Summary of our COVID-19 Policy
We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it develops and will follow the latest Government advice. Download our latest COVID RISK ASSESSMENT.
Our COVID-19 Updates
August 2021
(19 Aug) All of our community residents moved out of the house by mid-July and the house has remained closed to the public since. We will deep clean the whole house ready to welcome a new cohort on September 4th. New residents will be encouraged to get vaccinated and take a lateral flow test before they move in. Those traveling from overseas will need to check the red, amber, green list rules to find out what they need to do when they arrive in England.
April 2021
(12 Apr) We are delighted that all our Community residents have returned to the Community House at the start of Step 2 of the government plan for the easing of COVID restrictions in the UK. Non-resident staff members are also able to attend the House, as well as working from home when appropriate. Respecting social contact measures and social distancing as appropriate continues to be a priority within House. We are encouraging all members of residential Community to use lateral flow test kits provided by the Government. Being a household of eleven residents brings its challenges but we take full account of Government advice when making decisions which ultimately rest with our Prior.
February 2021
(22 Feb) Following the Government’s announcement of a roadmap to the easing of lockdown restrictions we continue to operate within the published guidelines. We are also working with those Community residents who remain at home to agree dates and means of their return to the Community House on an individual basis. We are taking full account of their personal circumstances and travel options. We hope that all Residents will have been able to return by shortly after Easter.
January 2021
(5th Jan) The Government has announced a national lockdown. Following the return of one resident the Community House is in a 10-day period of isolation to ensure that we remain free of the virus. Those Residents who have not yet returned will now required to remain at their family homes until government restrictions ease and travel is permitted.
December 2020
(30th Dec) The Government has announced that Leicester and Leicestershire will move into Tier 4 of the COVID alert levels. This has been summarised to mean that
- No household mixing is allowed, though one person can meet one other person outside in a public space
- All non-essential shops and businesses must close, including personal care and indoor entertainment
- Nobody can enter or leave Tier 4 areas
- Residents must not stay overnight away from home
Our policy remains to follow all national and local government advice regarding travel and gathering. As a number of our Residents have travelled to their family homes but work at local churches in Leicester and Leicestershire, we are currently formulating advice regarding returning to reside at the Community.
(16th Dec) It has been announced that Leicester and Leicestershire remains in Tier 3 of the COVID alert levels. Our policy remains to continue to adhere to national and local government guidance regarding travel and gathering.
(1st Dec) Leicester and Leicestershire, like much of the country, has transitioned out of the national lockdown into Tier 3 of the Government’s new COVID alert levels. As Christmas approaches, many Residents are looking forward to the possibility of rejoining a limited number of their family and friends in a ‘Christmas Bubble’. Here at the Community it remains our policy to adhere to national and local government guidance regarding travel and gathering. We look forward to the possibility of Leicester’s tier level being reviewed on 16th December.
November 2020
As the country enters a status of national lockdown, members of our household intentionally focus our behaviours of our rationale to be a house of prayer for the city Leicester and county of Leicestershire.
October 2020
(12th Oct) With the announcement that Leicester remains in lockdown and enters Tier 2 as a higher risk area, the Community maintains its policy of following all national and local government guidelines. Our single household of 14 residents continues to exercise care when fulfilling commitments with sponsoring churches and in monitoring residents’ health within the Community House.
(1st Oct) Our eleventh new Resident joins us early this month. Social distancing and additional measures are in place to ensure that our new Resident can be safely established as a member of the household as quickly as possible.
September 2020
Ten new Residents have now relocated and live at the Community House. Four women and six men have been maintaining all the measures we have put in place and we are now established as a single household and are free of COVID. Tests have been completed and daily monitoring of temperatures continues.
August 2020
With lockdown restrictions still apply to Leicester we continue to plan for our new Residents relocating and moving house to make the Community House their new home. Social distancing and other precautions such as the daily monitoring of temperature using a temperature gun are being out in place.
July 2020
While the rest of the country starts to get back to some form of normality, here in Leicester we find ourselves returning to a higher status of lockdown. Nevertheless we remain optimistic about being able to welcome new residents into the Community House in September. If you are thinking about applying to join us then please do contact us as soon as possible.
June 2020
Our office has now reopened and our Novice Guardian, Matt, has returned from furlough. Matt’s movements around the House are restricted to the entrance foyer, the office, and the downstairs lounge where we are all able to meet while maintaining safe distancing … and of course a toilet for his personal use! It’s great to be back as team and planning for welcoming new residents in September.
May 2020
The Prior, Warden and House Manager continue to exercise lockdown in the House while exploring ways in which the Community can open its doors once again to new residents. With support from many across the Diocese we are delighted to announce that we are open to receive new applications to join the Community from September 2020.
We are developing details of how we will operate whilst conforming to government social and safety guidelines for living amidst the coronavirus. These will be published in summary form shortly.
April 2020
The health and safety of our Community members is our number one priority. Consequently, our resident members returned to their homes to be with their families early this month.
We decided to reach out in prayer to the local community and the whole world alike by broadcasting a reduced form of our daily prayers at 8am, 12noon and 9pm each weekday, Monday to Friday. Dispersed members of our Community invite you to join them in live transmissions on our Facebook page, broadcast from their homes.
