ROOTED WEEKEND AWAY IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE LOTS OF FUN,
ENJOY EACH OTHER'S COMPANY IN A RELAXED ENVIRONMENT
​AND DEEPEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. 

Information for Parents

*We ask that all participants complete a lateral flow test in the 24 hours prior to departure to Rooted.
Organised Activities
The young people will have the choice of taking part in some supervised outdoor activities during our time away.  Oakwood is asking for their medical form to be filled in and signed by you - if you haven't already filled this in, please do so ASAP. Under group information put "Catholic Parish of Guildford" and under date of the session put "Sep 18, 2021".

Transport Arrangements
We can confirm the transport arrangements as follows:
  • Friday 17th September - Leaving from the layby outside St Mary's Church car park, GU2 8BP at 5 pm (please arrive by 4.45 pm).
  • Sunday 19th September - Leaving Oakwood, RG40 3DA at 11.30 am. Estimated arrival time at St Mary's Church, GU2 8BP X is 12.15 pm. 

What to bring
To help with transport please try to keep luggage to a minimum, we only have space for each young person to bring
  • 1 pillow
  • 1 sleeping bag
  • 1 small soft bag - containing:
Clothing
  • Suitable Nightwear
  • Clothes appropriate for the weather, including the colder temperatures in the evenings
  • Socks will be needed to cover your ankles for activities
  • Trousers/leggings for activities (not jeans)
  • 1 pair of trainers for activities
  • Clothes that you don't mind getting wet for water games
Other Items
  • One towel for showering and toiletries
  • Drink bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunhat
  • A torch
  • We recommend that you do not bring items with you such as Kindles etc. or anything else of value that you do not want to get lost or broken.
  • Your child's favourite cereal (none containing nuts please). Toast will be provided.
  • Please also remember to pack your child's medication, clearly labelled with their name. We will be looking after that over the weekend.

Snacks
Please be assured that the children are going to be well fed throughout the weekend, so please keep snacks to a minimum. Snacks are not permitted in bedrooms, or on the coach. If you are going to send your child with snacks, please ensure they are nut-free.

Emergency Contact Numbers:
Catholic Parish of Guildford Office: 01483 562 704
Aseel Gilbert Mobile: 07725 314 269
Andrew Gilbert Mobile: 07917 672 296

Phones
*Please note that mobile phones may be brought along to the retreat for emergency use only. Mobile phones are not to be used during any teaching/activity sessions and will not be permitted in bedrooms. We will provide a safe place to leave mobile phones when use is not permitted.

Covid Measures

Testing

We are asking every participant, including all the leaders to do a Lateral Flow test in the 24-hours before departure. We will encourage everyone to complete an LFT test after Rooted too.

We will have additional tests available so that anyone who would like to can test daily or you are very welcome to send your young person with their own set of tests.

Sanitising

We will have sanitisers available throughout the site. You are very welcome to send your young person with their own sanitising gel.
We will make sure to ask the young people to wash their hands regularly.
We will be wiping surfaces down regularly.
We will also be spraying all the cushions, rugs, chairs that we will be using in the indoor spaces with a special anti-viral spray that lasts for 7 days (it's what they use on trains). We will do this every morning well before use. This is a spray we have been using in the church throughout the pandemic.

Fresh air

Unless it is pouring with rain, all meal times will be outside.
Most of the games and activities will be outside too.
The main "chill-out" area is outside under a marquee this year.
All windows will be opened in indoor spaces. Indoor spaces will only be used for talks, small group discussions, prayer times and a movie on Saturday night.
We will encourage the use of masks when walking around an indoor space.
When sitting the masks can be removed because for the majority of the time, when indoors, the young people will be sitting in close proximity to a small group no bigger than 10 people. We will ensure there is some distance between everyone.

Food

Careful thought has been taken with regards to the preparing and serving of food at Rooted this year by our experienced kitchen team.
We will ensure there is no sharing of food. All food, including sides etc will be served by the kitchen team to individuals. We will ensure social distancing when the young people queue to collect their food too.

What you may want to send your young person with
  • Their own sanitising gel
  • A mask(s)
  • Their own lateral flow tests for the Saturday and Sunday.
Questions? Email us.