Under new rules laid out by the government, all hospitality venues must keep a guest register to record the contact details of visitors for 21 days to help track and trace coronavirus infections.
Twine Visitor allows community businesses, social enterprises and other not-for-profit organisations the opportunity to ensure compliance with these guidelines and to help tackle coronavirus in their communities.
The online platform, launched by independent trust Power to Change, uses simple digital guest-book technology to gather customer details so that they can be alerted if they’ve come into contact with someone suffering from Covid-19 symptoms.
By logging customers’ names and contact details via the app, alongside the time and date of their visit, businesses can ensure customers can be easily traced without the need for any paperwork. Visitors receive a QR code after their first visit for scanning on arrival on all future occasions.
Settle Community Hub in North Yorkshire has been using the platform as a support resource since it launched last year. Speaking about its benefits as part of the track and trace scheme, Sarah Wiltshire, Volunteer Co-ordinator at Settle, said: “We’ve been using Twine Visitor since late 2019. Now that the lockdown is easing, we are going to have the data capture already in place to record everyone who physically attends one of our services.
“It’s simple to use, it allows touch-free signing in for Covid-19 hygiene rules and we can pull the data off from a separate computer, so it’s perfect for handling track and trace needs. We would definitely recommend it if you’re looking to re-open soon.”
According to data from Power to Change, 58% of community businesses in England (or more than 5,000 community businesses) had to close their doors during lockdown because they are either venues (community hubs), retail (pubs and cafes) or arts/culture businesses (leisure centres, libraries, art centres).
Vidhya Alakeson, Chief Executive of Power to Change, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has been a very challenging time for all third sector organisations, and we know that many are facing real challenges as they prepare to welcome people back through their doors. Twine Visitor is a great, free tool to help community businesses start to reopen in a safe and measured way.”
All community businesses, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations that may benefit from Twine as a free resource should visit :https://www.twine-together.com/visitor
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About Power to Change
Power to Change is the independent trust that supports community businesses in England.
Community businesses are locally rooted, community-led, trade for community benefit and make life better for local people. The sector owns assets worth £890m and comprises 9,000 community businesses across England who employ 33,600 people. (Source: Community Business Market 2019).
From pubs to libraries; shops to bakeries; swimming pools to solar farms; community businesses are creating great products and services, providing employment and training and transforming lives. Power to Change received its endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund in 2015.
www.powertochange.org.uk @peoplesbiz
About The National Lottery Community Fund
We are the largest community funder in the UK – we’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since June 2004, we have made over 200,000 grants and awarded over £9 billion to projects that have benefited millions of people.
We are passionate about funding great ideas that matter to communities and make a difference to people’s lives. At the heart of everything we do is the belief that when people are in the lead, communities thrive. Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.