• 

Updated : 23rd Jan 2022

We are saddened to see the closure of Machu Picchu within the last few days due to the political protests in Peru. Our thoughts are with our partners in country and everyone impacted by the current protests. We are in contact with all of our groups travelling to Peru this year, but if you are considering joining a challenge and wish to discuss the situation, please feel free to get in touch with us by emailing info@charitychallenge.com.

Updated : 21st Mar 2022

UK Challenges: Covid Update 

With a diary bursting full of exciting challenges, it’s set to be another wonderfully adventurous year. The start of our UK season is already underway, with several successful events already complete. Our challengers have scaled the height of Ben Nevis (in winter no less!), conquered Edinburgh’s seven summits and trekked through the night to overcome the rollercoaster of the South Downs.  

Whilst Covid-19 rules in the UK are being relaxed, Covid-19 is still very much present and so we will continue to keep our challenges ‘Covid-safe’. We therefore encourage all of our groups to follow these simple instructions in order to reduce the risk of transmission:   

• We strongly advise that anyone doing a challenge with us is fully vaccinated and has any recommended boosters when offered. 
• We recommend that you carry a face mask with you at all times. You may be asked to wear it at your accommodation, whilst using transport and in case of medical emergencies. 
• Carry a small bottle of personal hand sanitiser and use this before and after using stiles and gates that result in you needing to touch surfaces.  
• Avoid sharing food or water with other members of the group. 
• Respect other people’s personal space.  

Please do not attend the challenge if you have symptoms of or have tested positive for Covid-19. Similarly, if you have come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 then you should not travel to the challenge and should follow government advice about getting tested and potentially staying at home. 

If you cannot attend a challenge because you, or a close contact, has symptoms of or has tested positive for Covid, please email challenges@charitychallenge.com to inform us of your situation and we will advise you about your options. 

We also ask everyone to make sure they are familiar with the latest government guidelines on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of coronavirus. These can be read here. 

We will continue to monitor the government’s advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport. And we will ensure that everyone on our challenges is briefed on specific safety measures in place to keep the group safe and so you can relax and enjoy the challenge ahead. 

Our current Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines can be found here.  

Thank you for your patience whilst we have dealt with the obvious impacts of the pandemic on our travel business. 

We look forward to a busy and adventurous 2022 with you! 

The Charity Challenge team 

Updated : 24th Jan 2022

We are delighted to now be operating some overseas challenges again for the first time in almost two years, we have a number of challenges departing imminently for Tanzania, Nepal, Peru, Argentina and Sweden.

We are constantly reviewing relevant information from our local in country partners, airlines, and local and international government authorities. Restrictions and advice are subject to change, sometimes at very short notice, so we are updating all groups due to depart within the next three months as to the requirements for leaving the UK, travelling to their challenge destination, and returning home afterwards.

Today the UK government announced that, as of 4am on 11 February, fully vaccinated participants will not need to take any covid tests on their return to England (at the time of this update, Scotland, Wales and Ireland are yet to confirm if they will follow suit).

We strongly advise that anyone travelling with us is fully vaccinated and has any recommended boosters when offered.

We will therefore provide information on entry / exit requirements on that basis. If anyone is not fully vaccinated, it is your responsibility to check the requirements surrounding Covid-19 as soon as possible. If you require any further support prior to departure or whilst in country you must contact us about this as soon as possible.

We will continue to touch base with each international group no later than 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on any covid restrictions or requirements.

Our UK challenge portfolio has been fully operational since July 2020 and we envisage all challenges operating as planned throughout 2022. However, if there are any issues or concerns we will inform you about these at the appropriate time before your challenge. Please continue to fundraise and train for your challenge!

We will continue to carefully monitor the government’s advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport. Our current Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines can be found here

Thank you for your patience whilst we have dealt with the obvious impacts of the pandemic on our travel business.

We look forward to a busy and adventurous 2022 with you!

The Charity Challenge team

Updated : 29th Nov 2021

On the 27^th November 2021 the Prime Minister confirmed new measures following the emergence of the Omicron variant in the UK. These measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks.

All international arrivals must take a PCR test before the end of day 2, and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

The latest set of announcements does not currently impact our ability to operate, however if this situation changes we will be in touch directly with any affected groups. If you don’t hear from us then your challenge will be proceeding as planned.

For now, our advice remains the same to everyone booked on a challenge with us: –

Overseas Challenges

We will be in touch no later than 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status. We will do all we can to run the challenge but please be aware that there are still likely to be some additional requirements for yourselves, such as testing on your return to the UK.

UK Challenges

Our entire UK challenge portfolio is now fully operational.

We will continue to carefully monitor the government’s advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport.

Our current Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines can be found here

Thank you for your patience whilst we review all of the new information and timelines.

The Charity Challenge team

Updated : 15th June 2021

Charity Challenge has successfully operated a number of its UK challenges over the past 10 days and we hope to be able to run the vast majority of our remaining UK challenges this season.

However, with the latest government announcement delaying Step 4 of the roadmap (removal of all restrictions) from Monday 21^st June to Monday 19^th July, it does mean that a number of challenges due to take place in the coming few weeks will have to be modified or postponed.

If your challenge is affected we will be contacting you over the coming few days, so please bear with us as we clarify what’s needed and then contact groups in a chronological order.  

For now, our advice remains the same to everyone booked on a challenge with us: –

UK Challenges

We will contact you no later than 8 weeks prior to your challenge should be unable to go ahead, or if we need to make any changes due to the impact of social distancing and any other restrictions in place.  

Overseas Challenges

We will be in touch no later than 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status. If your destination is in the ‘green list’ we will do all we can to run the challenge but please be aware that there is still likely to be some additional requirements for yourselves, such as pre departure testing.

We will continue to carefully monitor the government’s advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport.

Our current Covid-19 Protocols can be found here.

Thank you for your patience whilst we review all of the new information and timelines.

The Charity Challenge team

Updated : 7th May 2021

Charity Challenge welcome’s the latest announcement from the UK Government around the slow re-opening of international travel.

The traffic light system, of categorising each destination, means we need to look at each of our challenges in turn and see what may be possible; we don’t only have to look at what the UK government are saying, we also need to have a clear idea of what each destination government are instructing as well.

We are very excited that we are beginning to move towards a date when we can resume operating our international challenges again, but we will need some time to make sure we fully understand the implications on our participants, our leaders, the local teams and the itineraries that we have planned.

For now, our advice remains the same to everyone booked on a challenge with us: –

Overseas Challenges

• We will be in touch no later than 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status. If your destination is in the ‘green list’ we will do all we can to run the challenge but please be aware that there is still likely to be some additional requirements for yourselves, such as pre departure testing.

UK Challenges

• Our plans for all our UK challenges are progressing well and we hope the UK roadmap continues as planned. We will be operating our first UK challenges again shortly, starting at the end of May. We will contact you no later than 8 weeks prior to your challenge should your challenge be unable to go ahead, or if we need to make any changes due to the impact of social distancing and any other restrictions in place.  

We will continue to carefully monitor the government’s advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport.

Our current Covid-19 Protocols can be found here.

Thank you for your patience whilst we review all of the new information and timelines.

The Charity Challenge team

Updated : 23rd February 2021

Charity Challenge welcome’s the latest announcement from the UK Government about its step-by-step plan to ease restrictions in England.

We are very excited that we are beginning to move towards a date when we can resume operating our challenges again, and to have an end in sight for the majority of the restrictions that have impacted on all of our lives over the past year.

We recognise that there could potentially be a variation in the guidelines from the different nations of the UK, and we are awaiting the latest updates from the Scottish and Welsh governments too, as well as updates from our transport and accommodation partners, before we make any final decisions on what actions to take regarding our upcoming UK challenge season.

For now, our advice remains the same to everyone booked on a UK Challenge – your challenge is scheduled to continue as planned, and we will contact you no later than 8 weeks prior to your challenge should it be unable to go ahead, or if we need to make any changes to fully reflect the impact of social distancing and restrictions in place.  

If you are booked on an Overseas Challenge, we will be in touch no later than 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status.

We will be carefully monitoring the government’s updated advice regarding travel, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport. We are hopeful that this will mean that we will be able to begin operating our UK challenges again very soon, but with certain measures in place to make sure that they are done safely.

Our current Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines can be found here.

Thank you for your patience whilst we review all of the new information and timelines.

The Charity Challenge team

Updated : 5th February 2021

With the ongoing lockdowns, throughout the UK, we continue to review and postpone our challenges as necessary. We will be in touch with all challengers as and when needed in line with the timelines below.

UK Challenges

• Our next UK challenges are due to take place in April 2021 and we hope to be able to run these, we will keep this under constant review.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March 2020 to May 2021 to now operate later in 2021 and into early 2022. We are dealing with future challenges in chronological order.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 12 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 12 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Keeping COVID-19 Safe

We wish to reassure you that we will be reviewing the implications of any continued restrictions being in place at the time of your event. In 2020 we were very successful in running a number of UK challenge events by putting in place a variety of additional measures to ensure that the challenge could take place safely and within the latest regulations and guidance. To give you an idea of some of these measures they included:

1. Producing ‘safety briefing videos’ that were sent to all challengers in the week before the challenge to reduce the need to gather in large groups at the meeting point
2. Staggering registration and start times to reduce the number of people gathering in one place
3. Providing a ‘Challenge Safe Kit’ to every challenger that included hand sanitiser, a face mask and a buff
4. Where accommodation was required we were able to provide single rooms for all challengers

Please do read our Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines and our FAQ page for further information. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing challenges@charitychallenge.com.

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Updated : 6th January 2021

With further lockdowns now announced, throughout the UK, we continue to review and postpone our challenges as necessary. We will be in touch with all challengers, that are due to take part over the next 3 months (in the UK and overseas), to inform them of new dates for their challenge as well as any options we can offer them.

UK Challenges

• Our next UK challenges are due to take place in March 2021 and we will be in touch with groups shortly to provide new dates and any other options available to them. We hope to be able to operate trips again from April but we will keep this under constant review.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March 2020 to April 2021 to now operate later in 2021 and into early 2022. We are dealing with future challenges in chronological order. If you have a trip due to depart in May we will be in touch about your challenge in the coming weeks.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 12 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 12 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

We wish to reassure you that we will be reviewing the implications of any continued restrictions being in place at the time of your event. In 2020 we were very successful in running a number of UK challenge events by putting in place a variety of additional measures to ensure that the challenge could take place safely and within the latest regulations and guidance. To give you an idea of some of these measures they included:

• Producing ‘safety briefing videos’ that were sent to all challengers in the week before the challenge to reduce the need to gather in large groups at the meeting point
• Staggering registration and start times to reduce the number of people gathering in one place
• Providing a ‘Challenge Safe Kit’ to every challenger that included hand sanitiser, a face mask and a buff
• Where accommodation was required we were able to provide single rooms for all challengers

Please do read our Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines and our FAQ page for further information. If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing challenges@charitychallenge.com.

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Updated : 15th December 2020

Over the last few months we had a further lockdown in England and currently many areas of the UK are living under tier-2 and tier-3 restrictions (or the equivalent in Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland).

Unfortunately this means that we had to cancel some of our Winter Challenges that were due to take place in England over the last few months. We will be in touch with all challengers, that are due to take part over the next 3 months (in the UK and overseas), to inform them of new dates for their challenge as well as any options we can offer them.

UK Challenges

• Our next UK challenges are due to take place in February 2021. As restrictions in different areas are changing regularly we plan to wait until the first week in January to make decisions about whether these challenges will be able to proceed as planned or not.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March 2020 to mid-March 2021 to later in 2021 and into early 2022. We are dealing with future challenges in chronological order. If you have a trip due to depart in late March or April we will be in touch about your challenge in the coming weeks.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 12 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 12 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

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Updated : 2nd November 2020

Over the weekend the UK government announced a further lockdown across the whole of England from the 5^th November – 2^nd December 2020.

Unfortunately this means that we have now had to cancel some of our Winter Challenges that were due to take place in England over the next two weeks. We will be in touch with all challengers, that were due to take part this month, to inform them of new dates for their challenge as well as any options we can offer them.

UK Challenges

• Our next UK challenges are now due to take place in February 2021.

• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision approximately 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March 2020 to January 2021 to later in 2021. We are dealing with future challenges in chronological order. If you have a trip due to depart in February or March, we will be in touch about your challenge in the coming weeks.

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March 2020 to January 2021 to later in 2021. We are dealing with future challenges in chronological order. If you have a trip due to depart in February or March, we will be in touch about your challenge in the coming weeks.

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Updated : 14th October 2020

Over the last few days England, and the devolved administrations of the UK, have all announced a further tightening of guidance/rules, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in order to stem the flow of new Covid-19 cases.

Some of these announcements now impact on our ability to operate challenges within the guidelines; if this is the case then we will be in touch directly with affected groups. If you don’t hear from us then your challenge will be proceeding as planned.

We ask that everyone take personal responsibility and follow the guidelines from their local area. If you are unable to travel to the challenge because of local restrictions then we ask you to contact us as soon as possible on challenges@charitychallenge.com in order that we can discuss your options.

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Updated : 25th September 2020

What happens if I live in an area where there is a local lockdown, or restrictions put in place, that mean I cannot take part in my challenge?

We ask that everyone takes personal responsibility and follows the guidelines from their local area. If you are unable to travel to your challenge then we ask you to contact us as soon as possible. Unfortunately we will not be able to offer refunds as we will have already incurred costs for your place. We will do our best to move you to a later challenge date but there will be a fee to do this, this will vary depending on what costs we have already incurred; please email challenges@charitychallenge.com to inform us of your situation and we will do our best to help.

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Updated : 23rd September 2020

Yesterday England, and the devolved administrations of the UK, announced a tightening of guidance/rules, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, in order to stem the flow of new Covid-19 cases.

The new guidelines do not impact or alter the way in which we are already operating under significant Covid 19 safety protocols and all of our UK challenges are still therefore scheduled to continue as planned. Please do read our previous update from the 11^th September, in order to familiarise yourself with the reasoning behind our decisions, as well as the measures we have put in place to keep you safe on your challenge. Please also read our FAQ’s which will answer lots of your questions.

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Updated : 11th September 2020

As you may have seen in the press yesterday the guidance/rules around social gatherings (the rule of 6) in England will be changed from Monday 14th September as the government moves to stem the “concerning” rise in cases of Covid-19.  We have been monitoring all information being released from Public Heath England and the UK Government, and assessing what actions to take with regards to all of our upcoming UK challenges.

We have since reviewed the advice and, with input and professional guidance of Sport England and the British Mountaineering Council, can tell you that the government has confirmed that “organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue. That’s because these sports and activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19, and because these venues are classed as Covid-secure given the measures they’ve introduced.”

You can rest assured that we will be following the guidance and protocols of the Government, Public Health England, Sport England and the British Mountaineering Council. 

What are the new guidance / rules around social gatherings?

On 9 September, the government announced upcoming changes to simplify restrictions and ensure the virus is controlled. The government statement read; “From Monday 14 September, you must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6.” Following this statement we have worked hard to gain clarification from the appropriate governing bodies who provide advice around the operating of sporting activities and events.

Yesterday Sport England announced that:

“While social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the government’s confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events such as parkrun, which is due to return next month.

People can also continue to use leisure facilities, including gyms and pools – classes within these venues can continue as they are now. People should not go to these venues socially in groups of more than six.

That’s because these sports and activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19, and because these venues are classed as Covid-secure given the measures they’ve introduced.”

This announcement was similarly backed-up by the British Mountaineering Council, who are the organisation who represent the interests of companies and individuals who work in the outdoors:

“Following the statement by the Prime Minister on 9th September relating to restrictions on groups of people meeting in the outdoors in England (the ‘rule of 6’) we can confirm that if clubs follow the steps as detailed in the BMC guidance above then organised club meets will be able to take place with more than 6 people attending).”

What does this mean for your upcoming Charity Challenge?

All of our UK challenges are scheduled to continue as planned. We have worked hard to put in place the appropriate plans to reduce the risk of Covid-19 and, as highlighted in our Covid Safe Health & Safety guidelines, we are currently implementing reduced group sizes and staggered starts.

What changes have we made as a result of this week’s announcement from the government?

Since restarting our UK challenges, we have been using a greater number of leaders to ensure that the group will be able to maintain social distancing whilst providing you with the same level of support.

On challenges with larger group sizes we may ask people to choose a ‘walking speed’ group. This will enable us to separate out the group at registration and the start of the challenge and enable social distancing more easily. 

Specific measures for our National 3 Peaks groups

The government has made clear that transport providers are also allowed to continue operating for groups, provided that they have procedures in place to operate safely. All of the bus transfers on our National 3 Peaks challenges will continue to adhere to the government’s latest safer travel guidelines, that can be viewed here.

We have halved the number of people per bus, from 16 down to 8 people, to ensure that everyone has a double seat allocated to them throughout the challenge, and you will be asked to sit near the window to maximise social distancing. Everyone will be provided with a facemask, and you will be asked to wear it for every section of the journey.

For the latest version of our Covid-19 Health & Safety Guidelines please visit our website here.  

You can also have a look at some Covid-19 (UK Challenges) FAQ’s here.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing challenges@charitychallenge.com.

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Updated : 7th July 2020

Following months of global lockdown, closed international borders and social distancing due to the outbreak of Covid-19, restrictions are starting to ease. Charity Challenge have therefore carried out a thorough review of how we operate our challenges and how we can adapt and respond to the new logistical challenge of being Covid safe.   

We are VERY pleased to share that we are looking to restart operating our UK challenges from mid-August in a safe and responsible way. International challenges will follow in time when safe to do so. 

For anyone booked on a National Three Peaks Challenge, we are still awaiting the latest government guidelines regarding transport and accommodation before we make an informed decision on when your challenge is safe to go ahead. 

Covid-19 – Keeping you Safe on your Challenge

The safety of our customers, leaders, doctors, local ground teams, and the communities we interact with on our challenges, is of paramount importance to us.  A large part of our safety system is ensuring that you, our customers, are fully informed and updated of the best practice guidelines and the measures that we have put in place to keep you Covid safe.   

For the latest version of our Covid-19 Health & Safety Guidelines please visit here.  

We understand that all the changes in the current environment can be extremely overwhelming and may leave you with many questions as we all adapt to the new way of being. To hopefully ease some of your concerns we have pulled together some Covid-19 FAQ’s

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Information below still applicable : 26th June 2020

Updated : 29th May 2020

The government’s recent announcement means that we are cautiously optimistic that we are beginning to move towards a date when we can resume operating our challenges again.

UK Challenges

• We have postponed all of our challenges up until the end of July, and we are looking carefully at our challenges due to take place in Aug.
• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• All of our overseas challenges from October onwards are set to take place as planned. We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March-August to later in the year, or to early next year. Passengers travelling in September have been offered the opportunity to postpone their challenge to a later date and we are currently working through options with individuals and charities.
• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will give you as much notice as possible. We can’t give an exact number of weeks prior to departure date, as it will vary depending on the destination and flexibility of the airline, but we will be in touch at least 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status.

We understand that there may be a little uncertainty around booking in the current climate so we have created a Booking with Confidence policy to help you book your next overseas Charity Challenge with absolute confidence.

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Updated : 13th May 2020

What does the updated (10th May) Covid-19 lockdown guidelines mean for getting back in the outdoors?

Charity Challenge welcome the government’s inclusion of amended guidelines regarding outdoor activities and exercise earlier this week. However, we fully recognise that there is variation with regards to the guidelines from the different nations of the UK, and that there is a need for local communities to be given time to plan and adjust for these changes.

The overarching trajectory towards easing restrictions and opening up our ability to travel to places in the great outdoors and exercise is a positive sign for our UK challenge’s that are due to take place later this summer.

We would like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone booked on a Charity Challenge trip to read the government’s updated guidelines carefully before undertaking any travel to begin walking or cycling in the outdoors in the coming days and weeks.

In particular we would encourage everyone to read local authorities advice and requests before choosing to travel. Whilst an easing of lockdown guidelines is very welcome, everyone should consider how their actions may impact on the communities and the areas that they are planning to visit.

There is a lot of excellent sources of information available out there. Amongst them we would encourage people to look carefully at some of the following:

• UK Government FAQ’s. What you can and can’t do (Updated 11^th May)
• Scottish Government Covid-19 advice (updated 11^th May)
• Welsh Government Covid-19 advice (updated 11^th May)
• Government of Norther Ireland Covid-19 advice
• Joint statement from Welsh National Parks
• Statement from the Peak District National Park
• Statement from the Lake District National Park
• British Mountaineering Council’s Covid-19 recovery plan for climbing and hill walking

What does this mean for Charity Challenge’s UK challenge events?

The government’s recent announcement means that we are cautiously optimistic that we are beginning to move towards a date when we can resume operating our UK challenges again. Currently (as of 11^th May) we have postponed all of our challenges up until the end of June, and we are looking carefully at our challenges due to take place in July.

Many of our challenges are reliant on facilities such as accommodation and catering suppliers in order for them to go ahead. The government has indicated that certain hospitality businesses may be able to open in July and we will be closely looking at the advice given and the likely impact on our challenges.

However, our advice remains the same to everyone booked on a UK challenge. Your challenge is scheduled to continue as planned, and we will contact you at 8 weeks prior to your challenge should your challenge be unable to go ahead, or if we need to make any changes to fully reflect the impact of social distancing.

We will be carefully monitoring the government’s updated advice regarding travel to the outdoors, social-distancing, group sizes, use of accommodation and transport. We are hopeful that this will mean that we will be able to begin operating our UK challenges again, but with certain measures in place to make sure that they are done safely.

What does this mean for Charity Challenge’s Overseas challenge events?

The government’s recent announcements don’t give much reassurance, or certainty, around when we will be able to travel overseas again. For the time being our advice therefore remains the same to everyone booked on an overseas challenge:

All of our overseas challenges from September onwards are set to take place as planned. We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March-August to later in the year, or to early next year.

If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will give you as much notice as possible. We can’t give an exact number of weeks prior to departure date, as it will vary depending on the destination and flexibility of the airline, but we will be in touch at least 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status.

We understand that some of you are concerned about travelling overseas this year, and worried about raising your sponsorship money, so in many cases we are also offering people the opportunity to postpone their challenge to a later date. If you would like to know what options we can give you please feel free to drop us an email at challenges@charitychallenge.com, we are here to help and support you.

At the point that we are able to operate our challenges, we will ensure that we take all professional guidance and adopt relevant measures to support you and the local communities during the challenge. We will also confirm any such measures that are put in place.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all of our participants, suppliers and leaders who have been incredibly supportive and patient through what has been a very difficult time.

We can’t wait to be able to get back to what we do best, running incredible challenges for fantastic people raising money for very worthy causes.

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Information below still applicable : 24th April 2020

Updated : 17th April 2020

At Charity Challenge, we continue to monitor and assess the various updates, guidelines and requirements being released from Public Heath England and the UK Government in order to guide the actions that need to be taken with the upcoming UK and overseas challenges. The latest update from the UK Government is that the current restrictions must remain in place for at least the next 3 weeks.

What does this mean for your upcoming challenges? This does not change the current actions Charity Challenge have already taken regarding your UK and Overseas challenges.

UK Challenges

• All of our UK challenges from July onwards are set to take place as planned. All April, May and June challenges have been rescheduled to later in the year.
• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will make a decision 8 weeks prior to your challenge date (the only exception to this would be if the Government advice suddenly changed – between 8 weeks and your challenge date – and then we would be in touch at the earliest convenience). We’ll be in touch with final details and joining instructions for your challenge closer to the event.

Overseas Challenges

• All of our overseas challenges from August onwards are set to take place as planned. We have cancelled, or postponed, all overseas challenges from March-July to later in the year, or to early next year.
• Please note: If for any reason we don’t feel your challenge can proceed we will give you as much notice as possible. We can’t give an exact number of weeks prior to departure date, as it will vary depending on the destination and flexibility of the airline, but we will be in touch at least 12 weeks before departure to give you an update on your individual trips status.

As we adapt to the new way of being, the team at Charity Challenge have come up with numerous tips and advice to support our colleagues, challengers, leaders and partners through this unsettling time.

• Read our NEW tips and advice on training at home
• Have a look through our TOP TIPS on how to fundraise while social distancing
• Combine TRAINING and FUNDRAISING by taking on a VIRTUAL CHALLENGE – Once you have completed your Virtual Charity Challenge we will message you a certificate of completion on social media for you to share with all your supporters

We also hope the following FAQ’S will help answer some of your queries in the interim but if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Stay safe, stay home, stay healthy

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Updated : 30th March 2020

As the Covid-19 situation continues, we at Charity Challenge continue to monitor and assess the various updates, guidelines and requirements being released from Public Heath England and the UK Government in order to guide the actions that need to be taken with the upcoming UK and overseas challenges.  

During these unsettling times our Charity partners need our support more than ever.  The current situation puts them in an extremely vulnerable position as a huge portion of their income comes directly from fundraising events such as the London Marathon and other challenge events and races which they have now lost.  Now is the time we all need to come together to ensure we can continue to help those most in need. It is our priority to ensure that, where feasibly and practically possible, all Charity Challenge events will run later in the year if they are able to do so, so that we can continue to support our charity partners.  

Depending on destination, departures within an approximate three to six-month rolling timeframe are being rescheduled, postponed or in rare instances cancelled.  Participants, corporate clients and charity partners are being contacted directly for their particular trip and we would be grateful for everyone to wait for these initial communications from us. 

The Charity Challenge team, like many businesses, have reduced its staffing levels as we have initially postponed almost all of the challenges that would otherwise have been operating from March to June this year.

UK Challenges

• We have rescheduled all April and May challenges to later in the year and we are currently in the process of rescheduling our June challenges.
• Currently all of our UK challenges from July onwards are set to take place as planned. We will, of course, update you should this change.

Overseas Challenge

• We have cancelled, or postponed, all challenges from March-July to later in the year, or to early next year.
• Currently all of our overseas challenges from August onwards are set to take place as planned. We will, of course, update you should this change.

We have thousands of participants on dozens of challenges that we are trying to support, and we ask you to please be patient and understanding of the situation, as it may take us slightly longer than usual to respond to your query.  We will do our best to get back to you ASAP and we are prioritising the challenges in chronological order.  

If you cannot reach us on the phone, please send your enquiry to info@charitychallenge.com and we will do our best to get back to you as soon as we can. 

For all the trips later in the year which we hope will not be affected, if you are worried about fundraising when you are social distancing then the team at Charity Challenge have put their creative hats on and come up with the following ideas to help: https://bit.ly/3djryeN 

Please stay safe, follow the government guidelines and where possible take advantage of opportunities to keep mentally and physically fit so that you are in good health to tackle your Charity Challenge when it can be done! 

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Updated : 16th March 2020

In response to fast-moving events, including the ever more restrictive travel actions being imposed by countries globally, Charity Challenge has taken the blanket step to cancel all remaining overseas trips up to the end of May this year.  All participants have been contacted and offered a postponement, a transfer onto another trip or a full refund.  Subsequent overseas trips will be reviewed on a rolling basis in conjunction with the prevailing Covid-19 situation.  It is guaranteed that the outbreak will end – the only question is when!

For those on UK trips, the outlook is more positive, although under constant review to ensure adherence to government advice.  At this moment all our UK trips will run as planned and should there be any changes participants will be informed immediately.

In the meantime, our thoughts are with you all; our loyal customers, our supportive charity and corporate partners and our dependable operational partners all over the world, and we wish everyone to be sensible, remain positive and to stay safe and secure until this is over. We have put together some Frequently Asked Questions here

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Updated : 11th March 2020

As a result of the Covid-19 spread, some governments are implementing strict entry restrictions or bans on travellers who have recently lived in or passed through affected areas, including Italy as the most recent example.  Travellers are responsible for ensuring they satisfy the entry requirements into a country and Charity Challenge would encourage all participants to check their own situations regularly and also ahead of travel, especially if they have visited an affected area recently.  It is also advised that entry requirements, be that visas or electronic travel authorities, are checked to confirm they are still valid, as some governments have annulled existing documentation and require travellers to re-register as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

For the latest information and advice please use the following links to the international WHO, Public Heath England’s NaTHNaC and the relevant destination from the UK’s FCO.

Charity Challenge will continue to closely monitor events and provide updates as necessary.  It is important for Charity Challenge employees and its overseas partners, many of whom are small businesses or family owned enterprises whose livelihood relies entirely on the travel industry, that participants continue to travel as long as it is safe to do so.  Safety, however, will always come first.

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Updated: 28th February 2020

The Covid-19 outbreak continues to spread globally and the WHO provides good daily summary situation reports.  An aspect that doesn’t gain much media attention are the recovery rates which are slowly but steadily increasing; statistics which are good news given the levelling off (certainly in China) of the total caseload.  A good online interactive real time statistics dashboard has been produced by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, USA.              

Charity Challenge customers can continue to book trips with confidence, knowing that they are in safe hands. 

Currently there is no advice against travel to any of the destinations that Charity Challenge operates in, other than China. Imminent trips to China have already been postponed and challenges for later in the year are planned to run as normal; they are of course constantly under review.

If at any point a booking is affected such that Charity Challenge cannot provide the challenge itinerary in that country, customers will be offered the chance to postpone the challenge, to book on to another destination, or to receive a full refund.

Charity Challenge is committed to ensuring all its customers continue to remain in safe hands during this global outbreak.  Charity Challenge recognises that the situation is changing rapidly and is monitoring things very carefully. 

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Updated: 31st January 2020

ADVICE TO TRAVELLING PARTICIPANTS

Charity Challenge will continue to be directed by relevant government authorities regarding health and safety in connection to the coronavirus outbreak.  Currently, the only official UK government travel advisory (from the FCO) to avoid travel is to China and it is currently deemed safe to travel to all other Charity Challenge destinations.  Should that change, the groups and individuals affected will be contacted directly to discuss options and to make alternative arrangements.

All travelling participants, wherever they are going in the world, are requested to apply a high degree of awareness and common sense in the run up to, and during an expedition.   Charity Challenge is committed to not becoming a part of the problem!

Participants are requested to apply a high degree of self-regulation to avoid joining a trip as an infected individual and spreading it, and to avoid contracting or spreading it whilst overseas.  The following is advised:

Prior to Departure

– Check the latest travel advisories in your home country and follow the guidelines carefully.  Authoritative advice for UK citizens can be found at NHS Scotland’s fitfortravel and Public Health England’s National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC).  The advice and guidelines can sometimes be targeted at those travelling specifically to China but Charity Challenge considers these sensible precautions regardless of expedition destination.  

– Limit your risk to exposure by avoiding people or places where risks of infection may be high.  Following your country’s official guidelines carefully will reduce your chances of unwittingly becoming a carrier. 

– Do not join a trip if you feel ill or think you may have been exposed to the virus.   There are early reports that the virus can spread asymptomatically i.e. the virus may be transmitted to you via an infected individual who has no idea themselves that they are infected and who shows no signs or symptoms of being ill.  Please do not risk the health of your fellow expedition companions.

– Ensure you have adequate health cover to ensure comprehensive cover should you fall ill prior to the trip and have to cancel or require medical support and /or evacuation on the trip itself.

– Take extra hand cleansing products such as alcohol-based hand washes.  Currently there is insufficient evidence to support the use of face masks but that may change. If however, you feel more comfortable when transiting airports, you may consider wearing a face mask.

During the Expedition

– Maintain extremely high hand and personal hygiene standards.  Hand washing with soap, water and clean towels regularly is the best and, where not available, use alcohol-based hand cleansers.  Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, use tissues only once, disposing of them promptly and carefully, wash hands frequently.

– Avoid sharing personal items like drinking bottles

– Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and their personal items

– If you become unwell with a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, promptly seek medical attention through your Challenge Leader.  Follow all medical advice given.

On Return Home

– Pay attention to your health on return, particularly over the first 14 days.

– If you develop symptoms such as those mentioned above or any other ‘Flu like’ or respiratory illness during this period, follow your country’s guidelines carefully, which will likely suggest calling medical providers by telephone in the first instance for advice, to avoid inadvertently spreading the virus.  In England the advice is to call NHS 111 and explain your circumstances.

– Inform Charity Challenge immediately if you develop symptoms so that others in the group can be informed, authorities contacted, and any control measures can swiftly be put into action.

Charity Challenge will continue to adhere to international guidelines and be directed by official government authorities.  Participants are advised to keep abreast of developments and apply caution.  Charity Challenge is confident that trips will be run safely and just request participants to play their part and help by following the guidelines carefully

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Updated: 29^th January 2020

The outbreak continues to spread with confirmed case numbers and fatalities increasing, although mostly still limited to China; numbers outside China are generally still low and mostly single digit.  There are four cases in Europe: three in France and one in Germany.  There have now been reports of the first cases of domestic infection outside of China, in Japan and Germany.  Currently patients commonly present with mild illness although roughly 20% of patients suffer severe symptoms; its widely believed to still predominantly be a risk for the elderly or those with compromised health.

In what is now very much a globally coordinated effort to halt the spread the disease, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has now advised against all but essential travel to mainland China. 

Furthermore, companies are independently responding, including suspending flights to China.  The global effort to address this emergency is phenomenal, particularly from China itself, and confidence in managing this epidemic is currently high.  The outlook is hard to predict but experts in China suggest that the epidemic could peak in as little as a week to 10 days.

Due to the new FCO advice against travel to China, Charity Challenge will be cancelling all trips to China that are due to depart over the next 2 months and remain confident that existing trips departing later in the year will remain unaffected. 

Groups and individuals whose challenges are affected by this cancellation are being contacted directly to discuss options and to make alternative arrangements.

This advisory will be updated regularly and should any developments in the situation seem likely to impact on challenges scheduled for later in the year, we will contact the relevant participants and groups immediately to discuss options.

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Updated: 27^th January 2020

The novel (new) coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, outbreak is spreading as predicted with the first reportedly officially recognised cases in Europe reported in France on Friday 24^th January from patients who had all travelled from Wuhan; the key factor being these were not transmissions from human to human within Europe, as is happening in China, although it is widely accepted as just a matter of time before this changes.

The number of confirmed cases in mainland China has reportedly risen to almost 3,000, including 81 fatalities.  At this stage the majority of deaths are still linked to either the elderly or those with pre-existing respiratory problems.

As the outbreak progresses the WHO continues to prepare, coordinate and update on a global level, and governments are responding accordingly.  The FCO have increased the restrictions and now advise against all travel to Hubei Province.

Charity Challenge continues to monitor the situation closely.

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Original Advisory: 23rd January 2020

Overview

Charity Challenge has been monitoring the latest developments with the China coronavirus outbreak which was first detected in late December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, a region which Charity Challenge groups do not visit.

As of 22 January there have been 440 cases and 9 fatalities officially reported, including 10 cases (but no fatalities) in Beijing, a city which does feature on Charity Challenge itineraries.  In addition, the virus has spread from infected individuals from Wuhan to Thailand (2 cases), Japan (1 case), the Republic of Korea (1 case), Taiwan (1 case) and the United States of America (1 case).  The virus is thought to be part of the wide family of diseases which includes the less severe common cold and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which people recall from 2003. Current unverified reports suggest most of the fatalities have been amongst the elderly or those suffering from other chronic diseases.

It is currently too early to assess the impact this will have in China, regionally in SE Asia and globally and most authorities are waiting for more information upon which to make judgements.  The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) currently only advise against all but essential travel to Wuhan itself, and Public Health England state the risks to travellers to Wuhan itself is moderate and advise travellers there to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene.  The World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend any restrictions to travel or trade and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), Fit For Travel and the National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China are monitoring the situation closely and providing updates regularly.

What Charity Challenge is doing

The response by Charity Challenge will be very much dictated by the advice and instructions from higher national and international authorities.  

As a precautionary measure however, Charity Challenge is re-screening the medical declarations of all participants who are due to travel to China and countries in south-eastern Asia over the next 6 months, who may be at greater risk to respiratory illnesses.

With such a quickly evolving and dynamic event happening, it is too early to predict the outcome of this outbreak and undoubtedly there will be much discussion and development over the next few weeks / months.  We continue to monitor the major sources of reliable information such as the FCO and the WHO.

The first Charity Challenge trips to the region are not departing until late March and currently there is no reason to cancel or find alternative options for these trips.  Charity Challenge, along with their Chinese in-country partners who are already in contact, will continue to monitor the situation closely and should anything change that may impact on the safe delivery of the challenge, any affected groups will be contacted directly.

Participants should direct any concerns to Charity Challenge who have dedicated staff responsible for safety and security.