This is going to be a bit of a long one, so put the kettle on/grab a beer, sit down and get comfy.
We feel an update is needed to cover a number of areas, so apologies for the length of this post in advance.
Firstly, as the majority of you are already aware of, the Government has updated their online guidance, with airsoft venues now specifically named and included in the category of ‘Visitor Economy’ (VE). Examples of VE organisations include Zoos, leisure parks and theme parks, which is a category a number of sites have used for their guidance through lockdown. VE isn’t specifically referred to in the roadmap out of lockdown, however organisations that fall in to this category are included in the Stage 2, reopening from the 12th April.
Prior to this update, a number of sites had received approval from their local EHO to reopen under Stage 1 from 29th March. We believe these decisions will have been made following the guidelines for grassroots sports and sports providers. Airsoft sites are required to submit detailed plans including their Covid secure measures and risk assessments, in order to receive an official go-ahead to reopen. In these instances, we recommend that sites contact their EHO and insurer to seek guidance and further approval for whether they can go ahead with reopening before 12th April, in order to not breach any covid restrictions or laws, and to ensure they have insurance cover.
To muddy the waters a little further, dual or multi use sites which offer paintball may receive guidance that differs from sites that are solely for airsoft.
In February 2021, Billy Gumbrell - ATB Chairman, wrote to Nigel Huddlestone, MP for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, to seek official clarification and guidance from the government, for the airsoft industry. As of Friday 26th March 2021, we were still waiting for an official response. We were hoping to present the email and response together, however the events in the last 24 hours have pushed us to release our email without the response. A copy of this will be included at the bottom of this post.
Progress behind the scenes at the ATB has been good, however the need to re-build the structure from the ground up was identified. The process of forming an unincorporated association to protect ATB intellectual property (domains, website, member database etc) is well underway, along with moves towards registering for charity status as a not for profit organisation. Unfortunately there have been a number of hurdles to overcome and the process has taken a lot longer than hoped. The new formation and drive of the ATB is a very different beast to previous versions, and it comes with many (painful) set up processes mentioned above and more, to become formal and legal.
Last week we were finalising work on the ATB website and members forum which will better suit our needs. Up until now Facebook has been used as the mode to communicate with members of the ATB group and for announcements, but it is safe to say is not appropriate for our needs. It is the intention of the ATB Committee to be transparent with its members and the wider airsoft community. Providing minutes from meetings, general airsoft information, news, resources, support and more, with public and password protected member areas, all in one place.
We will bring you more information and announce the website going live as soon as possible.
To address the conversations and concerns in regards forming a Governing Body, please be aware that this is not a simple or quick process. Nor is it a process that will be solely undertaken by the ATB. An airsoft governing body will be a separate entity to the ATB, with its own elected Committee, with input from various airsoft organisational bodies, groups and representatives. These are discussions that are ongoing.
We welcome any and all questions along with constructive feedback. Please be reminded that we will not tolerate ‘trolling’ or bullying on this page and all comments will be moderated.
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Dear Mr Huddleston,
I hope this email finds you in good health and good spirits in these trying times. I am writing to you as the Chairman of the Airsoft Trade Body to seek yours and your departments’ advice and guidance for our industry. Airsoft in an activity similar to paintball with approximately 100,000 players, 200+ gaming venues and around 150 additional businesses in retail, wholesale and repair.
The Airsoft Trade Body (ATB) was formed in 2014 to represent and protect the industry and players amid the gun law changes within the policing and crime bill. While the guns that are used in airsoft are toys and cannot be converted to be used as a firearm, they are classed as replica imitation firearms (RIF) and have the potential to be used in crime. In order to prevent these RIFs falling in to the wrong hands and to protect the industry, it was agreed with the government that the airsoft industry would become self-governing, with the sale of airsoft guns restricted to genuine airsoft players.
The ATB has remained as an advisory body for the industry since and has tackled other minor threats to airsoft. The biggest challenge and threat we are currently facing is Covid. Our members look to us for guidance on legislation, opening dates, financial aid, grants and supporting their staff. Currently the best we can legally offer them is signposting to relevant Government and local council webpages. Airsoft is currently a hobby or leisure activity, has all of the traits of a sport but cannot be recognised as such due to the lack of official governing body. This has left the gaming venues confused as to how their business is classed, and, as such, which category they fall under for re-opening dates. We cannot yet class airsoft as a sport, yet some businesses have been informed by their local authority that they fall into this category, while other LAs have informed businesses that they are classed as a leisure activity. Unfortunately a number of businesses have been informed that they don’t fall under any category and haven’t had the go-ahead from their EHO to open at any point in between lockdowns. These businesses are essentially facing a postcode lottery as to whether they can fight to survive or simply throw in the towel due to lack of income and lack of financial grants.
As an example of the above, 3 sites in the North of England received very different guidance from their local EHO. One site was told they could only open to under 18’s, one site was told they couldn’t open at all, and a site in the neighbouring jurisdiction of the site forced to close were allowed to open with no restrictions at all, as long as they were Covid secure. These sites provided almost identical Risk Assessments, had put in place all measures to be classed as Covid secure and had insurance policies in place.
We recognise that not having formed a governing body sooner has harmed businesses in our industry exponentially, however no-one could have predicted the arrival of Covid, nor the destruction it would cause. Information gathering and actions have been taking place to form a governing body for longer than Covid has been prevalent, and the newly elected ATB Committee have formed with the goal of forming a governing body a top priority. We would like to achieve this goal in 2021, with a view to starting the process to be recognised as an official sport in the UK.
We would like to engage, if possible with your office in order to initially protect airsoft businesses and the interests of the players, and in the future to provide guidance on our route to forming a governing body to be recognised as a sport in the UK.
Unfortunately a number of businesses have already closed in this past year, in particular woodland based gaming venues which have no rateable value. With little to no other financial support from the government they have been unable to pay for their rent, insurance and security amongst other financial commitments. Some indoor venues have been heavily affected, with different guidance and restrictions being put in place by their local EHO.
While we don’t yet have financial figures to demonstrate how much the industry contributes to the economy and service industries related to us (logistics, insurance, rental industries), a significant number of businesses are VAT registered, with the top 10 turning over millions of pounds.
Airsoft businesses and groups are closely involved with charity work, especially for military related charities. One initiative alone is approaching £50,000 for RBLI, raising PTSD awareness. A surprising number of serving and veteran military members play airsoft, with Veterans finding the community they have missed since leaving and ones struggling with combat PTSD ironically finding therapeutic benefit from the game! As a long serving member of the British Armed Forces, I can attest to the benefits airsoft brings to the forces community.
Other players come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with female players seeing a surge of numbers. The number of young people, inspired by first person shooter games is growing exponentially, with parents supporting their interest as a healthy activity that gets them away from their games console. Reasons players enjoy the activity include feeling part of a community, fitness, stress relief, managing depression and of course having a good time.
What we are asking for from you and your department initially and somewhat urgently, is to provide overruling guidance for the different game sites and environments. The different environments are as follows:
Woodland sites, open air - These sites have areas known as a safe zone which is where the nearest contact players will have with each other. Measures to make these Covid secure have been to implement one way systems through the zone, areas divided to maintain social distancing, safe zones being closed with players working from their cars where social distancing is not possible due to the size of the safe zone, communal areas such as toilet facilities being thoroughly cleaned, the wearing of face coverings being worn at all times, hand sanitiser being supplied and use of enforced, no sharing of equipment, no mixing of individuals that are not in a social bubble.
Indoor sites - Measures to make these Covid secure have been to implement one way systems through the safe zone, areas divided to maintain social distancing, reduced player numbers to ensure social distancing can be maintained in the safe zone, communal areas such as toilet facilities being thoroughly cleaned, the wearing of face coverings being worn at all times, hand sanitiser being supplied and use of enforced, no sharing of equipment, no mixing of individuals that are not in a social bubble.
I appreciate that you and your department are extremely busy at the moment and are under a lot of pressure, but I do hope to hear from you in due course.
Thank you for your attention and I hope to hear from you or your department soon.
Best Regards
Billy Gumbrell
