Insurance automatically provided by The Scout Association
There are three kinds of insurance arranged by the Scout Association through Unity, for which the premiums are provided by the Annual Membership Subscriptions:
- Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Insurance
- Liability Insurance
- Trustee Indemnity Insurance
Personal Accident and Medical Expenses
When a Member is Injured
The Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy covers the total Membership as shown on the Annual Census returns, together with new members joining during the year, in the United Kingdom and includes British Scouts in Western Europe and British Groups abroad. The policy provides limited benefits in the event of an injury during a Scout activity. (Leaders and parents need to consider their own, or family, circumstances and decide what cover they need to arrange privately). Information on the current benefits can be obtained from Unity Insurance Services.
The policy covers Scouts flying in any aircraft but Headquarters should be notified beforehand if the number of insured persons travelling in one aircraft is 200 or more.
When travelling away from mainland Britain, members should ensure that they have adequate cover under a travel policy.
Extending cover for Non-Members
Group Committee Members and other Helpers have no automatic personal accident cover, although a facility exists whereby Groups can arrange cover upon payment of a small premium.
Whilst there is no requirement for Helpers etc. to be named, the agreement with insurers is on the basis that Groups using this facility will insure the maximum number of different non-members assisting the Group during the year, not a maximum at any one time.
Whilst the minimum premium effectively equates to 25 persons, large Groups with more than 25 Helpers must bear in mind that to adequately insure all Helpers they should declare the total number and pay on that basis.
Districts who elect to administer the Helpers extension on behalf of Groups should be aware that they must declare a figure which is adequate to cover the total numbers of non-members working with the various Groups. If the insurers should ever believe that their trust is being abused, we may see a requirement for individuals to be named, with the consequent administrative burden that will entail.
Short period cover under the policy is also available for non-members taking part in Scouting activities, such as family camps and sponsored walks, on payment of a premium.
If any person, whether a member of the Movement or not, suffers personal injury (where injury necessitates treatment by a doctor, dentist or at a hospital) or requires rescuing (where rescue involves an Emergency Service, i.e. Police, Fire, Ambulance, Mountain Rescue or Coastguard) or dies in the course of, or arising out of, a Scout activity or while on, or in conjunction with, any Scout property, Unity Insurance Services must be informed. Notification of injuries can be given either by letter or telephone but must be given within seven days of the incident. A Scout Group can write or telephone direct to Unity Insurance Services, but some Districts or Counties require the notification to be routed through them. On receipt of the notification, the necessary instructions and forms will be issued. Notification of injuries is required whether or not there is to be a claim on the Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy.
As a charity, with limited financial resources, The Scout Association recognises that the Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy is limited in the scope of cover provided and is unlikely to meet the full financial needs of any particular injured person.
However, in conjunction with the Insurers (Lloyds), we have developed a unique Personal Injury Plan (PIP) which provides an optional facility to our members and their families, including the parents and siblings of members.
Details of the cover and premiums are available free from Unity Insurance Services. Bulk premium discounts may be available for Counties or Districts who arrange cover on all adult Leaders.
Liability
The Scout Association arranges a substantial and comprehensive Legal Liability Policy which will, at the request of the Association, provide indemnity for Commissioners, Leaders and other persons authorised to be in charge of, or to assist with, a Scout activity against claims made by members under their control, or their parents/guardians, or by third parties, alleging legal liability arising out of accidents occurring during any authorised Scout activity.
It extends to all those authorised to be in charge of Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts or members of Scout Network, while they are engaged in a properly organised and authorised activity abroad, as well as British Scout Leaders who assume temporary responsibility for parties of foreign Scouts visiting the British Isles to participate in Scout activities organised by a British Home Unit.
The policy also extends to protect those responsible for the organisation and running of Scout fund raising events and covers the property owner’s liability which rests upon any Scout authority which owns, or is responsible for the upkeep of, land and/or buildings (except for liability accepted under any agreement - see note on indemnity agreements,).
The Scout Association’s Legal Liability Policy does not cover legal liability arising out of the ownership and/or driving/piloting of motor vehicles, aircraft and/or gliders. Nor does it fully cover liability for injuries to third parties and/or damage to third party property arising out of ownership or operation of boats. However, additional liability policies are arranged by the Association in respect of marine and air activities.
If any tree felling or lopping is to be undertaken as a Scout service or fundraising project, those responsible for planning and executing the activity must acquaint themselves with the relevant fact sheets available from the Information Centre at Gilwell Park. Trees near buildings (including outbuildings, sheds etc.), footpaths or roads must be reduced in height in sections, each section to be no longer than the distance from the tree to the building, or other obstruction.
Those responsible for organising Scout Fetes, Bazaars, and so on, need to remember that a large number of people congregating together in a limited space constitutes a high liability risk. Therefore, sideshows must be carefully sited and adequately screened especially where the attraction could be dangerous, such as a coconut shy or darts.)
There must be sufficient adult supervision and an organising committee conscious of their responsibility to stop the operation of any particular sideshows or attraction which gives any sign of becoming a hazard to the safety of people attending the function.
Every Leader or Instructor is expected to operate within the rules for sailing, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling, mountaineering, parascending, building and operating aerial runways, and other adventurous activities. The Association’s schemes of authorization must be used. This is a pre-requisite to indemnity being given under the Association’s policy.
If aerial runways, abseiling or climbing activities are to be included as an attraction at a public event, then they must be used only by properly supervised members of the Movement or other permitted persons as a form of display or demonstration. In any situation The Scout Association’s aerial runway code must be fully complied with and, of course, the use of climbing walls for climbing or abseiling must comply with the appropriate activity rules (see P.O.R. Rules 40.3)
Indemnity Agreements
If a Scout Group is arranging to use for an event or activity, land, premises or any other facility belonging to another authority, organisation or individual, and is required to sign an agreement or indemnity, they should contact Unity Insurance Services. The acceptability of the agreement or indemnity terms, and the adequacy of the Association’s Legal Liability Policy in relation to them, need to be confirmed by Unity Insurance Service before proceeding with the arrangements, or signing an agreement or indemnity.
Trustee Indemnity Insurance
Many of you are interested in Trustee Indemnity Insurance cover. As a result of a change in Charity
Commission rules (which, until June 2007, precluded Scouts from buying a Trustee Indemnity Insurance policy), cover can now legally be purchased.
Broadly, a Trustee Indemnity Insurance policy is designed to cover Trustees in the event that
they are held personally liable for the loss of charity assets or for
making a decision which results in the charity sustaining a loss in
financial terms. It does not cover acts which the trustee knew (or
should reasonably have known) would constitute a breach of trust, so
deliberate malfeasance would not be covered.
Having considered the merits of such cover, The Scout Association
elected to arrange a national policy to cover trustees of any Scout
charity. That includes members of executive committees of Scout
Districts, Counties and Groups, as well as those who manage other Scout
assets such as building or campsite committees.
The provision of cover is designed to protect people who, having acted
responsibly and honestly, find themselves being held to account. An
obvious example might be where they have sent a cheque to pay for
insurance, it is mislaid in the post and an uninsured loss occurs.
The premium is paid centrally by The Scout Association, and as such, they have set a limit of indemnity they see adequate for the membership, so no additional cover need be purchased.
Who is covered?
Any person elected, co opted or appointed to act as a trustee to Scout assets (these will usually be the members of an Executive Committee).
What are they covered for?
Personal liability to make good a loss to the charity caused by their
joint or several action.
What is not covered?
Criminal actions.
Acts which the trustee(s) knew (or should reasonably have known) could
result in a breach of trust.
Acts taken in reckless disregard of whether a breach of trust might
occur or not.