Nope. Last I heard suggested was that planning assumptions are in the realms of no return to large scale activities much before June/July. Clearly nothing has been formally said to that effect as noone knows!
I’ve essentially decided not to bother planning anything for specific dates until things become clearer. I’ve knocked up some generic paperwork for some CPD days for staff so I’ve got something ready to go, but that’s assuming that there will still be no residential and everything will have to be done locally.
I suppose my biggest issue, is that I used to be really active with the organisation. I was out most weekend in my primary and secondary duties, planning and forecasting activities at long range… Now I’ve got no clear direction when to focus my efforts.
My main focus for activities is FT and Shooting. Both require planning, applications, etc.
But I suppose, it’s going to be a case of write up the paperwork and hold on applications, and just wait for this whole ship to clear the fog.
Talk in the press today that schools will remain closed until the Easter Holidays, resulting in being closed for the full Spring Term and opening again for the Summer Term where they can teach outside or with extra ventilation.
In terms of planning any activity I would consider the following (England Centric);
National Lockdown is Law until 31 March, obviously can be amended to be shortened or lengthened
I anticipate the end of National Lockdown will see all areas enter T4, as we know T4 is Red by NYA so no change for us
Cases are reducing, but not deaths yet, reduction in cases is similar to Lockdown 2 that then sure the immediate and rapid rise, I would suggest that restrictions should remain as is until the 7 Day Average is below 20,000 (Last seen on 8 Dec)
You could plan activity for May/June/July, the later the date the more likely it can go ahead, but consider the wasted effort on your part if you need to cancel, although from a planning perspective it will likely be changing dates and booking facilities again don’t book anything you need to pay for
I would potentially book the same activity each month, given reduced cadet numbers this maximises activity for cadets, 45 could benefit rather than 15, if you cancel 1 you still have 2 all set up with the planning done and avoids last minute .com
Consider the Gov target of all 18+ being vaccinated by September, and the impact this may have on availability, people might be less willing to commit if they think they will be offered the vaccine and need to be available for that.
I am fortunate that one of my AORs can ‘lift and shift’ online with minimal effort and not so great an impact on the Cadet experience. We are also looking at mixing online and face to face, with the more practical parts running (I hope) later in the year.
Otherwise as others have said it’s a question of ‘paper plans’ that can be moved around, the tricky thing with shooting especially is instructor availability and currency.
Even when we do go back I feel currency is going to be a colossal headache for everyone. Particularly those activities it has been more or less impossible to run for most, e.g. shooting.
Perhaps a somewhat spicy opinion, but I wonder if it would be best - in the medium/long term - if we effectively write off the current cadet cohort, and instead spend the next year or so concentrating on staff training and recruitment?
That doesn’t mean cadets can’t do stuff, but that activities are planned and executed with staff training being their main objective, with cadets being able (as and when) to join in as a happy side effect.
It’s not ideal, but the truth is that I’d be surprised if 60% of our staff come back, and a good proportion will return with less commitment. A very large proportion of our staff/senior cadets haven’t fired a rifle or run a range in 18 months, AT will be in a desperate state with many staff not having done any form of exped for 2 years by the time we get back, and that raft of senior, experienced cadets who are the grease of an AT/DofE weekend will have gone - same for fieldcraft…
If you deliver a good product (Cadet Experience) and use some time to promote that you do this via Social Media onto the local groups you will naturally recruit cadets.
You can’t deliver a good product without staff, and they should therefore be our centre of gravity, now more than ever as we shape the direction we take in the next 5 years which wither be units as we have now or wings made up of 10 units!
I believe we are reaching a point in this covid journey where we are about to fall of the edge of a cliff. Cadet are becoming despondent to any comms being sent their way, their not checking portal and signing up to activities as they were say March/April time last year, despite trying to force the messages and adverts down their throats…i may be completely wrong of course but speaking to colleagues in my wing and the neighbouring wing which seems a pretty consistent message. We are losing touch with cadets and as a result haemorrhaging numbers.
I wouldnt be suprised of my Sqn of 47 when f2f resumes will actually become a Sqn of 10 Cadets.
It will be interesting to see what the Cadet Portal reports say, @james_elliott are these being run again.
Because each individual only has the opportunity to be a cadet for a few years and if we don’t provide for current cadets, then we are failing in the purpose of the organisation.
Our ability to provide is outwith our current control, and as a result we are likely to lose a significant number of staff. In order to protect the long term viability of the organisation and its ability to fulfil that purpose, then the current cadre of cadets may have to suffer.
Your argument is a classic short-termist one in my view.
