It’s a beautiful morning here at the Livewell Southwest Training Network. As we look across Plymouth, we can see the boats returning to their moorings, the Barbican beginning to come back to life. Elsewhere, golf and tennis clubs, as well as shops and restaurants have reopened. At long last, it seems, outdoor leisure — and pleasure — has started to return to our lives.
We are not quite ready for the Academy to reopen just yet, but we are beginning to be able to anticipate life returning to a ‘new normal’. Over recent weeks, the government has announced steps to ease us out of lockdown, with a ‘roadmap’ of the stages to follow, including those schools and training providers.
It is therefore with caution but also with the greatest pleasure that we are now able to announce what this ‘new normal’ will look like for the Livewell Southwest Training Network! In the first instance, the majority of our courses will be held virtually, with face-to-face training taking more of a backseat to continue to ensure not only the safety of the delegates, but of our staff too. However, our doors will gradually start to reopen, and with the necessary precautions in place, we will be able to deliver a much more blended approach to learning with a mixture of virtual and face-to-face courses being available.
We have been shut for the better part of three months. This time has been well used, enabling us to carefully study government guidelines and put in place any necessary alterations. There will certainly be a range of new measures in place: social distancing to ensure that the required space is allowed to give the maximum safety; an even closer watch on personal hygiene, with sanitary and cleansing products widely available throughout the Academy; a new and more thorough-than-ever deep-cleansing regime; as well as other measures that we are still working on, following government guidance and going beyond. Rest assured, we will only reopen when we are absolutely certain that you will be able to fully relax and completely enjoy yourselves in full confidence during your time with us here at the Livewell Southwest Training Network.
Happy times will return, of that we are certain. Yet we are mindful too that we can never forget the many who have suffered. Our thoughts are with those who have lost loved ones. Our gratitude is with those frontline workers in the NHS, as well as essential workers on public transport, in our supermarkets and shops, the delivery drivers, postmen, care providers and many more who have kept our society functioning throughout this challenging period. We thank our core staff who have continued working with us throughout this difficult period, and we thank the staff who have showed relentless hours on frontline providing care, keeping the Livewell Southwest Training Network online and much more.
For now, we work with hope and determination towards our goal of reopening.
We cannot wait to welcome you all back.
Andrea Mahn (Marketing Manager) & Chloe Van Schalkwyk (Training Coordinator)