As an organised event run by a business that has full Covid-19 security measures in place, we are able to continue to run our public and private tours under new guidelines. We update our policy in line with the UK Government Tier system announcements -
Our approach to Covid-19 Security
We have undertaken risk assessments and audits as we prepared to reopen our walking tours in July 2020 In particular we have undertaken a full audit under the ‘We’re good to go’ business mark overseen by Visit England. We continue to comply with updates as they are issued. We put a very clear emphasis on Covid-19 secure operating when we reopened, and this continues. We have updated the H&S assessment as new Government advice has come out, with the most recent being 29th March 2021
Our interpretation of this is that our maximum numbers on tour have now reduced to 15 - including guides.
We have only reintroduced the Madiba tour (adapted) and Ida B Wells. We have added 2 new tours along the Birmingham’s Canalside – Daily Mile and Black Pound. The Jewellery Quarter and 6888 tour did not pass our Covid-19 risk assessment, in line with current guidelines.
- Different bookings must be kept Covid-19 distances apart - for us aminimum of 2 metres. We will demonstrate this at tour start.
- Mask wearing - masks our now mandatory indoors. For us this impact on our Ida B tour, where we meet at Edgbaston Community Centre
- Email addresses - We will already have email addresses of the person who booked tickets. We now need to collect additional emails to ensure track and trace can directly contact individuals who have come on a walking tour if required.
This is how it works on tour:
- At the time of booking and also on the day of the tour clear advice will be sent to our ‘guests’ on safe Covid-19 operating procedures. This includes asking if any people booked on tour have symptoms of Covid-19 and also clearly explaining the procedure for arriving on tour and how we conduct Covid-19 safe operations during the tour.
- Each booked group will be kept separate at the start, during and at the end of the tour. No group will exceed 6 people in a ‘bubble’.
- Start of tour: Groups come to meet guide and take an audio unit directly from the container. Guests plug in their own earphone jack or we provide a new pair which they keep at end. Email addresses are taken if not already on the guest list - applies in particular to Tripadvisor bookings and also bookings where the booking email does not adequately represent the people on that ticket.
- Social distancing: Each group will be no more than six people. By use of the live audio units everyone can maintain at least 2 metres between each other and much more if required. Guides and Assistant Guides will give clear instructions to ensure spacing of ‘bubbles’ is at least 2 metres apart. A 2-metre distance will be demonstrated at the start of the tour by the Guide.
- Face masks: Guides may wear face masks at tour start. However, once the audio system has been given out guides and guest are not required to wear masks but can of course if they wish. Guests may or may not wear face masks. Alcohol hand wash is available at the start and end of the tour.
- Routes: Our tours have been redesigned with routes that are less likely to meet crowds and at present we do not go indoors.
- End of tour: Used audio units are placed in a box to be cleaned and then quarantined 7 days before reuse.
