The "Test and Trace", Data Protection and What you need to do Focus Note has been updated. The updated Focus Note includes additional guidance to help Managing Trustees now that further information has been provided by the Government and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on how the service works.

The Connexional Team have produced the following guidance relating to the submission of Annual Returns to the Charity Commission

The Government has requested that Churches in England assist the NHS Test and Trace service by keeping an accurate temporary record of visitors to church premises for 21 days.

COVID-19 restrictions continue to be slowly released and our church buildings are gradually being allowed to re-open for more activities, both Church related and for those third parties who frequently use Methodist premises. Managing Trustees are understandably raising questions as to where responsibility for COVID-19 safety falls.

TMCP are pleased to draw Managing Trustees’ attention to a new employment webinar, scheduled for 1 July 2020, that has been produced by Blake Morgan, one of the firms on the Methodist Church’s Panel of Solicitors. The webinar; “Returning to the new norm: what challenges we need to overcome” may be helpful to Managing Trustees

When we published our last Data Protection update on the 27th March 2020, we were at the beginning of what has now become 13 weeks of lockdown and counting. The Governments across England, Wales and Scotland are now starting to lift the restrictions and life is beginning to return to some form of normality.

A new template Burial Ground Closure Notice has been developed for use by Managing Trustees who are taking steps to close the whole or part of their burial ground. The new template Burial Ground Closure Notice can be accessed from the Sales and Legislation pages on TMCP’s website.