The Association Directors have been monitoring the evolving situation concerning COVID-19 and evaluating when to make decisions about how the pandemic will impact on our plans for Association activity. We met as a group in Glasgow in early March, and again online on 20th March. Following these discussions, this message provides information on our decisions and plans for the next six months with respect to the restrictions imposed in response to the Coronavirus global pandemic:

Immediate impact on Association Activities:

The Association’s Annual Conference planned for July 2020 is cancelled
However, we will explore whether online seminars can be offered as an alternative
All face-to-face meetings are cancelled until further notice
However, we will continue to engage through online meetings in planning for the future
The launch of our first round of grant-funded regional seminars will be postponed
However, we will be launching a new ‘call’ and inviting members to collaborate in planning for future seminars

Engaging with sector responses to the Coronavirus pandemic:

The Association’s Directors will engage with sector bodies to offer support and advice relating to our members
We were involved in advice issued by ETS England on adjusting practice allowances anticipating placement closures; we are aware this needs to be kept under review and would be pleased to feed additional questions/concerns into national bodies as guidance is revisited. If you are facing particular difficulties in delivering courses/requirements that need attention, then please highlight this with us by emailing paul.fenton@tagpalycw.org
The Association’s National Officer is now a member of a national collaboration of agencies meeting virtually twice a week
An immediate outcome of this group has been the launch of: https://youthworksupport.co.uk/ a collaborative site for youth work and guidance during the pandemic. Please promote awareness of this site amongst your networks and send additional resources to the site. In addition, if you observe emerging good practice or acute problems that merit wider exposure then please get in touch via paul.fenton@tagpalycw.org to share knowledge and responses.

Keeping connected during a period of social distancing:

The Association will be accelerating its proposed development of online connectivity between members
The development of online connectivity was already a development objective within our emerging strategy for 2020-2025. The change in immediate priorities for the next 6 months means we will be bringing these developments forwards and sharing more with you through our regular bulletins.
The Association will continue to keep members in touch through our regular bulletin
Our regular bulletin will continue, make sure you highlight any news or views before by emailing: info@tagpalycw.org if you have anything for inclusion; you will also see new blogs and items appearing on our website, so please check in regularly
The Association will be launching regular online collaborative meeting spaces for members
We know that the shift to online working will offer new challenges and opportunities. We will be offering the opportunity to connect informally through short ZOOM room meetings where you can connect with colleagues about how you are coping with the move to online teaching; to share good practice and provide a launchpad for wider membership engagements. See our events listing for invitations to join with colleagues online via Zoom meeting rooms.

These are extraordinary times and we hope you will be able to find solace, energy and creativity through connecting with each other over the weeks and months ahead. We, as a community of practice, are committed to nurturing and sustaining our community in this period of unprecedented change. We hope you will join us in growing our connections, collaborations and creations as we look towards the future together.

Stay safe and well.

On behalf of the Association Directors
Christine Smith (Chair); Jane Melvin (Vice Chair) Jo Lewis (Chair-Elect); Sheila Curran (Secretary); Sinead Gormally (Research Director); Tim Howell (Events Director);
and Paul Fenton (National Officer).