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BTCV considers it essential for groups to have insurance cover, and local authorities require anyone working on their land to be insured. Unfortunately, accidents will happen, even to the most careful of groups. Claims against your group as a result of an accident connected with its work can run into tens of thousands of pounds. In the absence of adequate insurance cover, such claims could be made against the leader of the project, the organisers of your group or its members. There are no substitutes for safe working practices, but when these fail, the provision of good insurance is a vital safeguard for your group.

Accidents will happen.

Your parent body may provide you with insurance cover, but you should ensure this covers you when working on land not owned or managed by your parent body, and covers volunteers who work on a casual basis as well as registered members. Make sure you have a copy of the policy.

NCVO publishes Insurance protection: a guide for voluntary organisations, which explains the insurance you might need to consider having in more detail.

Public liability

The most important insurance to have is public liability, which insures your group against any damage which may be caused to property, the public or your own volunteers. BTCV recommends cover of up to £2,000,000 for any one claim as a minimum requirement. Although this sounds a considerable amount, courts tend to award very large levels of compensation for personal injuries.

Personal accident

This covers volunteers who injure themselves as a result of their own negligence and is usually for injury or loss of limbs; injury to, or loss of, eyes or for death. Cover can be expensive and will be in direct relationship to the level of compensation.

Power-driven machinery

If your group uses power-driven machinery or equipment such as chainsaws, you can expect to pay an additional premium for insurance cover. Your operators will be expected to be suitably qualified.

Tools

Your tools and equipment are probably the most valuable assets your group owns. It is worth obtaining insurance cover for them against fire and theft while they are being stored. It is unlikely that you will be able to get cover for your tools while in transit or on site at a reasonable premium. The insurers may wish to inspect the store, and may insist on the fitting of strong locks. It is important to insure for the replacement cost, which may be many times the second hand value.

Vehicles

As vehicles are so expensive to replace, BTCV recommends that if you own a vehicle you take out comprehensive insurance. However, you do need to take account of the premium costs against the current value of the vehicle. If the value is low, you may consider third party cover with limited named drivers over 25 to reduce premiums to a minimum. Trailers are usually covered under a motor vehicle policy, but you should check the details of this with your insurers.

BTCV's insurance service

BTCV offers an excellent combined insurance package for its Associated Groups, which covers voluntary groups undertaking practical conservation activities. Meetings, fundraising, publicity and public awareness events are also covered, provided they are for the purpose of achieving the group's conservation aims.

The following types of insurance are offered

Public Liability and Personal accident combined policy Public Liability

The indemnity limit is £5,000,000 for any one public liability claim, with an optional upgrade to £10,000,000. This provides cover for your group whilst engaged in conservation related activities. Meetings, fundraising, publicity and public awareness events are also covered, provided they are for the purpose of achieving the group's conservation aims. The policy includes liability for products, including food sold or supplied by you and a negligent act is covered whether a committee member, trustee or director commits it. The policy also includes liability for groups who own or act as trustees or lessors of an area of land that is used for conservation related activity.

Personal Accident

Any member of your group (including children) who sustains bodily injury by accident or assault whilst engaged on your official activities may be eligible for compensation under the personal accident element of the combined policy. Benefit is paid on a sliding scale depending on the nature of the injuries.

For more information on the above, or for details of other aspects of insurance you can extend your policy to cover, for example, power tool use (you'll need to be qualified to get this), firework displays, insurance of your tools and equipment against theft, you can visit www.btcv.org or contact the Community Unit.

Applying for insurance

You should ideally apply during the Association process but certainly before starting any project work. A standard leaflet and application form outlining all current cover and rates is available from the Community Unit or on the website, where currents costs and restrictions are listed. If you would like any further information, please contact BTCV's insurance department (address in appendix ).

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