UPDATED: 16th February 2023
The Government’s removal of all remaining Covid restrictions ended last year in February 2022. However, this does not mean that Covid-19 has gone away and there are still thousands of people with weakened immune systems who remain at a higher risk. There are also many other viruses that pose risks that our immune systems are also vulnerable to.
At Sunbeams, we deliver our services to many children and adults who remain vulnerable due to their profound disabilities and/or terminal health conditions. Therefore, it remains important to consider those who have multiple, terminal and complex health needs and who may not be able to have vaccinations.
As a Health and Wellbeing Setting, it is essential that, Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust, (Sunbeams), continues to be vigilant to help protect those most vulnerable. Sunbeams returned to the delivery of Music for Life® and Music For Dignity® Music Therapy Projects in person at the Sunbeams Centre last year. There are also a number of Sunbeams Projects that remain online via Zoom as the platform of delivery. However, some Covid Procedures will remain in place at the Sunbeams Centre to ensure the health and safety of all staff, musicians, volunteers, visitors hiring the facilities, but most importantly, to help mitigate the risk of transmission to vulnerable beneficiaries who have returned to attending Sunbeams Community Music Therapy.
Moving forward…
Even if you are fully vaccinated with boosters, it is still possible to catch and spread Covid-19. We need to learn to live with Covid-19 going forward, as with other viruses, and manage the risk to ourselves and others. We cannot predict the future but we can be mindful of the continued risks to some. There are measures we can continue to take to ensure those more vulnerable and at greater risk of illness, can feel safe leaving their homes. We can help them with the actions we take and we can help to make them feel safer out in their communities.
At Sunbeams, we will continue to monitor Covid and update our risk assessments as and when required for all of our Sunbeams Projects taking place here at the Centre and in Outreach Venues.
In summary, we will continue to require all those that attend the Sunbeams Music Centre to:
- Wear masks and/or visors in communal areas when and where vulnerable people are present, (unless exemption applies), these can be removed once in the room you/your group are using. Please note: masks are no longer compulsory when and where there are no vulnerable people present.
- Undertake Covid checks upon arrival: Temperature check.
- Sanitise upon arrival and avoid unnecessary over touching of handles, surfaces etc. where possible.
- For participants of Sunbeams Projects: If attending Projects, please try to remain with your group where possible and keep a safe distance from others where you are able to. Please let us know if you are particularly concerned about your health so that we can put further provisions in place to support you to attend as safely as possible. Call our Project Manager: Liesl McViety on 01768 892909 or email: Liesl@sunbeamsmusic.org
Sunbeams is fortunate to have a bespoke Centre that benefits greatly from being a
‘Breathable Building’. A breathable building is designed to be healthy for its occupants
because it is:
- Vapour-permeable, meaning its materials allow for the buffering of excess water thereby allowing water vapour to be discharged.
- Designed to decrease the risk of respiratory ailments as a result of vapour discharge.
- Designed to enhance both the physical and mental health of its occupants.
While no situation is risk free, all of us can play our part by understanding the situations
where risks of COVID-19 infection and transmission are likely to be higher, and taking action
to reduce these risks to protect ourselves and others around us.
In providing reassurance of our safety measures, we conduct Risk Assessments for the
delivery of Sunbeams Community Music Therapy Services in the Centre. For a copy of our
full Covid-19 Procedures, Guidelines and Control Measures, please contact Sunbeams on 01768 892909.