Outdoor activity trips

Yes and one of the hard but necessary decisions we've had to make is that unfortunately anyone who is in the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable category, as per the Government and Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) guidelines, won’t be able to join a trip this summer.

Other additional amendments to standard Eligibility Criteria means we won't be able to take anyone:

• Who has received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication.
• Who has had a stem cell transplant (Allogeneic or Autograft) who is not considered to be immune recovered (e.g. commenced revaccination programme or considered fit to return to school/work/college, etc).
• Is on active (anti-cancer) treatment for any form of cancer or anyone who has completed treatment in the last six months aligning with CCLG and Government guidance. This includes any maintenance treatment.
• Taking steroids as part of systemic anti-cancer therapy (this does not include replacement steroids for pituitary or adrenal insufficiency).
• With unstable or brittle asthma will need more investigation before being accepted on a trip.

We’re so sorry this will exclude some young people who need us this summer, but we’re exploring other ways to support you. Anyone who can’t join us on medical grounds or chooses not to come as you/your family doesn’t feel confident enough will absolutely get the chance to come on a trip again in 2022.

Nothing matters more than keeping young people, our volunteers, skippers and team safe, and while we can’t eliminate all COVID-risk we can minimise it. That's why we're insisting that anyone aged 18+ who will come into contact with young people – whether a young person, volunteer, skipper or team member – must be two weeks’ post first vaccination unless medically exempt.

If you're 18 or over and not had your first vaccination yet and/or are nervous about having it, have a read of our Vaccinations Q&A - lowdown from the experts and/or listen to our medical advisor, Dr Dave Hobin, and Trust volunteer and pharmacist, Anniela Etheridge, discuss vaccinations on our Sound Waves podcast.

We understand under 18s won't be vaccinated by the summer, but are confident the extra safety and risk management controls we will implement across all our trips in 2021 will enable us to keep young people safe.

Everyone taking part in a trip will need to do a COVID test at home that morning and everyone will be temperature checked on arrival and throughout the week. The Trust will supply tests ahead of your trip.

All activities will be subject to rigorous sanitisation standards - personal and equipment - including hand washing, antibacterial cleaning, use of fogging machines where appropriate, etc.

Hand washing and sterilising will form part of briefings and practice. Antiseptic wipes to be used regularly on all well-used touch points on sailing and outdoor activity return trips. Protocols on distancing and mask wearing in confined spaces in line with current advice at the time.

We all have a collective responsibility to keep each other safe while COVID is still with us, and so you should not join the trip if you should be isolating. Missing the trip will not affect your chance to come back in the future - even if this was due to be your last trip. It is more important that you do the right thing and not come, rather than worry about missing the opportunity.