We are pleased to announce that we are open for business as of today, July 1st 2020 and have been awarded the "We're Good To Go" mark from Visit England!! We have gone through a rigorous process of self analysis and have been awarded this quality stamp today in readiness for our opening. Below you'll find out a bit more about the scheme and the steps we have taken to make sure our staff and visitors are safe when they are on site...
What is the industry standard?
The “We’re Good To Go” industry standard mark is a self-assessment scheme that has been designed by VisitEngland in partnership with the national tourist organisations Tourism Northern Ireland, VisitScotland and Visit Wales to provide a ‘ring of confidence’ for all sectors of the tourism industry, as well as reassurance to visitors that businesses have clear processes in place and are following industry and Government COVID-19 guidance on cleanliness and social distancing.
How do/will the self-assessments align with UK Gov/PHE guidelines?
The process aligns to latest UK Government guidelines and there is a requirement that all business signing up have read the relevant public health guidelines and understand the need to aid social distancing and cleanliness. We have also put in place an alert system so that all those signed up receive notification of any relevant changes in this guidance.
Assessors and call handlers will receive training prior to talking to the businesses so that they understand the key elements of the self-assessment and have a clear checklist to guide businesses through as required.
Will there be inspectors who go around doing spot-checks? If not how will you know businesses are adhering to the guidelines?
Spot checks are at random, with no advance warning to the business. These checks will be a mixture of telephone and physical brief visits to check that the key elements of the self-assessment are in place.
Any physical spot checks undertaken will be unannounced, unless the business operation will require advance notice to obtain entry i.e. serviced apartments or self-catering, in which case an advance call will be made.
What have we at Tittesworth Water Sports put in place?
We have fully risk assessed the site with infection control of COVID-19 in mind. We have policies and procedures in place for our staff to follow for cleaning, client arrivals, kitting up, getting on the water etc. We have in place a new website which allows us to offer online booking for hire and launch as well as taster sessions and courses meaning our staff don't need to take any payments.
In order for us to manage the number of people on site we are offering limited online only booking spaces for hire and launch and these are staggered times so congestion in the centre should be at a minimum. We have also put in place a one way system for our customers and implemented significant levels of signage and social distancing markers on the ground to support our customers in adhering to the latest government guidelines.
Initially, from the 1st July we are piloting re-opening on the following days only: Wednesesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. If the midweek demand is there we may consider opening on other days of the week. We will only be open for Canoe, Single Sit on Top Kayak and SUP hire, launch of all craft except inflatable kayaks and canoes, and taster sessions.
All hire, launch and taster sessions MUST be pre-booked and paid for online. Details of what to do on your arrival are included in your booking confirmation email along with a link to our YouTube video of what you need to do when you arrive. If you haven't pre-booked you won't be allowed on site.
Please note that we will not be offering changing rooms at present for anything other than taster sessions, for which there will be limited outdoor changing available as the latest government guidance doesn't allow indoor changing facilities. We have risk assessed this and sought HSE guidance and as a consequence open air changing facilities are permitted. We have a cleaning process following each group on taster sessions, and as such can't offer these facilities to hire and launch until Government Guidance changes.
Each page on our website will give you further details of what you need to do specifically for Hire, Launch and Taster Sessions, and what facilities are available to you.
In order to protect customers and staff we are asking all customers to adhere to the government guidelines for social distancing and to not attend the site if you present with symptoms of COVID-19 prior to or the morning of your booking..
At present we are not able to offer any group activities, British Canoeing Courses or land based activities such as archery, axe throwing and fishing. We hope to bring these back as soon as we can.
Finally a big thank you to all our staff who turned up and volunteered their time yesterday to get the centre ready to receive our next adventurers!!
