Page 14 - The Outdoor Showman April - June 2021

Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain
to provide information:
since this crisis started: directly by email, by Mailchimp and on social media; on the Showmen’s Guild APP, designed at the start of the pandemic for the purpose; as well as cascaded through the regional Sections “
Mr Paris warned that:
“It is increasingly likely that all or large parts of the country may go back into lockdown” warning that:
“ This will further hinder the operation of Travelling Fairs.” But he assured that:
“ We at Central Office will continue to fight on your behalf and will seek to obtain funding for our membership who for the most part have been overlooked.” With an eye on the pandemic running into next year, the president urged:
“We must fight now to ensure that Fairs will be able to open next season” and he announced to members:
“We intend to gather information from experts including virologists and health professionals to prove that outdoor Funfairs do not pose a threat.” To achieve this Mr Paris promised:
“We will continue to press for meetings with government officials in order to put our case forward.”
Tackling a fundamental perception issue head on Mr Paris acknowledged:
“There is no doubt that both our business and our community are suffering discrimination and prejudice, as never before.”
The President explained the recent and worrying effects of this:
“Travelling Funfairs have been singled out and either closed-down or not been given permission to operate
at all. Showmen have not been given the opportunity to demonstrate
how they intend to make the fairs Covid-19 secure.”
He pointed out, by comparison, that:
“All the while other venues such as Theme Parks, Car Boot Sales and a host of similar businesses have been allowed to operate, but the majority of our
fairs haven’t been allowed to by local authorities.
Yet those travelling Fairs of ours which have been allowed to open, have achieved glowing reports on their operation with social distancing; sanitisation and the operation of the ‘Group-of Six across the fairs,
by visiting health officials.”
The president explained how the Guild was coping with the new the social landscape, announcing emergency measures that had been implemented:
• “Guild Fees were reduced by 90% and the payment period extended to 30 September.
• The operators’ annual insurance £9+1 million excess PLI Policy has been bought for 2020 as members who managed to get open need it; available at a competitive cost;
• Management implemented alternative committee-selectionandvoting procedures as it may not be possible to hold the usual Section AGMs.
This has all been done to assist the members but has left the Showmen’s Guilditselfdrasticallyshortoffunds
to deal with the practical issues of the pandemic; to communicate with the members, the media and regulatory bodies as well as to lobby parliaments
in Westminster and Holyrood & other devolved administrations; in competition with other much larger and better resourced industries and sectors for governmental attention.
The president pointed out the successful work with DCMS and the HSE on the Fairground Industry Covid-19 Guidance, to get Funfair operators open in July; He explained:
• “We produced a comprehensive ‘Reopening Package’ for all members on getting re-opened, including sample Risk-Assessments.
• We also developed QR codes to assist with track and trace
requirements; in association with Public Health England.
• Latest advice on track and trace was circulated to all regions and updated last week.
• We communicated all this to the Local Government Association (LGA) and
• individually to many authorities across the country at members’ request.
• We also supported the regional Sections and members in their difficulties over dialogue with senior council officials.”
The President further explained what happened next:
“The Westminster Government passed responsibility to local authorities to oversee the Covid-19 restrictions in their areas making it difficult to address the issue across the board.”
He added:
“The devolved national parliaments have
adopted separate measures; all of this has created a complex political situation and Central Office has fought for consistency in the way local authorities act.”
Mr Paris detailed this push-back:
• “WewrotetotheLocalGovernment Association (LGA) and its devolved nation equivalents to urge their members to permit fairs to operate emphasising the stringent operating guidelines we had agreed with the DCMS and the HSE.
• WewrotetothePrimeMinisterand the First Ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland regarding our need to operate and to receive funding and compensation.
• Wehaveencouragedparliamentary questions in both the Westminster and
Holyrood parliaments providing significant information on our issues and demands.”
The President further assured that, while Westminster may have devolved operating regulations in the pandemic to regional and local authorities, the Guild is still talking to Westminster, explaining:
“We have participated in HM Treasury information requests on our financial issues.
We are working with Westminster parliamentarians in a campaign to the Treasury Select Committee.”
He added strategically:
“We have joined forces with the wider events industry; including the Events Industry Forum (EIF) to lobby on common areas and to have a collective voice for the Events Industry; to remind government that in combination we contribute £84 billion to the UK economy.”
Referring to his 34 years’ service to the Guild, whilst having continued as an operating member; which he detailed passionately Philip Paris stated:
“We are all in the same boat at present.” Adding: “Now is the time to come together and support those who are doing their best to deal with the situation we all find ourselves in.”Mr Paris continued:We are all one Guild!”
Mr Paris reminded:
“This Guild was started 131 years ago to speak up for Travelling Showmen and their families; we need to be working together now more than ever; our members need a strong Showmen’s Guild like never before”
12 THE OUTDOOR SHOWMAN