Covid lockdown has been extremely disruptive for all units, mine included. But after so many weeks where we could not hold physical gatherings of any sort, there is light at the end of the tunnel - proposals have been posted which will allow physical gatherings under certain limited circumstances. And with the prospect of schools returning in August in some parts of the UK and September in others - there can be hope that once that is achieved, it may be possible for youth groups such as ours to find realistic, safe ways of holding meetings.
Some initial options for holding meetings outdoors have already been published. And within days of that, the chaos has started. For on online forums, we already see people analysing every sub-clause of what has been said in every interpretation they can muster, in order to try and find a way to legitimately hold the events they long to.
Hence, I say, don't panic, Captain Mainwaring. Please, step back for a moment and ponder bigger picture. The reason we have gone through, and are still going through, such major disruption affecting everyone in the world - is a disease which can be deadly, not just to the poorly and the frail, but also to the comparatively young and comparatively healthy. Every rule which has been put in place hasn't been imposed without forethought, or without consideration of the implications. Governments are aware of the freedoms being withdrawn, of the impacts on physical and mental health, of the impacts on so many areas of normal life. But the reason why has to be our focus. Covid-19 hasn't gone away, even if you happen to be fortunate enough to live in an area where prevalence is currently low. We don't have any vaccines to prevent people from catching it and we're only gradually finding out how best to treat those who catch it. It need only take one bit of carelessness to allow it the chance to spread from unwitting host to large numbers of unwitting recipients.
Please, keep in mind the reasons for having restrictions - our liability for the safety of the girls in our charge in the presence of an illness which can cause long-term illness, or worse. Please read the guidance thoroughly and carefully, making sure you understand each element of it and how it would apply to your unit and it's circumstances. Please take in not just the letter of the rules but also the spirit - don't hunt for loopholes, or for ways of making your brilliant idea work by making a particular interpretation of what's said that will be favourable, rather than the interpretation which would not be. After all, if what you are thinking of is borderline permissible now depending on interpretation, it's entirely possible that in only a few weeks time it would be clearly permissible, and few good ideas are harmed by a little delay.
We do not need to rush back to holding outdoor unit meetings on the first date we legally can. We do not need to hold indoor unit meetings on the first date we legally can. Far better that we take time to work out things like how the girls will arrive and depart the area without ending up in crowds. How we arrange facilities like toilets and shelter in inclement weather. Coming up with lots of ideas for socially-distanced games and crafts and activities. Working out our risk assessments and getting clearance for them from the DC, including allowing time if she wants us to tweak and then resubmit some of the entries.
Guiding will come back, and in time, it will come back in a broadly similar format to what it was before. It'll happen all the sooner if we can behave calmly and sensibly now, rather than rushing in. Hence, "Don't panic, Captain Mainwaring!"
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