Hi Everyone! 

Covid Update 

Over the last few weeks, the exec has been discussing what we should be doing in terms of restarting our in-person improv operations. Our priority is and always has been the safety of members of this community, and as such we still feel we cannot responsibly begin offering in-person activities, especially in light of new laws coming into effect.

We know this probably isn’t the news you want to hear, but keeping everyone safe has to be our top priority right now, in spite of how much we all miss improv. The law changes next Monday, so gatherings of more than six people (inside or outside) will be illegal. Anyone caught breaking the law will be fined £100, up to a maximum of £3,200.

We know members of the community have been engaging in small get-togethers and even doing bits of socially distanced improv – please feel free to use MissImp and the MissImp Members Facebook group to help arrange these activities, or more online improv activities. However, please adhere to the government’s guidance around socialising in person.

We’ve attached a link to the full meeting people outside your home guidance, but the basics are:

If Outside

• No more than 6 people.
• Must be socially distanced (2m apart).
• Masks are recommended in areas where there are large numbers of people (public parks, etc) or in areas of high Covid-risk (luckily Nottingham doesn’t currently fall into this category).

If Inside

• No more than 6 people.
• Only socialise with members of up to two households (your support bubble counts as one household). This includes when dining out / going to the pub / etc. 

What We’re Doing

As we have stopped most of our activities, we have focussed on maintaining three activities: MissImp’s Virtual Drop-ins, Virtual Gorilla Burgers (Improv Jams), and MissImp’s Virtual Pub (weekly socialising). We intend for this to continue as it has been doing – with jams and drop-ins on alternating weeks, and the virtual pub every week. Join the MissImp Members Group, or drop us a line here for the Zoom links to Virtual Pub.

On top of this, we are taking this time to change how MissImp runs behind the scenes. Earlier this year we changed our business structure into a Community Interest Company, and now we are focused on bringing new people into the Exec Committee. We aim for this to make MissImp more transparent in how it operates, increase our capacity to do things, and to bring a wider range of voices into the decision making process – exciting times ahead!

Links to government advice

Here is a link to the current DCMS advice for people working in the performing arts:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/performing-arts#arts

As MissImp is a community-based group, the most important piece of advice is this:

It is not recommended for non-professionals to consider activities that require social distancing to be compromised. You should also follow rules on gatherings on Covid-secure venues in the meeting people outside your home guidance.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Meeting with others safely (social distancing) – Information on meeting with others safely.

Performing arts – Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) – Guidance – GOV.UK – Find out how to make your workplace COVID-secure.