Posted By Melanie Fellows
I am a member of a local craft club which has 36 members and has been running for 10 years.
Our club nights are held once a month at the local school, with a committee night once a month also.

We have been advised by the school that to continue we must have PL insurance.

But due to the size of the club we are struggling to find a provider.

The closest we have got is £300 for 15 "events" per year for up to 250 people. But we need it for 24 events per year and only a maximum of 36 people - plus it will be a struggle to raise the funds (it'll almost double everyone's yearly subscription, so might close us down financially anyway).

Does anyone have any suggestions of where we could find reasonably priced cover please?

Many thanks,

Mel

Posted By Bob Y
Melanie

I don't know where you can get any cheaper cover. I don't always understand the preoccupation with insisting that such clubs have PL insurance, it is not a legal requirement for them to do so and if any liabilities are attributed to the club then that is a matter for the club to deal with. I can't imagine that The council would be held liable for something that the club were doing and for which the Council had no control over. Could you challenge the Council's position and ask for their logic?

Posted By Bob Y
Mel - to a greater or lesser degree the scare stories are just that - scare stories. I don't know what is exactly involved in making the cards but I can't imagine that it is likely to be anything that is of a significant risk, unless you or others know different. My sister in law has been making them for years and she still has all fingers etc. I think it is such a shame that this instance to have insurance gets in the way of people having fun and running genuinely important activities that help to enrich people's lives. I suggest that you find someone who can carry out a risk assessment and manage any risks identified down as far as possible, I really doubt that you have any serious risks to worry about and I would like to think therefore that you have little to worry about as regards to being sued for anything significant.

Posted By Melanie Fellows
I haven't found card making to be that dangerous myself - I still have all my digits in fully working order.

The club doesn't provide any scissors or craft knives - the members bring their own weapon of choice. Generally what is provided is ink, ribbon, rubber, double sided tape & other such non offensive items.
I am potentially the youngest member at 34, so high jinx of running etc is limited due to walking sticks.

I supposed we could ban the use of heat guns....or stop them making a cup of tea.

Writing the risk assessment & method statement won't be a problem - would probably have to be monthly though depending on the class, and then there's the joys of getting people to read, understand and sign on to them....

No wonder clubs fold instead!

Mel

Posted By Jeffrey Watt
sraft should read craft, sorry.

Posted By PhilP
Melanie

Having just spoken to a colleague in our insurance dept, they suggest that the school requires you to have 3rd party liability insurance; in case you damage school property during the course of your activities.

Public liability would be if your club were to injury a person other than club member during your activities, this shouldn't be anything to do with the conditions of your hiring. It's also unlikely if you are the sole hirers of the premises combined with the activites that you will be doing.

As far as I am aware 3rd party insurance is alot cheaper that public liability.

If your local papers got hold of the story I'm sure it would H&S's fault, as it's us that stops small clubs from from existing, not high insurance premiums. Good luck with it anyway.

Philip