Editorial staff
The short answer is: yes, in lots of situations, you can — but it is dependent on what your group does, how it is run and how the insurer perceives the risk.
“Getting insurance is not just one of those boxes that you simply tick, it is all about protecting people,” says Sarah Greene, insurance specialist at QuoteRadar. Even the small or informal groups should think about the public liability insurance in case of working with the general population or organizing events.
This article will tell you what public liability insurance is, why you may need it, and how to obtain it even when you are not a registered club.
What is Public Liability Insurance?
The public liability insurance covers your group/organisation in case of an injury or damage claim against you. An example is that when one of the general population trips on equipment at your event or is injured in an activity he was engaged in, he may make a claim. This kind of insurance assists in paying the legal fees and compensation.
Whether the injury or damage is accidental or not, it does not matter, as long as your group is considered to be at fault, then you will be liable. This is why such insurance is significant, in particular, when you work with people.
Is It a Prerequisite to be a Registered Club?
No, not always. You do not need to be a registered club or formal business to take out a public liability policy. There are a lot of insurers that will cover:
- Community-based programs
- Hobby groups
- Volunteer-run projects
- Unincorporated associations
That is, even though your group is unofficial but if its activities bring together people or if it host events, you may need to be adequately covered.
Nevertheless, insurers might inquire about your structure. The questions they inquire can be:
- The activities that you do
- The number of meetings or events that take place
- Whether or not you have any sort of committee or rules
- Who is in charge of health and safety
They are asking this because even informal groups still have a duty in case they deal with the people.
Reasons Why Public Liability Insurance Is Essential:
Accidents may still occur even when you think that your group did not do anything risky. In case someone is hurt at your event or on a walk that you have organised, he may sue, particularly when they believe that the event could have been prevented.
Other potential claims:
- A tourist accidentally steps on wires during one of the community music nights
- Volunteers organize a sports event during which one of the children is injured
- One of your group damages the property of someone
When your group is not insured, it can cost you (or the organisers) a significant amount of money in case something goes wrong. This is the reason why UK government enforces to have it and most places would now want to see your public liability insurance cover before they can allow you to book a facility or hold an event.
What You Should Know:
Be straightforward and truthful when you are applying, tell them what your group is doing. In the event that you fail to describe your activities in the right way, you might be having a faulty policy.
It is also advisable to look at what is covered and what is not. Some of the activities that may need more coverage or checks are contact sports, mass public events or work with vulnerable population.
In addition, remember that the public liability insurance does not cover your members. In case you require insurance that covers the organisers or members of your group as well, you might require other kinds of cover, such as personal accident or employers liability.
Final Thoughts:
According to the UK rules, there is no such requirement that a club must be registered in order to be able to obtain public liability insurance. A lot of informal and volunteer-based organizations are able and willing to get cover. You just need to make it clear what your group does, who is in it and how often you communicate with the population.
Accidents do not happen very often, yet in case something happens, it is better to have the right insurance and be covered.
Editorial staff
