Date : 14th August 2020
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you so much to everyone that has given feedback, from completing the quick questionnaire to messages of support and understanding. Your help has been invaluable in our ongoing work to bring everyone back together safely. We are still working through emails, so if you’ve sent us a message and haven’t yet had a reply, please do bear with, we haven’t forgotten about you and will get back to you. Also, the questionnaire is still open if you haven’t yet responded: Getting Everyone Back Together Safely – Questionnaire
Getting us all back safely is as much about communicating as it is about controlling the virus itself, as without clear communication, explaining all our part in hygiene and the measures we need to put in place, there’s no chance we can prevent and control any spread.
OSM – Online Scout Manager / Text Message
Now is a great time to check you can login to Parent Portal on Online Scout Manager. This will be essential as we will need to know who is planning on coming to which meetings every week as soon as we’re at the stage of preparing actual meetings, so we’ll be using OSM with an event signup for every weekly meeting. Ensuring you can login now will make September that much easier.
The text message system through Online Scout Manager is going to be really important to us once we return to face to face activities. This will allow our leaders to get in touch with you (or all of the section/bubble at a time) quickly and efficiently. It won’t cost you anything, however (and this is the bit where I need your help) your primary contact mobile number needs to be up-to-date in OSM – Parent Portal. Check at www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/login.php and use the email address you registered with us. Any issues, please do email me or your section leader and we’ll take a look
Facebook Group – www.facebook.com/groups/18thipswichscouts
The Facebook private group page is key to our communications as messages are posted there regularly. Please make sure you have signed up (please do answer the joining questions as it makes it so much easier to ensure you’re a genuine person!) or, if you’re not on Facebook, let us know so we can make sure you don’t miss out on important information.
Email remains the best communication method for non-urgent/critical messages or information. All leaders and executive members have an @18thipswichscouts.org.uk email address or via contact us page.
Website –www.18thipswich.org.uk
Our website will be essential during our return to face to face activities. There is a page that will have everything you need to know about the procedures, risk assessments, frequently asked questions, etc. for all sections and will be updated regularly as the central point of information. Before attending any face to face sessions, we ask that you check that webpage beforehand.
The parent information/feedback online meeting is on Monday 17th August 2020 at 7.30pm is a chance for us to explain what we’re planning to put in place (our current plans at least!) and have a dialogue with members to make sure it works for everyone and we all feel as safe as possible. We be asking for ideas, input and to know concerns you may have so the team and we can work on making this as successful as possible. Please do try to join us.
Finally, to assist you in planning, the earliest we’re aiming to return to some form of face to face Scouting for all sections is week beginning 7th September 2020. This may change, but it certainly won’t be any earlier. Hopefully that all makes sense and is useful information for you to know. As always, our thanks for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Denise Bloomfield (GSL) / Stuart Parker (AGSL)
