30th June 2020

The UK government recently relaxed lockdown restrictions to allow unrestricted travel and permit groups of up to 10 people from different households to meet in Northern Ireland, (see, Northern Ireland for further guidance.

• There is no limit on the distance travelled in Northern Ireland.
• Travel to the Republic of Ireland must strictly adhere to the guidance in place there.
• Groups of up to 10 people can meet outdoors as long as you maintain social distancing by being at least 2 metres apart and maintaining hand and respiratory hygiene practices.
• Maintain physical/social distancing of 2 metres as per government guidance.
• You should also enforce strong hygiene measures. This might be cleaning any equipment rigorously in line with wider guidance on hygiene, for example by using antiviral spray and washing hands thoroughly before and after use.

Mountain Training Board Ireland (MTBI) has considered the guidance above and believe it may be possible for some providers to deliver a limited range of Mountain Training courses in Northern Ireland subject to appropriate control measures.

At all times, you should continue to adhere to strict social distancing guidelines when you are outside your home, particularly ensuring you are two metres away from anyone outside your household. It’s really important that everyone continues to:

• follow the advice being offered by the Government based on medical and scientific evidence, including the current ‘stay at home’ advice while that remains in place
• wash our hands regularly and in line with the best practice guidance
• have good respiratory hygiene in terms of coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crook of your elbow
• follow the social distancing guidelines and stay two metres away from those outside your household whenever possible
• consider the use of cloth face coverings (mouth and nose) for short periods of time when you are in enclosed spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained. For example when using public transport and while in some shops
• abide by the need to self-isolate either because you have symptoms or because you have been in touch with someone who has symptoms or has tested positive for coronavirus. This includes if contacted by the contact tracing arrangements in place
• The NI Executive also ask those in society with responsibilities to exercise them in line with up-to-date public health guidance. So there is an onus on businesses, schools, churches, sporting organisations and many others to show how they can accommodate the current social distancing and other requirements if they are seeking agreement to recommence their activities.

Courses may not lend themselves to involve overnight stays (including camping) or the use of indoor venues for briefings, course delivery or debriefs. Climbing walls or facilities may or may not can be used, and providers can work on a maximum ratio of 1:4, 6 or 8 or as per the scheme handbook ratios.

Currently we advise that the following training and assessment courses may be viable to run:

• Hill Skills & Mountain Skills
• Mountain Skills
• Rock Skills Introduction
• Rock Skills Intermediate
• Rock Skills Learn to Lead: Sport (social distancing may render delivery very difficult)
• Rock Skills Learn to Lead: Trad (social distancing may render delivery very difficult)
• Rock Climbing Development Instructor
• Lowland Leader
• Hill and Moorland Leader
• Mountain Leader – outdoor training (ML 1) and reassessments only (no overnight element)
• Rock Climbing Instructor – outdoor training (social distancing may render delivery very difficult) and
• outdoor reassessments only (walls not open for indoor aspects.)
• Multi-Pitch Award – (social distancing may render delivery very difficult)