BBKA information on social distancing guidelines Social distancing guidelines and information for Area AssociationsGovt advice Social Distancing Advice Additional Advice 20 March 2020 - Further measures for Social Distancing Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector - includes advice on postponing AGM or use of teleconferencing. Main Coronavirus advice page Please check regularly as this advice may change. Please read BBKA Chair Anne Rowberry's statement Training Courses and Tending Bees in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) Associations and branches can risk assess their training and courses with the following in mind. Categories of people – consider who provides the training, and who receives the training Over 70 - isolateunder 70 with certain conditionsAll - Generally avoid unnecessary contact Specific location advice – consider where you meet for training and apiaryAvoid large gatherings, and gatherings in smaller public spaces such as pubs, cinemas, restaurants, theatres, bars, clubsAvoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media 2m distancingYou can also go for a walk outdoors if you stay more than 2 metres from others IS there any bee training that is of any value if you are required to stand 2m away from the hive? Can you check someone’s suit is done up properly from 2m? Can you assist people into a bee suit (which can be difficult for first time users) from 2m?Handwashing - can clubs provide good handwashing facilities at all activities? Post training cleaning. Washing of bee suits after use – additional exposure for whoever doing this. Disposing of gloves needs to be carried out safely. Essential Apiary Management Avoid lone working but keep two meter rule. Ensure everyone in apiary can lift boxes unassisted. Provide workrounds if not. TrainingSuggest postpone training course until the autumn or refund and allow people to rebook. Is there a financial risk for associations with reduced incomes? Solutions: Promoting video support might be difficult - apiaries are not normally known for their excellent WIFI.Suggestion of Facebook Live to share training from the apiary from Newcastle & DistrictSupport for beekeepers during the season: Perhaps alternatives of telephone mentoring, video calls and asking people to take photos of what they're concerned aboutVideo Conferencing as an option to meet with your committee safelyGoogle Hangouts, Skype and other options are available. If you have experience of using these then please send us feedback and we will add your comments and suggestions. Try Facebook live - as suggested by Newcastle & District Beekeepers - they are already using it to train a group from a local church. Email the BBKA with your suggestions From the Associations ... examples of what is going on The following is from Lancashire & NW BKA Association level: We have our AGM on 25th April. Under the circumstances which prevail, this would have to be cancelled in order to avoid social contact. We have taken the unprecedented measure this year of conducting the AGM by video conferencing. General members can listen in to a concurrent audio transmission. We are undergoing a final trial later this morning to pre-empt any gremlins that might occur. Branch level (e.g. Southport & District): As Anne has suggested, Southport branch has already identified a number of potentially vulnerable members who are in self-isolation. These have been contacted offering to their check outlying hives by other “healthy” members Kevin recommends Zoom that they use in a different organisation. but we are continuing supporting our members by running the meetings via the zoom app this warks on all platforms (smartphone, pc, laptops, ipads and tablets) we video chat and share visuals ie lesson plan & information being thought, we have used this for training our coaches for over a year now and started zoom meetings last week with fantastic results Charities who use G-Suite have access to Meet.google.com Manage Cookie Preferences