorry, but the short answer is no.

Yes we have wi-fi access, with wired access points available in some parts of the building. Hirers can use either 2G or 5G fibre optics with speeds up to 400MB.