Liability Cover
When dealing with members of the Movement, the issue of Liability cover can be daunting.
Don't panic though, we have everything you need to know right here.
But if you want to talk to us feel free to give us a call, email, send a letter, or get us to call you back.
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Legal Liability Insurance
The Scout Association as a responsible organisation, arranges a National Legal Liability Insurance Programme which is intended to respond in circumstances where a Scout Authority is held liable for injury, loss and/or damage arising from its activities.
This policy extends to include a Scout Authority’s potential liability under the Occupiers Liability Act (1957) where it owns or otherwise has legal responsibility for land and/or buildings which it uses – either for its own purposes – or for those of third parties such as other youth organisations, schools, colleges, etc
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.
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.
Summary
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.
Please contact us for more information.
Employer’s Liability
Where a person is employed (such as a manager, caretaker, cleaner, warden etc) legislation requires adequate Employer’s Liability Insurance to be arranged.
We can arrange this for you on completion of a simple questionnaire.
Please contact us for more information.
Campsite Liability
This insurance is available to those Scout Campsites and Activity Centres who wish to permit non Scouts/Guides to use climbing and abseiling facilities at their site.
The policy will indemnify the operating Scout authority, its members, servants or agents for all sums which it/they become legally liable to pay for compensation and claimant costs and expenses in respect of and arising out of bodily injury to any non Scout/Guide participating in climbing or abseiling activities using Scout owned/operated facilities, equipment, and/or instructors.
Please contact us for more information.
Non-member children
This is a scheme for children (under 18 years old) who are not Members of The Scout Association, but who attend, or take part in, weekly meetings or events because they are accompanying their parent(s), or with other adults. This can also cover crêches opened by groups.
Two types of cover are available:
- Public Liability
- Personal Accident Insurance
For further information, or to request an application pack, please contact us

