Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information from RDA UK to Regional and County Chairs and Regional and County
Addressed to Regional & County Chairs, Regional & County Coaches and National Activity Leads,
Advice from RDA UK as at 16 March 2020
As the impact of Covid 19 grows, we now advise that all RDA UK face-to-face activity (national and regional) - apart from Regional Qualifiers - should be suspended for the time being. This includes meetings, training and workshops. If you definitely want something to go ahead, please contact Claire Milican on cmilican@rda.org.uk or 07493 394 237 to talk it through and see if there is a way round it.
For clarity: this does not relate to group activity – it is still up to individual groups to decide if they wish to continue or not.
Qualifiers
The only current exception to this RDA UK suspension is Qualifiers. Claire is currently contacting some Regions for their feedback about whether these should/can go ahead and, if not, what the implications would be. If she hasn’t got round to you yet please feel free to give her a call. We will work together to evaluate the situation and send a further update by the end of the week.
Coach reviews, First Aid and Safeguarding Updates
We understand that some training or reviews have a deadline attached to them to enable your coaches and volunteers to continue supporting their groups. For the time being, we are issuing 6 month extensions on coach reviews and first aid courses.
Whilst safeguarding training should be updated every three years and alternated between face-to-face and on-line, if anyone is due to update their safeguarding and it should be face to face, they can either:
Delay face to face training for up to 6 months i.e. by end of September or
Update online, providing face to face training is then attended within 12 months.
Please be assured; we have run this by our insurers who have agreed the extensions in the current circumstances.
Coach assessments
We advise postponing all coach assessments for the foreseeable future. We know this will be a frustration for the coaches affected, but we must prioritise the health of everyone involved, including the riders and volunteers who would be needed. This will mean the coaches will need to continue to be supervised until such time the assessments can be rescheduled. If this causes the group a problem we need to be advised so that we can support them when sessions are running, so please contact Claire Milican on cmilican@rda.org.uk or 07493 394 237.
Group closures
There have now been at least 50 group closures as a result of the virus. We are contacting all closed groups who have emailed us with a press release they can share with their local media asking for public support. We are also distributing Proficiency Test resources which groups can share with participants while they are not able to attend RDA.
National Office
We remain open for business as usual, so please contact us with any questions or concerns. If the office has to close we will inform you as soon as possible. You can contact the office on 01926 492915 or email info@rda.org.uk.
