Arsenal in the Community sessions to return

Arsenal in the Community are looking forward to welcoming participants to sessions. The safety and wellbeing of staff and participants is our priority at all times. To support this a number of measures have been put in place.

All sessions that are being delivered have been planned in consultation with a multi-disciplinary team involving staff from the Arsenal in the Community, Health and Safety, Legal and Safeguarding departments, and devised following the release of guidance from the Government and Football Association. This can be found here

All sessions have undergone a thorough risk assessment process led by the club, with strict protocols in place to ensure sessions are compliant with the latest government and FA guidelines.

The FAQs below have designed for sessions that take place within community centres and in the community. Please read the FAQs and guidance below for further information on the protocols in place ahead of returning to community activity:

What actions are being undertaken to make the sessions safe?

Arsenal in the Community are completing a number of actions to make sure the sessions can be delivered safely in line with government and football association guidelines. These measures are explained in the FAQs but in summary involve:

Pre-session Covid questionnaire for all participants and staff
Extensive cleaning of the equipment and key touch-points of a session
Provision for regular water breaks and use of hand sanitiser
Hand sanitiser stations in place
Restricting the number of participants invited to attend sessions to enable social distancing

How can you be sure that staff and participants are healthy?

All staff and participants must complete a health questionnaire within 24 hours of the start of every session. Their ability to attend the session will be based on the responses submitted in this questionnaire.

Nobody is permitted at the session without having completed the questionnaire. At the start of each session, the coach will conduct a safety briefing, to ensure everyone is fit to take part and understands the protocols.

How should we travel to sessions?

In line with government guidance we are encouraging participants not to travel using public transport to any activity. Further information on travelling to activities is available here

How many people can attend a session?

Sessions are capped at a maximum of 15 participants. This is being reviewed in line with Government and Football Association Guidance.

Is social distancing in place? If so, how will this be organised?

Other than during full-contact gameplay, social distancing must be in place, leaving a distance of at least two metres. This includes on arrival and at registration, during breaks in play and upon leaving the session.

Does anyone need to wear PPE?

Arsenal in the Community staff will have personal protective equipment, including gloves and face masks to be worn in certain instances, such as cleaning equipment and applying First Aid. Other than in these circumstances, staff and participants will not be required to wear PPE during the session.

However, everyone should wear a face covering when travelling to or from the session on public transport, unless you are exempt.

Are there changing facilities available?

There are not any changing facilities in operation at any sites. Participants should arrive at the session ready to play, bringing minimal bags and extra clothing. A dedicated area to leave small bags will be made available.

What do I do when I arrive?

On arrival, participants should report to the registration desk and await further instructions. Where possible, a one-way system will be in place at the venue, clearly signposted, with separate entrance and exit gates. Arsenal staff will direct participants to dedicated spaces, including an area to leave small bags, drinks bottles and safe playing areas.

Are there handwashing facilities?

A sanitizer station will be available at each site; participants must sanitize their hands upon arrival and, where possible, during breaks in play.

Should we bring our own drinks?

Participants should bring their own drinks bottle, clearly labelled with their name. Under no circumstances should drinks bottles be shared.

How often will the equipment be cleaned?

Arsenal in the Community staff will clean equipment – including but not limited to balls, cones, goals and frequently touched areas such as door handles – before, during and after each session.

What happens if there is an injury during the session?

If first aid is required, the designated first aider will apply a facemask, gloves and a disposable apron to treat the participant in line with the Football Association guidance.

What happens if someone develops symptoms of Covid-19 during the session?

If a participant develops Covid-19 symptoms during the session, they must inform the coach immediately. They will then be placed in an isolation area with a staff member, who will wear a facemask and gloves and supervise them at a social distance. Arsenal in the Community staff will call the parent/carer and ask them to collect the participant. Staff will follow reporting procedures

Are Arsenal in the Community supporting the Test and Trace Scheme?

To support the Government’s contact tracing scheme (NHS Test & Trace), Arsenal in the Community staff will promote the need to get tested if anyone attending a Programme is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

Contact details of staff and participants or their parents/carers will be collected as part of the online registration process and may be provided to NHS Test & Trace on request along with the details of associated staff members.

Can parents watch the session?

Until further notice, parents should not stay and watch the session. Where necessary, there will be a dedicated area for parents to drop off and pick up their children attending a session.

Code of Conduct

Participants must also comply with specific instructions and rules when attending an activity:

No bags to be brought to sessions
Participants are to bring their own bottle of water (labelled with their name)
Toilets may not be available at all sites. We cannot guarantee that public toilets are Covid-secure and so any use of these will be at your own risk
Participants must wash their hands prior to attending a session
Where possible sessions will operate with separate entrances and exits. These will be clearly set out. Individuals attending a session are advised not to congregate around these areas
If parents are permitted to attend, there will be a designated viewing area. Only one parent per child may stay and observe the activity and must ensure they are maintaining social distancing of at least two metres from any other individual

Safeguarding

Your safety and welfare is of paramount importance to us at Arsenal, and so we are doing all that we can to ensure our events and activities are compliant with government and Premier League guidance, and are therefore as safe as possible for you and our staff.

However, during your time as a participant at Arsenal in the Community, you might see or hear about something that causes you to worry about the safety or welfare of another participant or someone close to them. You may also have something you wish to tell us regarding your own welfare.

If this happens, you should report this to a member of staff. All staff members have received our safeguarding training and will know who to contact in the event of a concern. The contact details for the Safeguarding Team and Community Designated Safeguarding Officers are: