Insurance

Insurance, which covers all paid up members of Su3a, is arranged centrally by the Third Age Trust. The general comments, given after the Risk Assessments below, cover the main areas and do not cover all insurance, e.g. the cyber cover and tour operator cover, arranged by Third Age Trust. Further information can be found on the Third Age Trust website. Any detailed queries on insurance should initially be directed to [u3a_contact name=”Les Baker”] and secondly to Sam Mauger at the National Office, email sam.mauger@u3a.org.uk

Please note that insurance does not cover incidents involving children and therefore unfortunately no children can attend any Su3a Group.

Risk Assessments

We live in a litigious world but, notwithstanding this, it makes sense to think about the risks inherent in your Group’s activity, to ensure members are aware of such risks and steps have been taken to mitigate them. If an assessment of risk can avoid a member having an accident or becoming unwell then so much the better.

It should be assumed it is a requirement of the insurance cover that risk assessments are prepared. Although strictly a claim will not be rejected simply because there is no risk assessment, the lack of a risk assessment will make a claim much harder to defend. If a claim relates to a Covid 19 matter than it must be assumed that a claim will fail without a proper risk assessment and any member’s claim will not be met.

Groups, such as walking groups or Groups that meet in member’s homes, must complete a checklist and all other Groups, particularly those involved in physical activities and outside activities, must prepare a risk assessment. There are examples of possible risk sssessments, a risk assessment template and sample checklist at Coordinators’ Documents

There is also a lot of available guidance on risk assessments on various general websites including those of any national body for your activity.
It is recommended that if your Group, for example, meets in a village hall or location managed by a third party then, as part of arranging the hire terms, you obtain and review that third party’s risk assessment. Please ensure it has been updated for Covid-19.

Risk Assessments / Checklist should be issued to all group members and, whilst Covid 19 remains a risk, each member should agree, in writing, that they accept the risk assessment/checklist before participating in a group’s activities.

Public Liability

This cover protects Su3a members against a claim from a member of the public, or from another member of Su3a, where it can be shown that the Su3a member is legally responsible for personal injury to the claimant, or is legally responsible for loss and damage to the claimant’s property.

An example of a public liability claim is where a Su3a member on a field trip accidently jostles a member of the public (or another Su3a member) into a canal, thereby sustaining injury, and/or loss of property, to the claimant.
Public liability does not cover pure accidents where no legal liability has been established.

Product Liability

This cover protects Su3a members against claims arising from injury or damage sustained due to failure of a product for which you are legally held liable.
An example would be if a kettle, owned by the group, overheated and caused damage.

Personal Accident

Su3a members are not covered for personal accidents that they may suffer. Any member requiring Personal Accident insurance should arrange this separately: they could consider their own household insurance which may cover personal accident.
An example of personal accident is where an SU3A member trips and breaks a limb and no other person is involved.

Money

Loss of money upto £1,000 per Group is covered provided appropriate procedures have been followed e.g accurate financial records of all monies going in and out have been kept thereby supporting the loss. Note: Accounting losses are not covered.
As an example, forced entry to a member’s home and theft of a Group’s cash box would be covered.

Equipment

Cover up to £25,000 is provided for your Group’s equipment provided it is stored under lock and key. Note this does not cover a member’s own equipment used by the Group.
In case of a claim you would need to show the equipment had been bought by the Group. Again: accurate financial records would be needed.

Home Contents

Cover is provided if an Su3a member’s home is used for a Group meeting and damage occurs during that meeting.
An example would be if wine was split on a carpet.

Charity Trustees Management Liability

This policy primarily covers trustees of Su3a. It is important that the Grievance Procedure is followed in all cases of a complaint. Please see Grievances.

Caveat

In common with virtually all insurance policies Third Age Trust’s policies contain words to the effect of : “take all reasonable precautions to prevent….” and ” comply with all legal requirements and safety regulations and conduct business in a lawful manner “. In practical terms this means we all need to apply common sense and be vigilant to risk and any laws / regulations that apply to your Group’s activity.
As an example, walking groups should comply with the Highway Code.
Each policy has an excess of which some would normally be covered by Su3a not your Group.

Cover Note

A copy of the insurance cover note, detailing the insurance, is available on the this website Insurance Cover Note should you need to provide a copy, for example, to a local library as a condition of using a room

Permitted Visitors – Covered by Insurance

As noted above, insurance cover is in place for paid up Su3a members. There are two extensions to this

Members over 90 years old, who have free membership of Su3a, are covered provided they are registered annually with the membership team
Permitted Visitors are covered

Permitted Visitors are:

Prospective members, i.e. eligible people who would like to join Su3a, and casual guests of Su3a members subject to a limit of two visits. Please note: this limit is two visits to Su3a as a whole not two visits to each group in Su3a and it is not an annual limit but a total limit. You will need to trust the individual on this matter as there are no central records of visitor attendance. However, you should keep a record of visitor attendance for your Group and tell the individual they can come twice.
A member’s carer should a member need a carer to participate in your activity

If someone attends your Group and they are not a paid up Su3a member or Permitted Visitor then they will not be insured.

Accidents and Incidents

An Incident Report F o rm should be completed if there is an accident or incident in your Group which could lead to a claim even if, at the time, the person(s) involved say they do not wish to pursue a claim.
Please send this form to the General Coordinator