Posted 21 December 2021:
We’re pleased to say that the Christmas Day Dip is due to go ahead at Felixstowe seafront this year.
Here is an update on COVID-19 protocols for the Christmas Day Dip. Please do read all the information as it is very important for your safety if you are taking part this year.
Although there are no restrictions in place that stops the event from happening, we do understand that some people may have concerns about attending the event due to the new variant. We would love you to still attend, but if you feel it would be unsafe after reading the safety measures we have put in place, we understand and will issue you a refund.
Please email Events.Team@stelizabethhospice.org.uk before the 25th December 2021 and we shall return your entry fee. Please note that the refund will come back to you in early January and we shall email you to let you know when to expect it.
Registration
Registration will open at 08:30am and close at 09:45am ready to dip at 10:00am. Please be mindful that there will be queues whilst we undertake the COVID-19 screening process at registration and arrive in plenty of time. Our brilliant volunteers have been informed by the organisers to remind people to keep distanced, so please be respectful and patient whilst we get everyone through registration as quickly and safely as possible.
Negative Lateral Flow Tests
To help us prevent the transmission of COVID-19 at Christmas Day Dip, all participants will be required to produce proof of a negative lateral flow test to enter the event. This will be checked at registration and you will need to show proof of your negative test through either:
- bringing the test itself
- registering and receiving confirmation of your negative test via gov.uk/report-covid19-result
- Or a date stamped photo of the test. The test must be taken on the 25 December prior to arriving at the event
Please do not attend the event if you or anyone you live with have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Hands, Face, Space
We want everyone to feel as safe as possible at the event so there will be plenty of hand sanitising stations dotted around. We ask that all participants sanitise their hands on arrival and regularly throughout the event. We strongly recommend that everyone wears a face covering as much as possible throughout the event (including spectators) however you will not be expected to wear one whilst dipping.
Family/spectators
In previous years, the promenade has been busy, as family and friends like to spectate. We recommend trying to limit the amount of spectators you bring along where possible. Staff and volunteers will be checking participants are distanced in the registration areas; however, we are unable to manage social distancing on the promenade.
We recommend that any spectators that you do bring along to the event also take a lateral flow test on the morning of 25 December to make sure that they are also negative of COVID-19. Please do not attend the event if you, they or anyone they live with have any COVID-19 symptoms.
No on the day sign ups
Pre-registration for the event closes on 23 December at 12pm and there will be no sign ups on the day so if you have any friends or family that miss the deadline, then please advise them that they will not be able to enter the event.
COVID Booking Guarantee
Please note that we shall refund anyone that has tested positive or is required to isolate due to COVID-19 on the day of the event.
Simply email a screenshot of your notification/test result to fundraising@stelizabethhospice.org.uk.
Government guidelines
We are monitoring the government guidelines daily, so we shall be in touch again should they decide to make any rule changes that effects the event.
We would love to see you at the beach on Christmas Day, but we do understand if you do not wish to attend this year due to the current circumstances. Either way your support means the world to our patients and their families and we cannot thank you enough for signing up to do the dip.
Best wishes,
The Events Team