Hi All

Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year.

The below statement is an extract from the revised Guidelines for Challenge Events, which will be available in the tool kit very soon. Most of the statement is as before and can confirm you are covered by the LDWA policies, one paragraph I would like to point out is:- Note non-LDWA members are not covered by the LDWA PA insurance. With this in mind it would make good practice to highlight this on your entry forms, and make the statement along the lines of, for £15.00 annually [DD] they could join the LDWA and would be covered by the LDWA insurance and make good use of all the other benifits that the LDWA have on offer..

3.4 Insurance

Challenge event organisers must have adequate public liability insurance cover to protect themselves against claims arising out of the event from the public, from landowners, from walkers, etc. Local authorities or public services may require evidence of adequate insurance cover to be produced before allowing their property to be used for checkpoint purposes. Similarly, permission to use private land, particularly forestry or water collection areas, may be conditional on adequate insurance. A minimum cover of £5 million is strongly recommended and often required.

Such liability policies do not cover accidental injury to LDWA members. Instead, the LDWA has its own accident insurance for all members whilst participating in LDWA activities and whilst travelling to and/or from LDWA activities within the UK. Entrants bringing dogs on events, if this is allowed, must have their own insurance for their dogs.

Note non-LDWA members are not covered by the LDWA PA insurance.

Challenge events organised by the LDWA or the LDWA's Local Groups are covered by the LDWA’s own public liability insurance policy. Under the current policy (2023-2024) the LDWA has a £10 million public liability policy for its members which covers those activities, events and walks organised by the LDWA or its Local Groups. This policy indemnifies LDWA members for their legal liability to pay for accidental damage, bodily injury, loss of amenities, trespass, nuisance, products liability or interference with any right of way. The public liability policy indemnifies the LDWA National Executive Committee and Local Group officers, event organisers and official marshals. The policy extends to cover members when they are reconnoitring the route at the event planning stage. The current insurance policies and certificates are available on the LDWA website within the Toolkit. Authorities who may be affected by the LDWA's activities and events often wish to see the insurance certificates and they can be given a link to the online documents. These documents are also a good reference point for organisers for showing what is and is not covered by the public liability policies.

In the event of a possible claim the LDWA Treasurer should be contacted without delay. Contact details are in 'Strider' and on the LDWA web pages. The event organisers will need to send a completed Accident/Incident form to the Treasurer who will pass it to the insurers. The insurers may also require other documents relating to the activity or event, including risk assessments, entry forms, event information issued to participants and attendance registers. When faced with a possible claim, organisers and volunteers MUST NOT admit any liability or seek to reassure any allegedly injured party that they will be covered by LDWA insurance.

Non-LDWA event organisers are advised to have an adequate Public Liability Police in place. Organisers without insurance cover should be advised to consult a qualified insurance broker registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) about obtaining an appropriate policy, before the events is publicised by the LDWA. This responsibility lies with the Non-LDWA organizer.

Official marshals using their own cars to help run the event should take care that they keep within the terms of their own car insurance policies. These may cover activities done in a voluntary capacity, but any indication that such costs will be reimbursed could be interpreted as invalidating the person’s voluntary status and thus their personal car insurance.

Kind Regards 

Chris Burrell

LDWA Events and Group Walks Coordinator.