# Access Insurance

> Admin Email: steven.hopkins@accessinsurance.co.uk


## Posts
### Charity Heroes Awards 2025
Our finalists gathered at the iconic Tower of London on November 20th to enjoy a day of celebration as we congratulated the winners and runners-up in this year’s Charity Heroes Awards.
Table of ContentsCharity Heroes AwardsFinalists and WinnersFurther information
Charity Heroes Awards
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners of the inaugural Charities Heroes Awards Ceremony held at the Tower of London. Some truly inspiring charities were represented.
Our Director of Sales & Marketing, Tim Larden, had the honour of presenting the award for Charity Leader of the Year, an award for a senior charity leader who stands out as a role model for others by championing a cause and inspiring change.
The winner of this category was Andrew Wallis of Unseen (UK), a charity fighting trafficking and modern slavery.
It was great to also meet worthy Founder of the Year finalists Jenny Rayner of The Lucy Rayner Foundation & Maggie Darling of Smart Works Scotland, and other finalists and winners invited to the event.
Finalists and Winners
Our finalists gathered at the iconic Tower of London on November 20th to enjoy a day of celebration as we congratulated the winners and runners-up in this year’s Charity Heroes Awards. The winning charities received £5,000 and the runners-up £1,000 each - so no one went home without an award!
Founder of the YearWinner: Andrew Wallis, Unseen (UK)Runners-up: Jenny Rayner, The Lucy Rayner Foundation & Maggie Darling, Smart Works Scotland
Climate Action InitiativeWinner: Grace Cares CICRunners-up: Borders Forest Trust & WWT
Triumph Through AdversityWinner: Vida SheffieldRunners-up: South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services & The Matthew 25 Mission
Fundraiser of the YearWinner: Martin Edwards, Julia’s House LimitedRunners-up: Jill McGrath, YMCA Tayside & Nic Clarke, Cancer Research Wales
Partnership of the YearWinner: The Anne Robson Trust & Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRunners-up: Berkshire Vision & Newbury Velo, Teens Unite Fighting Cancer & Kinovo Limited
Trustee of the YearWinner: Jennie Henderson, Stepping Stones North WalesRunners-up: Jan Kerr, Homelands Trust-Fife & Mimi McCord, Heartburn Cancer UK
Colleagues’ choiceWinner: The Grand AppealRunners-up: The Hygiene Bank & Unique Kidz & Co
Further information
Find out more about the Charity Heroes Awards on the Benefact Group website.

### Update on Martyn's Law for charities & churches
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, also known as Martyn's Law, is a new Protect Duty legislation to strengthen security measures in public places and events. For the not-for-profit sector, this will be most relevant to charity/community-owned venues. events, museums, sports grounds, leisure facilities, education settings, churches and places of worship. 
What's in this article?Understanding Martyn's LawScope of Martyn's LawProportional security measuresFurther links
Understanding Martyn's Law
Martyn’s Law, also known as Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, received royal assent on 3rd April 2025. It is expected to take around 2 years to implement and involves further guidance on enforcement from the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Origin
The new law is part of the government’s wider counter terrorism strategy. It originated following the 2017 Manchester Arena attack, and named after one of the victims Martyn Hett.
Purpose
The purpose of Martyn’s Law is to ensure public venues have an appropriate level of preparedness to the threat of terrorism.
Martyn’s Law will apply to a wide range of publicly accessible venues, including entertainment and leisure facilities, retail stores, museums and galleries, sports grounds, government buildings, places of worship, and educational institutions.
Scope of Martyn's Law
The scope of the new law is on public venues and events that fall under the categories:
shops etc
food and drink
entertainment and leisure activities
sports grounds
libraries, museums and galleries
halls etc
visitor attractions
hotels etc
places of Worship
health care
bus stations, railway stations etc
aerodromes
childcare
primary & secondary education
further & higher education
public authorities
Proportional security measures
The Law establishes a tiered model based on the size and nature of activities taking place at a premise or event:
Standard Tier: Applies to qualifying premises with a capacity of 200-799 individuals.
Enhanced Tier: Applies to high-capacity venues and events with 800 or more individuals, such as live music premises, theatres, and department stores.
Capacity is defined as a reasonable expectation of 200+ individuals being present at the same time at the venue/event, from time to time.
It is also important to note that for places of worship that expect 800+ individuals from time to time, they will still fall under the Standard Tier.
Open spaces such as public gardens, parks and recreation grounds are generally excluded unless they have measures of restricting entry such as ticketing.
All measures implemented are advised to be reasonably practicable, similar to that of Fire Safety and Health & Safety measures.
Responsibilities for Standard Tier
The main responsibilities for Standard Tier venues/events are to assess the risk and implement basic terrorism response procedures.
Appoint responsible individual and notify SIA.
Conduct terrorism risk assessment.
Implement Public Protection Procedures/Measures that you could reasonably expect to reduce physical harm in the event of terrorism. This might include locking doors, identifying safe evacuation routes and communications, for example.
Responsibilities for Enhanced Tier
The responsibilities for Enhanced Tier venues/events are that of Standard Tier, plus additional measures and documentation needed.
Appoint responsible individual and notify SIA.
Conduct terrorism risk assessment.
Implement Public Protection Procedures/Measures tat you could reasonably expect to reduce physical harm in the event of terrorism and reduce the vulnerability of the premises/event. This might include bag searches, CCTV, monitoring or vehicle checks, for example.
Provide/maintain documentation of risk procedures to SIA.
Enforcement and support
There will be civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. The Home Office guidance currently states: "To support enforcement of the regime, a new regulatory function will be established within the Security Industry Authority (SIA). The SIA will seek to support, advise and guide those responsible for premises and events in meeting the requirements of this legislation. Where there are instances of serious or persistent non-compliance the SIA will be able to take enforcement action including compliance notices, monetary penalties and restriction notices."
Organisations will receive dedicated guidance and support to help them understand and meet the new legal requirements, including access to ProtectUK, an online platform providing trusted advice, guidance, and learning resources on protective security.
Further links
Home Office:
https://www.protectuk.police.uk/martyns-law/martyns-law-overview-and-what-you-need-know 
Government FactSheets:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-scope-premises 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-factsheets/terrorism-protection-of-premises-act-2025-overarching-factsheet
This blog was updated on 5 November 2025.

### Understanding cyber insurance for charities
30% of charities said they identified a cyber attack in the last 12 months (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025).
Cyber threats and crimes are becoming more common and more sophisticated as criminals try and exploit and extort charities for money and personal data that they hold. Cyber insurance offers cover for the costs associated with the recovery from such incidents.
What's in this guide?The common cyber threatsVulnerabilities to look out forThe scale of damage and recoveryCyber insuranceImplementing good risk management
The common cyber threats
Charities and not-for-profit organisations often hold sensitive information such as donor data, financial records, and beneficiaries' personal information. This, combined with less frequently reviewed cyber security, makes them attractive targets for cyber-criminals. The following are some of the most common cyber threats for charities:
Phishing is a form of social engineering where cybercriminals attempt to steal sensitive information by posing as a trustworthy entity in emails, texts, social media messages, or calls.
Ransomware is malware that encrypts files on a computer system and demands payment for the decryption key. It can cause significant disruption and financial losses for individuals and organisations.
Viruses are malware that can replicate themselves and spread to other computers. They could cause damage to computer systems, corrupt files, and steal personal information.
Data breaches occur when an unauthorised party accesses personal or sensitive data. They could result in identity theft, financial fraud, fines, extortion and reputational damage.
Identity theft/impersonation is the unauthorised use of someone’s personal information and is often combined with phishing attacks.
Website hacking/takedowns refer to making a website unavailable to its intended users, often through distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Hackers could also edit some code or redirect the site to harmful sites and make your web visitors targets of cybercrime.
Online financial fraud can occur through phishing attacks, extortion in ransom demands or stealing donor payment information.
Data source: Charities surveyed in NCSC's Charity Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2022 & 2025
Vulnerabilities to look out for
Staff and volunteers
Phishing is a significant risk for charities as volunteers may not have the necessary training or systems to identify these fraudulent emails. Phishing emails have become more sophisticated, and even with robust security measures in place, an external email with a malicious link or attachment can lead to cybercrimes. For example, scammers have used fake invoices and spoofed or impersonated emails to trick individuals into divulging sensitive information or making payments. Clicking on a link in these emails can also result in malware entering the network or unauthorised access to data.
Access issues
IT vendor issues present another cybersecurity risk for organisations. Although outsourcing IT maintenance or setup to experts can be beneficial, it can also create vulnerabilities. For example, if the IT vendor is attacked or infiltrated, they could potentially compromise all of their clients through remote connections. Data shows that only 5% of charities review potential cyber security risks their suppliers pose. Therefore, it is vital to ensure IT vendors have implemented appropriate cybersecurity measures to mitigate this risk. These include strong access controls, regularly reviewing their security protocols, and prioritising employee cybersecurity awareness training.
Weak passwords pose another vulnerability. Attackers can use various methods to guess passwords, including brute-force attacks or social engineering techniques. To avoid this, don't use easily guessable, simple or reused passwords and implement two-factor authentication where possible. Again awareness training for employees and volunteers will help reinforce good security practices.
Insider threats from the mishandling of personal data also present a vulnerability. Even leaving hard copies of sensitive information lying around on public display is a potential cyber risk, so it is important to have strong policies in place for accessing and storing personal data.
Whilst backups enable you to restore lost data, if your backup is connected to the same network as the primary system, a malware infection on the main system could also spread to the backup, resulting in multiple corruptions. If criminals perform a ransomware attack, they could access and encrypt the backups too. Therefore, creating an offline backup (not connected to the main system) is vital to mitigate this vulnerability.
The scale of damage and recovery
If criminals manage to exploit any of these vulnerabilities, the damage could be severe and can include the following:
Financial losses
Ransom payments.
Forensic and computer expert costs. Data recovery and clean-up costs.
Legal fees, such as e-discovery and notification costs (including credit monitoring and identity protection services).
Data protection fines/penalties.
Reputational damage
Damage caused by unauthorised access and use of personal, sensitive and payment information.
The loss of website control. 
Negative PR and communications.
Disruption
Recovery takes not only money but time. Criminals may have compromised your systems or data in multiple ways to extort you again. This is why a forensic investigator must perform a thorough check of your system.
Your normal operations may be disrupted through the downtime of systems and while you get back up and running.
For these reasons, the costs associated with cyber incident recovery can be substantial, often exceeding £200k in the case of a privacy breach, highlighting the importance of proper cyber risk management and considering cyber insurance for charities and not-for-profits.
Cyber insurance
Cyber insurance policies typically cover the expenses associated with recovery efforts, including consulting, legal, and advisory services. Such services can be invaluable, especially when it comes to making critical decisions regarding the handling of ransomware payments. They can offer expert advice and guidance on whether or not to negotiate with cybercriminals, taking into consideration the specific circumstances and potential risks.
Policy wordings change regularly due to the evolving and emerging nature of cyber risks, but insurers typically offer cover for the following:
Privacy Breach Response: This covers the costs associated with a data breach, including notification and credit monitoring for affected individuals as well as forensic investigations and services.
Business Interruption: This covers the losses incurred as a result of a cyber attack that disrupts your operations.
Cyber Extortion: This covers the costs associated with responding to a ransomware attack.
Liability: This covers the costs associated with legal action taken against your organisation due to a data breach. ICO issues penalties and fines for data protection failures.
Crisis Management: This covers the costs associated with managing the fallout from a cyber attack, including public relations and crisis management.
Implementing good risk management
Implementing robust cyber risk management before considering cyber cover is essential. Insurers will often impose specific conditions that must be met before purchasing cyber insurance.
We recommend that you at least take advantage of the Cyber Essentials training for charities, designed by the National Cyber Security Centre.
Some of the standards that insurers will often impose before offering cyber cover:
Enabling multi-factor authentication for cloud-based services (e.g. email providers).
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access your environment.
Taking offline backups that will be unaffected by issues with the live environment.
Regular training on awareness of cyber threats and preventative measures for staff and volunteers (see Cyber Essentials).
If you have questions about anything in this paper, or would value advice and help in arranging cyber insurance please get in touch with one of our specialist advisers.

### 3 cyber threats facing charities today
Charities are targeted by cyber attacks just as much as businesses, in fact 40% of businesses and 30% charities reported having experienced a breach or attack in the last 12 months (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025, NCSC).
Charities often make attractive targets due to the personal and sensitive data the hold as well as perceived weaker security. There are a number of common attacks that lead to a large percentage of cyber insurance claims and present a risk to charities. 
Table of ContentsSocial engineering attacksInsider threatsSupply chain attacksInsuring cyber risksUpcoming Webinar: Cyber Risk Simplified
Social engineering attacks
Social engineering is an umbrella term for a number of tactics used to manipulate people into giving access to systems, sharing confidential information or redirecting payments.
Criminals use common methods such as:
Phishing emails – prompting staff or volunteers to click malicious links or files;
Phone scams – pretending to be recognised suppliers or partners; and,
Other impersonation attacks where they may pretend to be senior staff or partners asking for urgent actions to be taken.
To combat these types of attack, a strong culture of security and education is needed to ensure all staff, volunteers, beneficiaries and system users are using strong password management and multi-factor authentication across the systems they have access to. It is also vital for people have a basic understanding of what to look for in a suspicious email or call and how to report it.
Setting up proper access control will reduce the risk of bad actors gaining access, as some users will not have the same access as others. Good cyber-security software will also detect potential hackers and attacks, automatically blocking access and alerting the administrator. This setup also reduces the risks of bad actors or simple human error within the organisation.
Strong due diligence and verification processes will help mitigate against any payment diversions, scams or fraud.
Insider threats
Sometimes overlooked, an insider threat is a risk posed by individuals within the organisation, rather than external attacker. Sometimes this can be a secondary risk as a result of a social engineering attack, but other times it may be a separate, malicious, or unintentional, risk posed by those inside the charity.
In recent years, remote working as well as the increase in social engineering attacks has given rise to this threat. Examples include:
A volunteer downloads donor records to a personal device and then the device is lost or compromised.
A former employee retains access to the CRM after leaving.
A staff member unknowingly clicks a phishing link, giving attackers access through their account.
A staff member accidentally copies a confidential report to a publicly shared folder.
A trustee manipulates payment processes or systems to divert charity funds into a non-charity owned account.
To mitigate against these threats, a similar approach is needed with strong access control management and staff/volunteer training on how to handle data and use the systems securely. Offboarding procedures should also be taken into account with access control and senior leaders should encourage people to report things that don’t seem right.
Supply chain attacks
Charities, like businesses, will often use third-party tools and vendors to manage services such as payments, CRMs, cloud storage or web hosting. This gives rise to its own risk – attackers increasingly exploit vendors and suppliers to steal data and potentially gain access to multiple other organisations’ data.
Although limits on access can be placed on third-parties, you will have limited control or visibility over the cybersecurity practices of your suppliers, making it harder to detect weaknesses in the chain.
Some potential examples of this happening include:
A cloud-based donor database provider is breached, exposing the personal information of thousands of supporters.
A software update from a trusted IT vendor includes hidden malware injected by attackers.
A web developer uses outdated plugins, creating vulnerabilities on a charity’s donation page.
Managing this risk is partly down to due diligence and building trusted relationships with suppliers – it being wise to seek information about their data protection and security procedures. Defining in and reviewing contracts on who is responsible for data breaches and data handling is a vital step to being prepared if a cyber incident should occur.
Insuring cyber risks
While many cyber threats can be effectively mitigated through staff training, strong access controls, and keeping systems up to date, the frequency and sophistication of attacks continue to grow. As the potential financial and reputational damage increases, cyber insurance is also evolving to address the changing risk faced by charities.
Upcoming Webinar: Cyber Risk Simplified
Access Insurance will be breaking down to top cyber concerns for charities in their upcoming webinar on the 16th September 2025 2pm. Tim Larden, Sales & Marketing Director at Access Insurance unpacks the cyber risks that charities should be ready for, how to manage them with best practices, and what can and can't be insured with cyber insurance.
Reserve your spot

### Access proudly supports the Charity Heroes Awards
Access Insurance is delighted to be supporting the Benefact Group's Charity Heroes Awards, in its second year. 
Following a successful awards ceremony last November, with Jolanta Lasota, CEO of Ambitious About Autism winning the Founder of the Year category, Access will be supporting Founder of the Year in 2025. Do you know an inspirational CEO or Senior Manager who has championed a cause and inspired change? Now is your chance to recognise their exceptional leadership.
Dedicated to celebrating and supporting the brilliant charities who work tirelessly to make positive change, this year’s full list of categories are:
AwardSupported byCategory DescriptionTrustee of the Year  Ecclesiastical UK and IrelandJudges will be looking for outstanding trustees who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and impact for their charity.Climate Action Project EdenTreeJudges will be looking for innovative projects that are tackling the climate crisis and promoting long term sustainability. They can be in any area of climate – from community education, nature restoration to adaptation. Triumph through AdversityWRSJudges will be looking for an outstanding charity that has shown resilience by overcoming a challenge or difficulty it faced in the last year; coming out the other end stronger and still delivering amazing impact for its beneficiaries.Fundraiser of the Year GivestarJudges will be looking for individuals who have not only delivered great financial results in the last year, but have shown collaboration, strategic thinking and creativity in their approach.Partnership of the Year AnsvarJudges will be looking for an outstanding partnership between two organisations that have delivered a positive impact. The partnership may take many forms including a company and a charity, or two charities working together.Charity Founder of the Year  Access InsuranceJudges will be looking for founders who have used their drive and passion to create organisations making a lasting and meaningful difference for beneficiaries.Colleagues’ choice  Benefact GroupBenefact colleagues will be able to vote for their favourite charity from those presented by our very own ‘Giving Superstars’ – employees who have gone over and above supporting their favourite causes.
Charity Heroes Awards
This initiative is designed to celebrate the incredible work of charities and their leaders in a way that genuinely recognises amazing charities. The Benefact Group listened to the feedback from the amazing charities they support. These charities expressed a desire for easy-to-enter awards that they weren't charged to enter or attend.
The Charity Heroes Awards is:
An event that's all about celebrating charities.
Has no cost to attend. In fact, Benefact Group will donate to shortlisted charities just for participating!
Category winners will receive a £5,000 donation to their charity, with runners-up receiving £1,000 donations.
Simple entry process for a series of categories, which just require a 250-word pitch. Categories are super easy to enter, requiring just a 250-word pitch.
The awards will be hosted at the iconic Tower of London in the 20th November 2025, providing a fantastic experience that charities truly deserve.
Don't miss this chance to celebrate the heroes of the charity sector. Nominations are open from 7th July until 10th August.
Head to Benefact Group Charity Heroes Awards 2025 to enter.

### Exhibiting at CFG's Annual Conference
We joined Charity Finance Group members once again by attending their Annual Conference, held on the 26th of June 2025.
This year the conference was held at Convene Sancroft, St Paul's, with great speakers and conversations around charity finance with sessions on leadership, managing disputes and using AI. Seminars were held and provided an excellent setting to ask questions and discuss relevant issues. The conference brought together CFG members and focused on Strong Foundations, Lasting Impact.
If you would like to speak with one of our specialist charity advisers, contact us to discuss your unique risks.
Image credit: CFG/Ben Weatherall, 2025

### Access welcomes Ladbrook
Access Insurance has recently acquired Derbyshire-based charity insurance broker, Ladbrook Insurance.
Table of ContentsWhat this means for AccessLadbrook Insurance
What this means for Access
This acquisition will help Access in its vision to ‘grow to give’, as part of the Benefact Group, with all available profits given back to good causes. Simon Hickman, CEO and founder at Access Insurance said: 
"Acquiring Ladbrook Insurance is a key milestone in our growth strategy over the next 5 years and reflects our appetite for growth. With increasing consumer duty requirements, we are open to further opportunities to acquire books of charity clients that align with our expertise in the third sector."
"We look forward to welcoming the Ladbrook staff and almost 2000 clients into the Access family. We are also pleased to now have a hub in Derbyshire for the advantage of our staff and clients based in the North."
Ladbrook Insurance
Ladbrook Insurance is itself a charity-specialist insurance broker advising nearly 2000 clients from its Barlborough office. Ladbrook share Access' ethical values and commitment to providing excellent service and insurance advice to charities, voluntary and community organisations. In the last quarter, Ladbrook worked with 325 third sector groups and made 13 charitable donations.
Tim Larden, CEO at Ladbrook, said: 
"I am pleased that Ladbrook is becoming part of a larger group which prides itself in educating and advising charities on managing risk and am excited about the additional benefits it will bring to our own client base as well as jumping into helping Access achieve ambitious growth goals."
As part of the merger, Tim becomes the Sales & Marketing Director at Access, strengthening the board and our ambition to serve more charities across the UK.

### Platinum Trusted Service Award 2025
Access Insurance is proud to announce it has been awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award for the fifth consecutive year. This recognises companies that consistently deliver exceptional customer experience.
Feefo established the Trusted Service Awards in 2014 to award brands that receive outstanding feedback using their platform. The Platinum Award is given to businesses that achieve a Gold Award for 3 years (50 or more reviews of 4.5 higher each year).
Access has maintained this Platinum Trusted Service status for 5 years now, demonstrating our commitment to providing excellent customer service to all our clients and recognising the hard work of our team.
“During these economically challenging times, it's inspiring to see companies like Access Insurance Services consistently going above and beyond for their customers. The Trusted Service Awards recognise businesses that don't just meet expectations – they exceed them. These awards celebrate companies that gather genuine feedback and use it to deliver exceptional customer experiences. The dedication shown by this year's winners sets a benchmark for customer service excellence.” Tony Wheble, CEO at Feefo
You'll see this new badge around which highlights the award:
Here are some of our favourite reviews from 2024:
"Efficient and very competitively priced. The quote I received from Access was 1/3 of the renewal quote I had received from my existing insurer and the policies offered the same level of cover." Girlguiding Group Client
"The people on the phone were extremely easy to deal with. They were able to find the last person I spoke to within a minute and make sure there was continuity and that my needs were completely understood. I was given lots of good advice about the most suitable points for my policy and felt like it was tailored to my needs" The Art Room Harrogate
"Excellent service. Talked through everything made it easy to understand. Very good customer service would recommend" Hinton Blewett Village Hall
"Excellent, we had some unusual aspects to the insurance cover we require and we are very satisfied with the final outcome as well as the way in which the process of getting the best cover for our needs was handled. As we were at the end of a multi year, we decided to carry out a market testing exercise using two other brokers. Access performed very well on a comparative basis and secured the best deal available for the cover we needed. The Senior Insurance Broker with whom we were dealing, was invariably courteous and helpful in working through the various issues that we raised during the process." Access Client
See 1858+ reviews on Feefo here.
 

### Preventing frozen & burst pipes this winter
Protecting pipes from freezing is not just a matter of convenience, but a crucial step in safeguarding properties from potentially catastrophic damage and costly insurance claims.
Table of ContentsMaintain a consistent temperatureCheck your stopcock and ensure people know where it isRepair dripping taps, fittings or cisternsCheck outdoor water outlets, pipes and featuresInsulate vulnerable pipesSeal air leaksService boilers
Frozen pipes pose a significant risk to properties across the UK, often leading to burst pipes and substantial water damage. As temperatures plummet during winter months, water inside pipes can freeze, expanding and exerting immense pressure on the pipe walls. This pressure build-up can cause pipes to rupture, resulting in what insurers term "escape of water" incidents.
The financial implications of burst pipes are considerable. According to recent data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the average cost of claims from freezing and burst pipes was £7500. In fact, escape of water is consistently one of the most common reasons for home insurance claims in the UK. In 2022, the ABI estimated that £804 million was paid in claims by member insurers for issues relating to burst pipes in homes.
Given these statistics, it's clear that protecting pipes from freezing is not just a matter of convenience, but a crucial step in safeguarding properties from potentially catastrophic damage and costly insurance claims. Here are seven steps to prevent frozen pipes this winter:
Maintain a consistent temperature
Keep your premises heated to at least 12°C, even when the building is unoccupied. This helps prevent temperatures from dropping below freezing in areas where water pipes are located.
Check your stopcock and ensure people know where it is
Locate your main stopcock and ensure that it is working properly, so it can be turned off you go away or your pipes to freeze or burst. Ensure that your team knows the location of the main water stopcock and how to use it in case of an emergency. Provide clear instructions on what to do if pipes freeze or burst, including emergency contact numbers for plumbers and your insurance provider.
If your charity's premises will be unoccupied for more than a few days during freezing weather, consider turning off the water supply at the mains and draining the system. This can prevent potential damage from undetected leaks or bursts while the property is empty.
Repair dripping taps, fittings or cisterns
Fix any dripping taps promptly, as even a small trickle can lead to frozen drainpipes.
Check outdoor water outlets, pipes and features
Disconnect and drain hosepipes and outdoor water features that are connected to external water outlets. It’s also advisable to insulate outdoor pipes using foam sleeving and fit insulated tap covers over outside taps.
Insulate vulnerable pipes
One of the most effective ways to prevent frozen pipes is proper insulation. Focus on pipes in unheated areas such as lofts, basements, and garages. Use foam pipe insulation or heat tape to cover exposed pipes, paying special attention to bends, valves, and fittings. Don't forget to insulate water tanks as well, as these are often overlooked but are a common source of problems during cold snaps.
Seal air leaks
Identify and seal any air leaks that allow cold air to enter your property where pipes are located. This includes around doors and windows where draughts can come in from outside.
Service boilers
Schedule annual boiler services, preferably before winter sets in. A well-maintained heating system ensures efficient operation and reduces the risk of cold spots in your plumbing.
By implementing these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of frozen and burst pipes this winter, avoiding costly repairs and service disruptions.

### What risk does AI pose to your charity?
AI is becoming more prevalent in the tools and software organisations use. The use of AI Chatbots has become something of a trending topic.
Table of ContentsData and unauthorised AI useAI poisoningExacerbated by longstanding cyber risks
Whilst AI presents opportunities to increase productivity for the individual and the organisation, due to the early nature of regulation and governance it does pose a number of risks. The same technology is unfortunately being used to exploit vulnerabilities and increase cyber attacks, both new and old.
Data and unauthorised AI use
One issue is the problem of unauthorised AI use within charities and businesses, as highlighted in CSO’s article “Unauthorised AI is eating your company data, thanks to your employees”. Many employees, in their pursuit for efficiency, are turning to publicly available AI tools without proper due diligence as to what data is being exposed or input.
AI poisoning
Another newer concern is the threat of AI system poisoning, as discussed in the CSO article “AI poisoning is a growing threat — is your security regime ready?”. This emerging risk involves malicious actors manipulating the data used to train AI models, potentially leading to biased or harmful outputs. As organisations increasingly use AI for decision-making and automation, the integrity of these systems becomes crucial.
Exacerbated by longstanding cyber risks
These AI-specific challenges are exacerbated by longstanding cybersecurity issues such as poor password management, lack of employee training, and failure to keep software updated. These basic security steps can provide entry points for attackers looking to exploit systems and accounts.
Its more important than ever for leaders to look at AI and cyber-risk together as it is very much a governance issue and not just an IT one.

### Update on construction material price rises
A 2024 update on construction material price increases and their impact on charities' insurance.
What's in this article?Material costs are stabilisingWhat is the danger of underinsurance?What can I do?
Material costs are stabilising
Construction material costs have stabilised since 2023, with overall inflation rates easing. The latest forecasts predict building costs will rise by approximately 3% in 2024, a significant decrease from the double-digit inflation rates seen in previous years.
However, it's important to note that while overall inflation has slowed, certain materials continue to experience higher price increases. "For example, insulating materials, metal doors and windows, and ready-mixed concrete have seen cost increases of around 20% in the past year", states Liz James MRICS, Surveyor at RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com.
The stabilisation of material prices is generally positive news for the construction industry and property owners, including charities. However, the risk of underinsurance remains high. According to data from our partners RebuildCostASSESSMENT.com, approximately 4 out of 5 properties in the UK are still underinsured. The gap between insured values and actual rebuild costs has widened in recent years. In 2021, buildings were on average covered for 68% of the amount they should have been, but this figure dropped to 63% in 2023. This widening gap exposes property owners, including charities, to significant financial risks in the event of a claim.
What is the danger of underinsurance?
Insurers use index linking, applying the indexation to the sums insured, to increase the premium to protect your interests . The danger is that not increasing the sums insured will cause you to be underinsured and, therefore, will be subject to the average clause, which means any claims settlement would be reduced by a percentage based on the underinsured amount, which may not be enough to pay the true cost of rebuild/repair/reinstatement. See our guide on the average clause and underinsurance, which goes into more detail.
What can I do?
Ensure the amount you put as the declared value (rebuild cost) at the start of your policy reflects the true value it will cost to rebuild it.
Ensure other declared values on specified contents, computer equipment, plants and machinery are as accurate as they can be.
Check the indemnity period for business interruption cover to account for supply chain issues and delays.
Consider using a valuations expert for specified items and a rebuild cost assessment which Access clients can obtain through us at a preferential rate using our partner RebuildCostAssessment.
If you don't have an independent broker like Access looking after your insurance, then now may be a good time to review your insurance with one of our experts. We can help you make your insurance cost-effective, so you only pay for the cover you need.

### A guide to legal expenses for charities
Even with all of the right policies and practices in place, charities can still find themselves involved in legal disputes. Dealing with these can be expensive, whether it be hefty fines and legal representation costs or excess time spent focused on the legal issue, reducing the time you have to focus on your aims.
Table of ContentsLegal expenses insurance coverEmployment practice liability coverNormal policy exclusions
Insurance policies, like commercial legal expenses cover, can help protect your organisation and set you on the road to recovery. These policies cover legal costs for pursuing claims or disputes against responsible parties and must be taken out before an incident occurs. They protect against various scenarios, but many have a 'chances of success' clause, covering only likely-to-win claims. For employment-related claims, however, there is broader cover available.
Policy limits range from £250,000 of cover upwards, but many policies impose a smaller 'per claim' limit too.
Legal expenses insurance cover
Legal expenses insurance can provide cover for a range of circumstances. It is normal for policies to have a 'prospects of success clause'. This clause requires a 51% or more chance of the policyholder winning a claim or successfully defending their case for the cover to kick in. This means the cover will not respond in the event that the policyholder has no realistic chance of winning their case.
Cover is typically available for the following circumstances:
Employment disputes
Covers the legal costs involved in defending your organisation when faced with allegations of wrongful dismissal, discrimination, harassment and failure to promote or employ or alleged breach of statutory duty by you against an employee. This section also covers you for amounts awarded to the other party in the event you lose a case and are required to pay compensation.
Contract disputes
Covers the legal costs involved in pursuing or defending a legal action relating to a contractual dispute. Contracts covered include purchase, hire, sale or provision of goods or services.
Debt recovery
Covers you for costs in recovering debts owed for goods or services provided by you. Cover for rent arrears is normally excluded but can be purchased as an add-on or separate policy.
Property protection
Covers the legal costs involved in pursuing or defending a legal action relating to property owned by you (excludes rent arrears). Occurrences covered include damage by a third party and claims for nuisance or trespass to the property.
Personal injury
Covers the legal costs and expenses for defending employees and their family members following a specific or sudden accident that causes their death, or bodily injury to them.
Tax and VAT protection
Covers the legal fees related to:
HMRC investigations with representation at a first-tier tribunal, upper tribunal or at appeal against a decision.
VAT disputes related to a local review procedure intended to reach an agreement with HMRC, a first-tier tribunal, upper tribunal or VAT tribunal (or appeal).
Disputes regarding compliance with regulations related PAYE, social security and national insurance contributions after a review by the HMRC.
Compliance and regulation
Covers the legal costs associated with:
Appeals against health and safety or food safety enforcement notice, as well as dealing with authorities or the HSE prior to a charge.
Defence in criminal prosecutions or civil legal proceedings, as well as any disputes or proceedings (including the right to appeal) in connection with the Data Protection Act.
Appeals against terms of a statutory notice or against the suspension, revocation, imposed alteration or refusal to a renew a government-issued licence or certificate of registration for an activity.
Representation at a formal investigation or hearing by any trade association.
Criminal prosecution defence
Covers the costs of mounting a defence against criminal prosecution charges brought against an individual who works for you, up to the point of conviction. Cover applies when the alleged crime was committed unintentionally (while in the course of their work for you).
Legal advice and support
Most insurers offer a 24-hour helpline that gives advice on legal matters affecting your charity. Some legal expenses insurers also have a helpful document repository which includes template legal documents and an employment manual (employment procedures guide).
Employment practice liability cover
We noted earlier that legal expenses insurance usually has a 'chances of success' clause - which means the cover will not kick in unless you have at least a 51% chance of your case succeeding.
Many charities want insurance for legal costs surrounding employment issues but are concerned that the 'chances of success' clause leaves them without adequate cover. Fortunately, employment practice liability insurance (EPL) is designed for this situation. EPL provides cover for the costs in defending actions brought by staff or ex-employees as well as officeholders and regulatory bodies - when there has been a breach of employment law. Policies also cover damages and awards where an employee's rights have been breached.
EPL policies do not have a “prospects of success” clause. The insurer has an absolute duty to fund defence costs relating to a wrongful employment practice and to pay a reasonable out-of-court settlement, employment tribunal compensatory award or damages awarded by a court. Claims costs are usually much higher than employment claims covered by a legal expenses policy.
Normal policy exclusions
Although exclusions will vary based on the specifics of the claims, the primary exclusions include:
Fines or penalties from a court or tribunal
Disputes between the insured and insurer
Legal expenses in connection with judicial review
Disputes about actual or alleged defamation or malicious falsehood
Disputes between policyholders, any associated company or partner
Any legal expenses other than those agreed in writing by the insurer
Defence of legal proceedings due to seepage, pollution or contamination
Acts, omissions or disputes that occur prior to the start of the policy in which the policyholder knew (or should have known) could cause a claim
Disputes regarding patents, copyright, trademarks, passing-off, trade or service marks, registered designs or confidential information
Disputes relating to franchise rights or agency rights in which the policyholder has the ability to alter the legal relation of another
Defence of civil proceedings from actual or alleged tortious liability or breach of duty
Allegations against the policyholder/employee regarding assault, violence, dishonesty, illegal immigration, money laundering or the manufacturing, dealing in or use of alcohol, illegal drugs or obscene materials

### Fire safety for charities and not-for-profits
Fire safety is a critical aspect of managing any organisation, including charities and not-for-profits. Understanding and adhering to the relevant fire safety legislation in your region is essential to ensure the safety of your staff, volunteers, and the people you serve.
What's included in this guideApplicable laws across the UKKey changes brought in by recent legislationFire hazardsFire risk managementFire scenario case studyHow Access can help you
Terms
Responsible Person: Defined as individuals or entities responsible for ensuring fire safety in non-domestic premises, which include workplaces and non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings (e.g., communal corridors and stairways).
Resources
A guide for persons with duties under fire safety legislation
Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022
Applicable laws across the UK
England and Wales: The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies in both England and Wales, setting the foundation for fire safety compliance. This is further built on by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, and for multi-occupancy residential buildings; Fire Safety Act 2021, and Fire Safety Regulations 2022.
Scotland: Scotland's fire safety legislation is based on Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, supported by the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
Northern Ireland: In Northern Ireland, fire safety legislation is governed by Part 3 of the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Fire Safety Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010.
Key changes brought in by recent legislation
Fire Safety Act 2021
The Fire Safety Act 2021 introduced changes that apply to multi-occupied residential buildings in England and Wales. These changes primarily focus on the responsibilities of building owners and managers in such buildings, especially in relation to external wall systems and flat entrance doors. They clarify that these components are part of the building structure's fire safety.
Fire Safety Regulations 2022
The Fire Safety Regulations 2022, like the Fire Safety Act 2021, apply to multi-occupied residential buildings in England and Wales. These regulations enhance the safety of such buildings, emphasising the importance of fire risk assessments and requiring responsible persons to cooperate and coordinate with others in the same building.
Though most of the changes are for higher-risk buildings above 18m high, there are few areas for other multi-occupied residential buildings. For buildings above 11m, responsible persons must check fire doors regularly and for all multi-occupied residential buildings responsible persons should provide residents with relevant fire safety instructions, which will include instructions on how to report a fire and any other instructions which set out what a resident must do once a fire has occurred, based on the evacuation strategy for the building. Information on the importance of fire doors in fire safety must also be given to residents.
Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022
Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 extends fire safety obligations, applying to England and Wales. These changes include stricter requirements for Responsible Persons in multi-occupied residential buildings.
In summary, responsible persons must now:
Record the fire risk assessment in full, including all findings.
Record the identity of individuals or organisations engaged to undertake or review the fire risk assessment and share this information.
Record their fire safety arrangements and demonstrate how fire safety is managed on their premises.
Record and update their contact information, including a UK-based address, and share this information with others.
Take steps to identify and cooperate with other responsible persons in the same premises.
Share relevant fire safety information with incoming responsible persons in case of changes in ownership or responsibility.
Responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings must also:
Ensure residents receive information about identified fire risks, fire safety measures, contact information of the responsible person, and more from the responsible person.
Responsible persons in higher-risk residential buildings must also:
Cooperate with Accountable Persons to facilitate a whole-building approach to fire safety. This includes sharing information like the fire risk assessment to maintain the highest level of safety in these buildings.
Other changes that also apply:
Increased fines for certain offences under the Fire Safety Order.
Strengthened status of guidance issued under Article 50 of the Fire Safety Order, making it admissible in court proceedings to establish compliance or breach.
For further detail on the changes brought in by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, view the government guidance here.
Fire hazards
A fire in the workplace presents huge risks to property and the health of your employees, volunteers and the public. It can physically damage or destroy buildings, contents and equipment. It can also be responsible for serious injuries and fatalities. Common injuries include burns, respiratory damage from smoke inhalation, oxygen depletion and trauma (such as broken bones) from escape attempts. Electrical faults, open flames, heating equipment, and cooking appliances are common causes of fires. It's crucial to be aware of potential ignition sources and flammable materials.
Fires need three things to start:
A source of ignition (heat). Sources of ignition include heaters, lighting, naked flames, electrical equipment, smokers’ materials (cigarettes, matches, etc), and anything else that can get very hot or cause sparks.
A source of fuel (something that burns). Sources of fuel include wood, paper, plastic, rubber, foam, loose packaging materials, waste rubbish and furniture.
Oxygen. Air is the primary source of oxygen. Other sources include chemicals that contain oxidising agents and oxygen supplies from cylinder storage and piped systems.
A few examples of potential fire hazards include:
Faulty electrical equipment, such as old appliances or frayed cords.
Overloaded power sockets in offices, kitchens, or common areas.
Poorly maintained heating systems and boilers.
Storing flammable materials, like paper or cleaning supplies, near heat sources.
Fire risk management
Organisations (whether building owners or occupiers) must carry out a fire safety risk assessment and keep it up to date. Based on the findings of the assessment, employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.
To help prevent fire in the workplace, your risk assessment should identify what could cause a fire to start—sources of ignition and substances that burn—and the people who may be at risk, such as staff, volunteers, and visitors. It should also identify risks to young persons and address the use of dangerous substances that can result in fires or explosions.
Once you identify the risks, you can take appropriate action to control them. Consider whether you can avoid them altogether or, if not possible, how you can reduce risks and manage them. Consider how you will protect others if there is a fire.
Carry out a fire safety risk assessment and record findings in full.
Develop and document fire safety arrangements, which can include fire safety policy, procedures, evacuation plans, and testing and maintenance of fire protection equipment and systems.
Share information with building users about the fire safety arrangements and evacuation measures. Provide up-to-date contact information with a UK-based address.
Keep sources of ignition and flammable substances apart.
Avoid accidental fires. For instance, make sure heaters aren’t knocked over.
Ensure good housekeeping at all times, such as avoiding the build-up of rubbish that could burn.
Determine how you can detect fires and warn people quickly if they start, such as by installing smoke alarms and fire alarms or bells.
Have the correct equipment for putting a fire out quickly. For example, foam extinguishers for flammable liquids and CO2 extinguishers for electrical equipment.
Always keep fire exits, escape routes and assembly points clearly signposted and unobstructed.
Ensure your workers receive appropriate training on procedures they need to follow, including fire drills.
Coordinate and cooperate with other responsible people/organisations, for example, in leased office buildings.
For multi-occupancy buildings, follow the additional responsibilities and guidance for Responsible/Accountable Persons.
Review and update your risk assessment regularly. Record the identity of individuals or organisations engaged to undertake or review the fire risk assessment and share this information. Moreover, share details with any incoming Responsible Persons in case of changes in ownership or responsibility.
Fire scenario case study
A community centre regularly puts waste by the back door of their building. Occasionally people use the same area for a cigarette break. One week there was a pile of rubbish left for several days. A discarded cigarette butt caused it to catch fire. By the time the fire was spotted and put out, it had caused substantial damage to the rear of the centre.
There was a significant cost in repairing the damage. This fire could have been easily prevented if the centre had completed a fire risk assessment and taken simple steps to control the risks.
How Access can help you
Access is a leading broker for the not-for-profit sector. Charity is at the heart of what we do, from our vision and internal culture to the third-sector organisations we partner with. Over 18,000 charities, community groups and social enterprises trust us to advise on and arrange their insurance each year.
As an independent Chartered Insurance Broker, we recommend the most suitable cover for your risks to protect you properly. We work in your interests rather than those of insurers. We compare multiple insurers on your behalf, and you can be confident that we provide you with a competitive quote. We will support you throughout your policy, whether making changes or assisting you when making a claim.
Get a quote or speak to a charity-specialist broker today

### Ecclesiastical launch Risk Maturity Assessment tool
Ecclesiastical has launched a new Risk Maturity Assessment tool aimed at helping organisations improve their risk maturity—their ability to manage risk effectively.
The tool is free for any organisation to use and is designed to help them understand where improvements can be made in their risk management approach.
The assessment tool, created by Benefact Group's insurer, involves completing a series of questions across '3 pillars': Governance, Processes, and Resources. These cover risk management areas such as policies, processes, culture, training, and insurance, among others.
Once completed, a maturity risk score is generated, which could be 'developing', 'integrating', 'embedding' or 'optimising'. Additionally, it provides a bespoke action plan that lists the areas of improvement to move towards the higher risk maturity levels.
There are many benefits to completing an assessment exercise like this:
It helps charities understand their current capabilities in identifying, assessing, managing and monitoring risks.
Having greater risk maturity helps decision-making by prioritising strategic and higher-risk issues.
It provides a benchmark and allows you to track progress by completing the assessment annually or more frequently.
It provides a practical action plan to help reach a higher risk maturity score.
Sign up to use the free tool here: https://www.ecclesiastical.com/risk-management/enterprise-risk-management/risk-maturity-assessment/

### Managing the risks of change
Adapting to change is hard for any organisation, as we tend to be averse to change due to the risk involved. Yet, as we’ve seen in the last few years, necessity can force big changes that we must navigate to survive and thrive. Change not only poses risk for charities though, but opens up many opportunities.
Managing change usually comes down to 4 key points. Reasoning why. Then, planning, implementation and communication. The latter is a component of every stage to be effective.
Risk management is also a key facet of every stage. It tackles the risks head-on that could later be the cause for resistance. So, including risk management at each stage of the process can help foster a better culture of change.
The primary risk considerations are:
Acting in the best interests of the charity.
Performing a thorough risk assessment in consultation with key stakeholders.
Developing a contingency plan should things not go as expected.
Supporting the people and systems affected by the change.
Implementing financial controls so you don't expose the charity’s assets or reputation to undue risk.
This article will go through the risk considerations involved at each step of the change management process.
Table of contents1. Why? - Assess key risks & opportunities2. Planning - Performing a thorough risk evaluation3. Implementing change – Mitigating the risks
1. Why? - Assess key risks & opportunities
Change management begins with analysing the current situation, from culture, systems and structure to external challenges and opportunities.  You will determine what changes are needed to thrive in the future and meet your goals.
Answering the why question will be crucial to getting the buy-in of stakeholders. You will need to:
Show how the change aligns with your clear vision.
Consider the effects on stakeholders, partners, suppliers and functions within your charity.
Assess the resources you need to make this change happen.
Some of the potential risks will begin to emerge:
Losing staff, volunteers, trustees, donors or supporters.
Trustee and officer liabilities of negligence, misleading statements or breach of trust.
Reputational damage caused by adverse effects on stakeholders or perceived mismanagement.
Financial risks of using resources to make it happen.
2. Planning - Performing a thorough risk evaluation
A well-designed change plan is essential for success. Planning will involve:
Identifying key stakeholders.
Detailing specific changes or actions that need to happen.
Communicating the vision of successful change.
Developing timeline, budget and communication strategy.
Managing the risks:
Perform a risk assessment of the specific risks posed by the planned actions.
Identify which risks are insurable, tolerable or manageable.
Ensure compliance throughout the process.
Approve a budget.
Communicate about what, why, how and when the changes are happening.
Lead on support for staff, volunteers, or beneficiaries, particularly regarding wellbeing.
Create feedback mechanisms to raise concerns.
Develop a contingency plan. Will you revert, adapt or have the resources to deal with unexpected costs?
Have a crisis communications procedure ready.
3. Implementing change – Mitigating the risks
Good planning will help you roll out the change smoothly and enable you to respond to unexpected issues that may arise.
Follow the roadmap you have set out.
Communicate throughout.
Monitor progress for unexpected circumstances or resistance.
Measure the success of desired outcomes.
Mitigating the risks:
Use the controls for the risks you have evaluated.
Check for new risks arise.
Follow contingency plans if required.
Practice your duty of care of stakeholders by offering support.
Use resources well by keeping to your budget.
Inform your insurer or broker of changes you have implemented.
By incorporating good communication and risk management at every stage of the process, the barriers to embracing change can be addressed and minimised.
If you need advice on the risks that need insuring as a result of change, speak to a charity insurance specialist.
If you would like to receive our Risk Insights and Updates emails – sign up here.

### We've joined the Benefact Group
We are excited to announce that we have joined the Benefact Group, owned by the Benefact Trust. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a wider group with deep charity expertise in insurance and investment management.
We have worked closely with the Benefact Group and its insurer brands, such as Ansvar and Ecclesiastical, since we began operating in the church, charity, community and not-for-profit sectors over 20 years ago.
We'll continue our mission as a charity-specialist broker to help every charity get the right insurance, build bespoke policies, provide independent advice, and strengthen our culture of giving back to charitable causes.
Whilst the company's ownership changes, there are no changes to customer service, accounts, policies, or pricing due to this announcement. Our dedicated brokers and customer service team will continue to advise and support you with the same vision, values and ethos.
Who are the Benefact Group?
Owned by Benefact Trust, Benefact Group is an international group of financial services businesses that gives all available profits to charities and good causes. Many charities will be familiar with the Movement for Good campaign, a giving programme run by the Group, where anyone can nominate a charity to receive a donation of £1000.
You can read more about Benefact Group on their website.
The press release for this announcement can be found here.

### What is underinsurance and how can I avoid it?
Underinsurance is a perennial problem affecting many organisations. It occurs when insurance is in place, but the amount insured is not sufficient to cover the amount actually at risk. Underinsurance can occur in different areas but is most commonly found when insuring buildings, contents or equipment and business interruption.
Table of ContentsThe scale of underinsuranceThe 'average' clauseCase study: charity owned buildingSummary
To receive updates like this, sign up for our Insights and Updates emails here.
The scale of underinsurance
According to a leading valuations company, 75% of the 4800 UK properties it surveyed in 2022 were underinsured, which were on average underinsured by 53%. Although some parts of the market are better educated on the risk of underinsurance, particularly commercial properties have always had this problem. Setting an accurate declared value has been made even more difficult with recent claims inflation caused by the increase in cost of rebuilding as a result of Brexit and pandemic related supply chain issues.
Aside from the scale of the problem, of major concern is the depth of the issue on individual properties. On average, an underinsured building could be undervalued on the insurance policy by 45%. This means a building which would cost £500,000 to rebuild (e.g. after a fire), is incorrectly insured - for just £275,000.
The same issue can apply to insurance for contents and equipment. Often cover is arranged and then left. As equipment is updated or replaced and new contents are purchased, the insurance covering these assets is left unchanged and becomes inadequate to cover the full replacement value.
Business interruption covers extra costs to continue operations or loss of revenue you suffer in the event of damage to your premises. For example, a fire at your centre means you have to rent expensive alternative space for 18 months. When arranging business interruption insurance, organisations are often left underinsured with indemnity periods that are too short to cover them, or sums insured that are inadequate.
The 'average' clause
Some organisations are aware they are underinsured but know it's unlikely their property or contents will ever be completely destroyed, even in the event of a serious claim. For this reason, they insure for less than the 'full rebuild/ replacement' amount, reasoning they don't need the 'full' cover. There is a serious problem with this approach as many insurance policies have an 'average' clause, designed to ensure buildings and contents are insured for their full value.
In simple terms, the average clause means if you only insure 50% of the value of your building, you will only receive a 50% payout on any claim - regardless of its size. Take our example of the £500,000 building, underinsured by 45%. If they suffer a flood and need to make a claim for £40,000, the insurer will be entitled to reduce the payout by 45% (in line with their underinsurance) to £22,000. Some average clauses are even more stringent; by stating that once a building is under-insured by a certain amount the insurer can void the policy and refuse to pay any claims, regardless of size.
Even if a policy has no average clause, the insurer can take similar action under the provision of The Insurance Act, proportionally reducing a claim payout. In the worst cases, an insurer can decide the underinsurance is so bad it represents a deliberate or reckless breach by the policyholder. In such scenarios, the insurer can void the policy without paying any claims.
You want your insurance to respond as you'd expect when you need to claim. In the event of a serious incident, you’ll need to rely on your insurance for financial stability. It’s critical your rebuild cost and sums insured are accurate so you are not at risk of a reduced payout, or worse a voided policy, at a time when you really need your insurance to protect you.
Fortunately, establishing accurate sums insured can be done fairly easily and without substantial cost. For contents and equipment, you should maintain an accurate asset register with the current replacement values (as new) for the entirety of your contents. To establish adequate limits of indemnity for your business interruption cover, take advice from an independent charity insurance specialist. This advice is usually included at no extra cost within the service that a broker will provide you.
You will want to assess any potential effect that damage to your premises will have on your income, as well as considering what additional expenses you would face in a scenario where you needed to hire additional premises. A specialist can help you to consider a range of factors when setting an indemnity period. Depending on the complexity of your activities, this will need to take into consideration the likely time to rebuild your premises following a claim, the availability of similar premises locally and the impact of a claim on your revenue and ability to deliver services.
If insuring a building, the best way to ensure you are insured for the right amount is to have an 'insurance rebuild cost survey' carried out by a professional surveyor. Having a rebuild cost survey periodically is vital, but these surveys have traditionally been costly and time consuming. Fortunately, new technology utilised by several specialist firms, allows surveyors to produce a bespoke, accurate rebuild cost assessment report without needing to visit your premises.
Case study: charity owned building
In discussions with a charity who own a community building, we asked how confident they were in the accuracy of their rebuild cost, which was set at £827,000. Upon investigation, they found the last survey had been carried out nearly 10 years ago. After talking through the risk of underinsurance they decided it was prudent to have a remote rebuild cost assessment. The survey was carried out and the assessment produced within 48 hours, giving a comprehensive breakdown by building of the accurate rebuild cost, with rationale for how this figure had been calculated. The correct rebuild cost was £1,343,000, meaning the building was underinsured by 38%.Had the organisation made a claim on their buildings insurance with the previous sum insured they would have faced having their pay out reduced by around 40%. Fortunately the survey revealed the inadequacy of the sum insured, giving the charity the knowledge to insure for the correct amount.
"We are relieved that we now have an accurate picture of the rebuild costs and are properly insured. This service helped us see how out of date our rebuild costs were and how underinsured we would have been if a disaster had occurred. We are grateful the reassessment was done so efficiently." Access Charity Client
Summary
In summary, pay close attention to the sums insured and limits of indemnity when arranging insurance for your organisation. It can be tempting to try and cut costs in uncertain times, but you want to ensure the cover you are buying gives you the protection you need. Access can help arrange a rebuild valuation survey through our partner RebuildCostAssessment at preferential rates. If you have questions or would value advice and help on working out the correct levels of cover, please contact one of our specialist advisors.

### Changes to fire safety law
This article summarises the changes resulting from amendments to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, introduced through Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022. It outlines new requirements for responsible persons, including comprehensive fire risk assessments, information sharing, cooperation, and providing detailed fire safety information to residents of multi-occupied residential buildings.
Table of contentsPersons affected by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022:Summary of the changes:More information on fire safety law and responsibilitiesFurther guidance on fire risk management
Persons affected by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022:
Responsible Persons: The guidance primarily affects responsible persons, defined as individuals or entities responsible for ensuring fire safety in non-domestic premises, which include workplaces and non-domestic parts of multi-occupied residential buildings (e.g., communal corridors and stairways).
Responsible Persons in higher-risk residential buildings: Responsible persons in higher-risk residential buildings (defined as at least 18 meters in height, with at least seven stories and containing at least two residential units) must cooperate with accountable persons, who are typically freeholders or landlords.
Residents of multi-occupied domestic premises: The changes also impact residents of multi-occupied domestic premises by requiring responsible persons to provide them with relevant fire safety information.
Summary of the changes:
Responsible persons must now:
Record the fire risk assessment in full, including all findings.
Record the identity of individuals or organisations engaged to undertake or review the fire risk assessment and share this information.
Record their fire safety arrangements and demonstrate how fire safety is managed on their premises.
Record and update their contact information, including a UK-based address, and share this information with others.
Take steps to identify and cooperate with other responsible persons in the same premises.
Share relevant fire safety information with incoming responsible persons in case of changes in ownership or responsibility.
Responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings must also:
Ensure residents receive information about identified fire risks, fire safety measures, contact information of the responsible person, and more from the responsible person.
Responsible persons in higher-risk residential buildings must also:
Cooperate with Accountable Persons to facilitate a whole-building approach to fire safety. This includes sharing information like the fire risk assessment to maintain the highest level of safety in these buildings.
Other changes that also apply:
Increased fines for certain offences under the Fire Safety Order.
Strengthened status of guidance issued under Article 50 of the Fire Safety Order, making it admissible in court proceedings to establish compliance or breach.
More information on fire safety law and responsibilities
For further detail on the changes brought in by Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, view the government guidance.
For more guidance on responsibilities under fire safety law, view this collection.
Further guidance on fire risk management
View our fire safety guide for charities, for an overview of managing fire risk.

### Warm Spaces Resources: Setting up a ‘Warm Bank’ this winter
We have curated some relevant resources on setting up a Warm Space/Bank. Many community centres or churches may be considering such a venture to provide relief for those hardest hit by the cost-of-living and energy crisis as we enter the winter months.
Table of contentsGetting startedGetting the word outOther guidance
It is the second year this initiative has been run. The Warm Welcome Campaign is once again helping groups set up, run and promote their warm space to the community.
They write "For some people, the re-emergence of Warm Spaces this winter will mark another depressing step in the UK’s ever-weakening safety net. But Campaign Director David Barclay is keen to stress that Warm Welcome Spaces have some key differences from other, more transactional forms of emergency support. “The key thing about Warm Welcome Spaces is that they are places of dignity. You don’t go there as a ‘service user’, you go there as a guest or a member, and as people get involved and get to know people they often end up becoming volunteers and hosts themselves. People help each other in Warm Welcome Spaces, and that sense of agency is crucial.”"
Getting started
If you are considering setting up a warm space on your premises, you will need to consider the suitability, accessibility and safety of your space.
An excellent guide has been produced by CILIP, the library and information association, which provides detailed information on getting started.
CILIP’s Warm Spaces Guide
Here are 6 of the main considerations:
Assessing the suitability of your space
Think about location - i.e. busy city or rural community space.
Review your energy costs.
Consider shared users or other community groups using the space.
Review signage.
Ensure there is convenient travel and parking.
Check accessibility and disabled access.
Examine alarm systems, evacuation protocols and fire exits.
Identify training and policies needed for volunteers, such as food safety, dementia awareness, first aid, defibrillator use, etc.
Opening times
Think about peak demand times.
Consider whether you will open on evenings or weekends.
Activities and services
Ensure you are kitted out for what you plan on offering - i.e. Wi-Fi for working spaces, enough seating, tables or clear space for activities.
Obtain any licenses that may be needed for regular food preparation.
Health & Safety
Identify the number you can safely accommodate with appropriate health and safety measures.
Consider facilities, building and staffing capacity.
Be aware of close contact, proximity, hygiene and building ventilation, particularly for vulnerable members of the public.
Ensure comfortable temperatures and humidity.
Consider distancing and appropriate layouts that make people feel comfortable and safe.
Remove obstructions in hallways, doors and lifts.
Make separations between different activities or settings - i.e. separating co-working or refreshments space from family spaces.
Safeguarding
Carry out DBS checks on workers.
Avoid lone working.
Take care of volunteers and staff.
Risk management
Perform a risk assessment of the space and planned activities.
Check your insurance to make sure you will be covered for new activities.
Getting the word out
As well as promoting your offering through offline and online channels, there are also a few sites that list many of the community, faith organisations and churches with Warm Spaces:
https://www.warmwelcome.ukYou can also download Warm Welcome's set up guide here.https://warmhubs.com/
They have more information as well as a finder function that you can use to add your Warm Space.
Other guidance
Check your local council's website for any specific schemes, guidance or directories of Warm Banks.
For more guidance on making your warm space accessible with disabled access, visit Euan's guide.
This is not designed to be an exhaustive guide but to signpost you to relevant resources that will help you set up a Warm Space.

### Managing your charity's reputational risks
This guide looks at the importance of managing your organisation's reputation and the risks that threaten to harm reputation, some of the consequences, and practical steps you can take to minimise the causes or effects of those risks.
Here are the pieces we will cover:What is your reputation, and why is it so important?Reputational risksFurther consequences of a damaged reputationResponding to crisesManaging reputational risk effectively
What is your reputation, and why is it so important?
Reputation refers to the perception that people have of an organisation. This perception is based on the organisation's actions, behaviour, and communication. These actions and behaviours will include, for example, how they treat their employees, deliver their services or programs, and interact with their stakeholders. To some extent, communications can also help control people’s opinions and perceptions of a charity, for example, by building trust with stakeholders when reporting on outcomes, celebrating staff successes or filing a professional annual report.
A strong reputation will stand an organisation in better stead for attracting funding, partnerships and support. On the other hand, a damaged reputation can have severe consequences for an organisation. Negative media coverage, scandals, or legal issues can all contribute to a loss of trust and support from stakeholders. This can lead to declining donations, losing funding, and difficulty attracting new supporters or partners. In some cases, a damaged reputation can even lead to the organisation's closure.
Therefore, it is crucial for organisations to actively manage their reputation, including monitoring and responding to feedback from stakeholders, planning a crisis response plan and taking steps to address any issues or concerns.
Reputational risks
Reputational risk can occur as a result of other risks materialising. This could include a breach of duty, conflict of interest, financial mismanagement or cyber attack. Below are some of the typical events that pose a risk to your reputation.
Financial errors or misconductWhether malicious or not, trustees and senior leaders risk eroding trust with donors and beneficiaries if funds are mismanaged. Unexplained use of funds, or seemingly not used in the charity's best interests, may raise questions about its effectiveness, efficiency and ability to deliver on its mission.
Safeguarding failures, allegations of abuse or misconductBoth allegations and instances of safeguarding failure, abuse or misconduct can severely impact reputation. These can negatively affect the organisation’s ability to protect or manage stakeholders effectively.
Data breachesA data breach, which can occur in a digital or physical setting, and may involve the loss or misuse of forms or records, can damage a charity’s reputation by compromising the privacy and security of beneficiaries or donor data. See our cyber guide for more details.
Conflicts of interestA conflict of interest can lead to negative perceptions of poor governance or lack of accountability/transparency of decision-makers.
Non-compliance with regulationsThe inability to comply with regulations such as filing annual reports and adhering to GDPR or fundraising standards can reduce trust with current or potential stakeholders.
Association with influential partners, funders or endorsersBoth companies and individuals that charities partner with can pose a risk to the charity’s reputation if the other party becomes involved in a scandal or controversy inconsistent with the charity’s values or mission.
Inappropriate or offensive conduct by staff or volunteersAgain, this comes down to effectively managing staff and volunteers based on values. Inappropriate conduct can raise questions about the charity culture, governance, risk management or safeguarding controls.
Negative publicityThere doesn’t necessarily have to be a failure in compliance, governance or misconduct to gain negative media coverage. A decision on a controversial issue or questions about an approach taken or even individual stakeholders can be the subject of negative press, creating negative perceptions of the charity’s values or mission.
Inappropriate social media useSimilar to misleading marketing and promotions, using social media can amplify issues or opinions of representatives that may have a negative impact on the organisation. Data or safeguarding breaches could also occur if there are no guidelines on what can be shared or communicated.
Environmental or social issuesCharity operations can cause harm to their reputation if they are perceived to harm the environment or society. Depending on the mission and values of the charity, there could be inconsistencies that may lead to controversy.
Allegations of discriminationA charity’s reputation can be hurt if negative perceptions surrounding diversity, equality and inclusion policies and practices exist. Formal allegations of discrimination will have a more severe impact and involve legal costs.
Misleading communicationsWhen marketing their work, charities may make claims about their previous impact or how funds will be spent. If these are inaccurate or are later found to have been misleading, this can damage their reputation, eroding perceptions of honesty and transparency.
Further consequences of a damaged reputation
If these risks are made a reality, there can be serious consequences. Trust can be eroded and reputation damaged, but knock-on effects can further threaten an organisation’s reputation.
This could be the withdrawal of funding from donors and funders who lose confidence in the charity's ability to manage its affairs effectively. This, in turn, can lead to financial difficulties for the charity, making it harder to carry out its programmes and initiatives.
Reputational risks can also result in increased scrutiny from regulators, media outlets, and the general public. It can also result in staff morale and talent loss, as employees may become disillusioned and leave the organisation.
In some cases, reputational or associated risks can result in legal cases, which can be costly and time-consuming for charities to defend. In addition, legal action can result in further negative media coverage, leading to even more significant reputational damage. Ultimately, the consequences of realised reputational risks can significantly impact a charity's ability to deliver on its mission and achieve its goals. This is why charity leaders must identify, manage and protect their organisation's reputation.
Responding to crises
In the event of an incident, whether reputational or not, it is vital to respond quickly and effectively to mitigate the damage. A crisis management plan outlining the key steps helps to do this.
The crisis management plan should include a designated crisis team, a clear communication strategy, and a plan for monitoring and evaluating the situation. (See our checklist below for more considerations.) This helps ensure that the charity is prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any reputational risks, minimising the impact on its reputation and ability to carry out its mission. By responding proactively and transparently, charities can demonstrate their credibility and trustworthiness, which can even have a net positive impact.
 Download our Crisis Management Planning Checklist
Managing reputational risk effectively
Before there is an even incident to respond to, here are some steps you can take to manage your reputation and reduce reputational risk.
Adding reputational risks to your risk registerCharities should ensure reputational risks are appropriately reflected in the charity's risk register. This can help ensure that controls and response plans are in place so that you can respond quickly in a crisis. The risk register should be reviewed regularly and updated to reflect changes in the charity’s activities, circumstances or regulatory requirements.
Appropriate insuranceIt's important to consider the severity of the reputational risks that your charity may face and discuss with your insurance specialist what type of cover is suitable for you. Insurance policies help protect against some of the reputational damages that occur due to a broader issue. For instance, cyber insurance can cover costs associated with data breaches and PR crisis communication. Abuse cover and liability insurance can cover costs of damages arising from allegations of misconduct, malpractice or abuse. Employment practice liability insurance can help cover legal costs associated with accusations of discrimination or harassment.
Planning aheadPart of the exercise of identifying and managing risks will lead to anticipatory actions such as scenario planning or crisis management plan.
Practising good governanceGood governance is essential for maintaining a charity's reputation. Charities should have clear policies and procedures for decision-making, risk and financial management, ensuring care, prudence and compliance with relevant laws. This will involve establishing guidelines and policies that protect and build a strong reputation. These include data protection, safeguarding, whistleblowing and conflicts of interest policies. For example, a whistleblowing policy enables stakeholders to report any concerns about misconduct, and a conflict of interest policy ensures that decisions are made in the charity's best interests.
Commitment to transparency and accountabilityOne step beyond good internal management is showing and communicating your actions that ensure good governance, key financial decisions and operational changes. This involves a commitment to transparency and accountability, embedding these values into your culture. Your annual report is one place where transparency and accountability can be reflected, which helps to build trust with current and potential stakeholders.
Social media and communications policiesTo ensure the responsible and safe use of social media, a social media policy can help minimise the risk of reputational damage arising from use that could lead back to your organisation and affect your reputation.
Stakeholder managementCharities should conduct due diligence with stakeholders and ensure they share the charity's values and mission. These due diligence procedures should be enacted when managing suppliers, partners, influencers, board members, volunteers, and other stakeholders.
Adequate trainingRegular training should be provided on regulatory issues, cyber and data protection procedures, particularly for volunteers who may have less experience or be less familiar with your code of conduct. This can help ensure that everyone involved in the charity knows their responsibilities and minimises reputational risks.
Speak to one of our experienced insurance advisers about the appropriate insurance covers and levels of protection for your unique risks.
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### Managing the risks of charity fundraising
Diversification of fundraising efforts is a key concern for charity leaders at the moment. Despite the economic climate, 81% of the leaders surveyed in CAF’s 2022 report felt optimistic about their organisation’s future. As a trustee or senior manager, you must be mindful of regulations, care of staff and volunteers and prudent use of funds when updating your fundraising strategy. This will include evaluating the risks and the strategic benefits of the various fundraising tactics available, such as legacy giving, events, mailshots, SMS appeals, payroll giving or commerce.
This guide covers the following risk management considerations in the context of fundraising:1. Strategic and financial fundraising risk2. Understanding the regulatory risk3. Reputational risk4. Collecting funds from the public5. Safeguarding and reporting6. Managing cyber risk7. Avoiding fraud risk8. Insuring charity fundraising risk
1. Strategic and financial fundraising risk
Before looking at some of the operational risks, some high-level risks may be looked at in a fundraising strategy. These could include to:
Diversify your income: Mitigate the risk of focusing too much on one source of income. If your fundraising strategy relies heavily on a single source - be it a particular kind of event, one large donor, or a specific grant - then you are leaving your charity vulnerable to financial instability in case this source of income diminishes or disappears.
Combat income unpredictability: Fundraising income can be unpredictable. Factors such as changes in the economic climate, fluctuations in exchange rates for international charities, or unforeseen events can greatly affect the amount of income a charity receives. Planning to be more financially resilient is part of a good financial risk management strategy.
2. Understanding the regulatory risk
Again, before looking at the operational and specific fundraising risks, you will not ensure compliance by understanding the various regulatory risks that apply to fundraising activities.
Comply with the law: Ensure every fundraising activity complies with the law and Code of Fundraising Practice.
Protect personal data: Invest in robust cybersecurity measures and train staff to handle data responsibly.
Avoid financial mismanagement: Implement strict financial controls, regular audits, and transparency in all financial reports. This will not only reduce the risk of management but have the potential to help increase the efficiency of operations.
3. Reputational risk
Reputational damage can have severe consequences, and trustees can even be held personally liable. To protect your charity's reputation, consider the following:
Create a crisis management & communications plan: Prepare for potential crises by developing a plan outlining how to respond and communicate with stakeholders. This will help you address any reputational damage promptly and effectively.
Consider Trustees, Directors & Officers Insurance: This charity insurance cover is designed to provide financial support in case of any claims of wrongful acts against trustees.
Conduct due diligence: Conduct thorough due diligence before entering into partnerships or agreements with others. This will help identify potential risks or issues that would impact your charity's reputation.
Establish clear agreements: When entering into contracts with other parties, clearly define the boundaries and terms of the agreement. Ensure that you can fulfil any obligations outlined in the contract to avoid breaching them in the future.
Adhere to fundraising regulations: Implementing the Code of Fundraising Practice is essential to avoiding complaints that could harm your charity's reputation. Educate your fundraisers about limitations and best practices to ensure ethical and responsible fundraising.
Learn from past complaints: Take the time to reflect on any past complaints or reports received through the Fundraising Regulator. Use this feedback to update your procedures and improve communications to prevent future reputational damage.
Promote ethical and transparent campaigns: Ensure all fundraising campaigns align with your charity's values and mission. Transparency and ethical practices are key to maintaining a positive reputation.
Monitor online presence: Establish clear policies for social media use and regularly monitor your charity's online presence. Respond promptly to any negative or damaging content to protect your reputation.
Communicate with your donors: Regularly communicate with your donors and stakeholders to keep them informed about your charity's activities and progress. This will avoid alienating supporters and demonstrate your commitment to fulfilling your mission.
4. Collecting funds from the public
Looking more specifically at fundraising activities, several health and safety, employee and volunteer risks are involved with fundraising from the public. Assessing risks for events and activities is essential. Here are some key considerations:
Venue suitability: Choose venues that are appropriate for fundraising activities and can accommodate the expected number of attendees. Obtain the necessary permits for collecting money or having a stand. Check cancellation policies and assess other factors that may cause event cancellation.
Money handling: Find a secure location to collect, count, and store the money. Deposit all cash in the bank as soon as possible, without deducting any expenses. It's advisable to have at least two people handling the money to minimise the risk of fraud.
Safety during events: Minimise the risk of slips, trips, and falls by keeping the event area clear of tripping hazards and promptly cleaning up any spills. When conducting door-to-door appeals, always walk on marked paths and well-lit areas.
Working at height: If there's a need to work at height, ensure that ladders are in good condition and that anyone using a ladder has a spotter to ensure their safety.
Driving risks: Require drivers to have a valid driving license, a safe vehicle, and a good driving record.
Food and drink safety: If serving or selling food and drinks at an event, adhere to safe food handling and preparation guidelines. Obtain the necessary licenses and insurance to ensure compliance.
5. Safeguarding and reporting
Your duty of care will be to protect all individuals involved in fundraising. Here are some key considerations for safeguarding and reporting:
Reporting procedures: Make sure fundraisers know your charity's reporting and whistleblowing policies, as well as the relevant contact numbers.
Safeguarding measures: Implement a safeguarding policy to protect children and vulnerable individuals participating in fundraising events.
Create a lone-working policy: When conducting door-to-door visits or meeting major donors, it's crucial to have a lone-working policy. Consider sending two people together to reduce risks, establish policies for accepting gifts, and choose safe meeting locations.
Working with third-party organisations: Requires implementing controls and conducting due diligence to ensure that your safeguarding standards are met and that partners are committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Regular training: Provide regular safeguarding training to staff and volunteers to raise awareness and ensure everyone understands their responsibilities.
Online safeguarding: Implement appropriate age-verification or restriction measures when fundraising online.
6. Managing cyber risk
Digital fundraising brings new risks from safeguarding to other third-party cyber risks. Charity organisations must proactively mitigate these risks, as they can lead to both reputational and financial damage. Here are some practices to consider:
Secure passwords: Use strong, unique passwords to safeguard your online fundraising platforms. Regularly updating these passwords further enhances security.
Firewalls: Implement firewalls to prevent unauthorised access to your networks and data.
Monitoring: Continuously monitor your systems to help identify potential threats or breaches quickly, enabling you to take swift action.
Training and communication: Regular cybersecurity training for your staff can equip them with the knowledge to identify and respond to cyber threats. Check in with your remote workers to keep everyone aligned with data protection practices.
Clear policies: It's essential to have clear policies to ensure secure access to your systems and data from outside the office.
Secure communication: Utilise secure communication and file-sharing systems to protect confidential information from unauthorised access.
Software: Equip your people with up-to-date, secure software. This includes the use of secure payment gateways for online donations.
Third-party risks: If you're outsourcing any part of your digital fundraising, conduct thorough due diligence to ensure these third parties have robust security measures.
7. Avoiding fraud risk
You'll need to implement measures to protect your charity from fraud when dealing with finances.
Educate yourself and your team: Start by educating yourself and your workforce about different types of fraud that can affect your charity. The Charity Commission's prevent fraud hub is a valuable online resource that offers guidance on protecting against fraudulent activities like hacking, malware, cyber-attacks, and more.
Screen volunteers and staff: This process helps identify potential risks in the recruitment or onboarding phase.
Monitor expenditure and grants: Keep a close eye on your charity's expenditure, especially regarding grant money. Regularly compare your spending with the terms of the grant agreement to ensure compliance. This practice can help identify any discrepancies or misuse of funds.
Create financial policies: To mitigate the risk of fraud, it's crucial to have well-defined procedures & policies in place. These should cover areas such as fraud prevention, whistleblowing, conflicts of interest, bribery, and corruption.
Ensure good oversight: Implement strict financial controls, regular audits, and transparency in all financial activities.
8. Insuring charity fundraising risk
Even when you take every precaution, incidents can still occur, and an insurance programme transfers the risk to an insurer so that you can get back up and running to the point where you left off before the incident. Depending on your fundraising strategy, some of the insurance covers to consider for transferring the risk of your fundraising activities will be:
Public Liability Insurance: Cover for claims from the public due to accidents or injuries at fundraising events.
Employers Liability Insurance: Cover for claims made by staff injured during fundraising activities.
Event Cancellation Insurance: Cover for cancelling or postponing fundraising events for reasons beyond your control.
Trustee Indemnity Insurance: Protection for senior decision-makers from claims of wrongful acts, errors or breach of duty.
Property Insurance: Cover for buildings, contents, or equipment used during fundraising events.
Motor Insurance: Cover for accidents, theft or damage involving charity-owned vehicles used for fundraising.
Cyber Cover: Cover for costs of recovery from data breaches, ransomware or hacking.
Fidelity Guarantee: Cover for losses due to dishonest acts by employees or volunteers.
Business Interruption: A financial safeguard to continue operations if an unforeseen event temporarily halts them.
Money Insurance: Cover for loss or theft of cash, cheques and stamps.
Speak to one of our experienced insurance advisers about the appropriate covers and level of protection for your organisation.
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### Understanding the risks of third-party service providers
What are the risks for charities with working with third-party service providers?
You may have seen the BBC article a couple of months ago about a cyber-attack on an IT company that serviced several charities holding sensitive personal information.
One of the common misconceptions about cyber security is that outsourcing IT removes the cyber risk. Whilst it may provide multiple advantages for your organisation, it is vital to carry out due diligence still and be aware of the risk of indirect cyber attacks where criminals breach a supplier's network and gain access to your organisation's data. Indirect cyber-attacks of this nature have risen from 44% to 61% over the past few years, according to a Global Cyber Security Outlook 2022 report.
Consider the following risks of using third-party service providers:
Reputational damages: Should one of your suppliers experience a cyber breach, your reputation could be damaged. After all, data has been entrusted to you and your management or association with the affected company could come under scrutiny.
Compliance concerns: Regulators are increasing pressure on organisations to better manage their supply chain risk. For instance, a third-party donor relationship management service that processes your donors' contact details, would still make you the data controller, if they had no purpose for the data besides processing on your behalf. As such, you could suffer financial penalties for failing to comply with appropriate regulations if a supplier experiences a cyber-security breach.
Operational issues: If a software vendor experiences a cyber-attack, your services could be offline for a significant time. Extensive downtime may result in productivity losses and a damaged reputation.
It's essential to conduct due diligence before granting third-party suppliers access to your IT systems. It's worth noting that while vendors may have adequate safety protocols at first, they may not always retain them. Therefore, it becomes your responsibility to monitor a third-party supplier's performance and security measures for the duration of your dealings with them. Additionally, only work with vendors who have responsible security safeguards, business continuity plans and disaster recovery strategies.

### Risk Insights: Protecting trustees and charity leaders
The definitive guide to the management liability and risks facing leaders in the third sector – and how to insure against them
Charity trustees, directors and leaders carry a burden of ensuring good governance and effective management/oversight of their organisation. Legal action can be brought against these leaders in their individual capacity, as well as the entity, for a number of failings.
Fortunately, Trustees Indemnity Insurance (also called Directors & Officers insurance) is available to charities, However, cover options vary significantly. You need to be aware of the common exclusions and pitfalls.
What is covered in this guide?Who is classed as a ‘trustee/director' or 'officer’?The risks to individuals and the organisationWho can bring a claim against you?Types of claimsTypes of D&O cover & common exclusions/clausesFactors which determine the price of D&O coverA plan for arranging cover in time
Who is classed as a ‘trustee/director' or 'officer’?
The term ‘trustees, directors and officers’ is broad and encompasses anyone acting in a managerial capacity. Throughout this paper, we use the terms ‘director’, ‘officer’ and ‘senior leaders/leadership’. We use these phrases in their broadest sense to include:
Trustees, Directors or management committee members
Company officers
Shadow or de facto directors
Employees (or volunteers) acting in a managerial or supervisory capacity
The risks to individuals and the organisation
The applicable UK law highlights the responsibilities of trustees and senior management and emphasises the fact they can be held personally liable as a result of their own errors or omissions or those of their fellow directors and officers. Legal defence costs for claims against trustees, directors and officers can run well into six figures, leaving an organisation at financial risk.
In the event that an organisation faces a D&O claim, but has no D&O insurance cover in place, the costs of defending and potentially settling the claim may need to be met by senior management individuals. For this reason, D&O cover has become a key component of most organisations' insurance programmes.
Claims can be brought for a range of reasons including any of the below committed by trustees or member/s of your senior leadership team:
Actual instances or allegations of wrongful acts
Errors or omissions
Negligence
Breach of duty
Some organisations which are limited liability entities have been wrongly informed that their directors can’t be held personally liable. This limited liability only applies to debts in the event the organisation goes into administration.
There are a range of scenarios which are commonly misidentified as being covered under a D&O policy, but for which no cover exists. These include:
Allegations or incidents of fraud/theft (covered by crime/fidelity insurance).
Failure to pay monies owed to a third party under a contract. (Some policies will cover the personal liability of directors to creditors in the event the organisation is declared insolvent and wrongful trading occurred).
Failure to deliver services to a third party under a contract.
Poor commercial decisions, for example, overspending on a project.
Who can bring a claim against you?
Claims against directors and officers are becoming increasingly common. Donors, service users, members, tenants, current or former employees/trustees, regulators, partner organisations, creditors and suppliers can all bring legal actions against individual directors or against the organisation and its directors.
Types of claims
In recent years there has been a major shift as senior leaders have been held more accountable by their fellow employees, service users and government bodies for organisational failings. As a result, stakeholders have begun taking increased legal action against individual leaders within organisations rather than, or in addition to, the organisation as a whole when incidents occur.
The following D&O market trends are emerging throughout the UK:
Event-driven / bad news litigation
A common cause of D&O claims, these claims are brought on the back of organisational problems i.e. issues with service delivery or corporate corruption. In these cases, stakeholders will take legal action against an organisation’s senior leaders following a disaster, holding them responsible for any damages that resulted. Senior leaders can be deemed accountable in these cases if they failed to implement reasonable controls to help prevent the disaster or lacked a proper response plan to limit the damages after the disaster took place.
Financial failings
Another cause of D&O claims is financial failure/mismanagement. It’s crucial for organisations to engage in proper cash flow practices with trusted senior leaders to avoid the risk of insolvency or bankruptcy. Senior leaders who engage in poor financial decision-making could face substantial D&O claims.
Cyber security/data failure (class actions)
Workplace technology is consistently evolving, providing innovative solutions and advancements for organisations across industry lines. However, new technology comes with increased cyber-security and data protection risks. What’s more, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organisations and their senior leaders to take specific steps to prevent and appropriately respond to a cyber-attack—or face hefty non-compliance consequences. In response, senior leaders are being held accountable more than ever before for maintaining proper data protection practices.
Senior leaders who don’t ensure GDPR compliance or effectively protect stakeholder data could face D&O claims in the form of class actions - a type of litigation in which a group of stakeholders takes collective legal action against a senior leader for the damages that result from an organisational security failing.
Environmental issues
Organisations are now expected to consider the environmental risks that could arise as a result of their operations. Failure to adjust key operations and bolster environmental risk management measures as climate change progresses could result in D&O claims from a variety of sources - including government bodies and regulators.
Types of D&O cover & common exclusions/clauses
Cover to protect senior management ‘Directors & Officers Insurance’ is available on a number of different bases. It’s important you understand the type of cover you are buying and key exclusions. The coverage provided under D&O insurance policies differs hugely, with low-priced ‘off the shelf’ policies excluding cover for key areas of risk. By understanding these key factors you can ensure the policy your organisation purchases meet your needs.
The two key aspects of cover:
Cover for the organisation: covers the entity for claims brought against it for the wrongful or negligent act of a senior leader.
Cover for individuals: covers individual senior leaders for claims brought against them in a personal capacity for the wrongful or negligent act of a senior leader.
Limits of indemnity
Having the right level of cover is important. You will have the option to choose different limits for your individual policy and you must decide how much is sufficient to cover your organisation’s risks. This process includes assessing your company’s specific circumstances and any possible claims that may arise including legal defence costs, expenses, settlements/ damages awarded for alleged wrongful acts.
For the majority of policies, the limit of liability is an aggregate limit for all claims during the period of insurance. This means that once the limit has been reached or paid out by the insurer, additional claims will not be covered by the D&O policy.
There also may be sub-limits for certain costs, such as reputational crisis and emergency defence costs, written into the policy. Be sure that you are comfortable with the limit of indemnity set forth in your policy because claims that exceed this limit will be excluded.
Policy period
Typically, D&O policies only cover claims first made and notified to the insurer while the policy is in effect. It is important to carefully review the start and end date of the policy to ensure that you are fully covered. If moving insurer it’s important your policy has a suitable retroactive date to cover claims which occurred before the start date of your policy, but come to light during the policy period. There can also be language in the policy that dictates discovery period (or run-off) terms, the period immediately following expiry of the policy in which the organisation can still make claims if the wrongful act was committed during the period of insurance.
The majority of D&O policies also offer the option to purchase an extended reporting period in the event you or the insurer declines to renew the policy. Like the discovery period, this extended reporting period only applies to wrongful acts committed prior to the expiry of the original insurance period.
Terms for the discovery period and extended reporting period will differ from policy to policy; therefore it is important to be aware of the exact terms and conditions in your specific policy. Also, be sure that the policy is irrevocable by the insurer unless there is non-payment of the premium.
Claims made after retirement or resignation
When a trustee or director retires or resigns, they are still vulnerable to claims of wrongful acts if the wrongful acts occurred prior to their departure. Most policies will grant directors retiring or resigning an additional lifetime discovery period (run-off) at no additional cost. However, there can be stipulations and conditions placed on this discovery period. Read your policy carefully to make sure that past, present and future directors are covered under your policy. If you are thinking about retirement soon, be aware of the length of the discovery period for retired insured persons in your policy and the associated conditions.
Types of exclusions in D&O policies
Some exclusions that insurers and insureds dispute about concern incidents that happened or allegedly happened before the D&O policy went into effect. In some cases, the insurer simply won’t cover the claim; in other cases, the insurer may render the policy void.
The 'known circumstances' exclusion
With this exclusion, the insurer will not pay for claims that arise from a negligent act, error, omission or personal injury that occurred prior to the start date of the D&O policy. The insurer attests that the insured knew or could have foreseen that any of the above happened and could have been the basis for a claim. This exclusion is found frequently in not-for-profit policies.
What is especially important to note is that the premium is usually not returned to the insured if it is determined that they withheld their knowledge of circumstances that occurred prior to the start of the policy.
Prior acts exclusion
Similar to the known circumstance exclusion, this exclusion is also concerned with pre-policy circumstances. The insurer is not responsible for wrongful acts committed or attempted before the cover was enacted. A wrongful act is that which damages the rights of another. These acts are not only limited to criminal offences, but can also include acts that result in civil legal actions.
Bodily injury exclusion
Many standard policies come with a bodily injury exclusion. This means that the D&O policy will not cover costs and claims made for bodily injury. However, one can negotiate for the exclusion not to apply with respect to corporate manslaughter proceedings or employment practice liability. Make sure you know whether there is a bodily injury exclusion in your policy when it applies and whether it is absolute (broad or narrow).
Reasonableness of defence fees
This is more prevalent in not-for-profit D&O policies, as most of those policies give the insurer the right and duty to defend the insured’s claims. If this is written into your D&O policy, it means that the insurer will only pay for “reasonable and necessary” defence fees. Some insurers also provide detailed information on litigation guidelines.
Contractual liability exclusion
This exclusion is especially pertinent to not-for-profits who have broad entity cover under a D&O policy. Since contractual obligations are not liabilities imposed by law but rather an obligation that is voluntarily undertaken, many D&O policies have an exclusion that prevents insurers from having to cover contract-related claims, especially breaches of contract that arise when the company enters into a contract with another party.
When examining this exclusion in your D&O policy, make special note of the wording of this clause. This exclusion can substantially affect the extent of your cover under the policy - the narrower the scope of the exclusion, the more protection you have.
Conduct exclusions
D&O insurance protects directors and officers, but most policies do not protect them from intentional acts or gross misconduct. Most D&O policies have exclusions that deny cover for certain types of misconduct. There are two categories of misconduct exclusions:
For loss relating to fraudulent or criminal conduct
For loss relating to illegal profits or remuneration to which the insured was not legally entitled
Insured vs. insured exclusion
In some D&O cases, one insured director may bring a claim against another insured director. Some insurers exclude cover because they don’t want to get involved in the infighting between an organisation’s directors and officers.
Other insurance exclusions
D&O insurance is just one form of insurance in a comprehensive risk management plan for most organisations. Because of this, most D&O policies have exclusions for claims that involve bodily injury, property damage claims, which could be covered by other types of insurance, such as a Public/Products Liability policy.
Other exclusions found in D&O policies revolve around the duty to defend and defence expenses in the event of a claim. If the insurer has the right to the duty to defend, then they are able to select the insured’s defence and have greater control over the rates and billing practices of the defence counsel.
Factors which determine the price of D&O cover
There are a number of key factors which will determine the price and availability of D&O insurance for your organisation. Some are internal and under your control, while others are external which you have no control over.
Organisation characteristics and exposures
To determine the cost of premiums and the limits of cover, insurers review several facets of an organisation’s structure and price D&O insurance accordingly. Some of these attributes include the following:
Whether your organisation is mature or young and developing. Organisations with less experience and a shorter history of proven effective management will be considered ‘riskier’ to underwrite than well-developed organisations with experienced directors and officers.
The extent of your operations and exposure. Organisations with operations which encompass an element of care or work within the homelessness sector may be considered as higher risk – especially with the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Whether the organisation is financially stable. Insurers will consider the amount of debt your organisation has. If your finances are unstable, the organisation has an increased chance of becoming insolvent during a legal action and thus is seen as higher risk.
Number of employees. From small not-for-profits to large charities, employment-related claims are the primary cause of legal actions against an organisation’s directors and officers.
The organisation’s history of past litigation. Insurers will analyse an organisation’s history of previous legal actions and any adverse business developments and executive management changes.
Trends in D&O legal actions
Even after a thorough assessment of a company’s risks, D&O insurance continues to be a high-severity product, as insurers are often hit unexpectedly with catastrophic claims. It’s no surprise that as litigation increases, the price of D&O insurance increases as well. In addition, as the litigation process grows lengthier and if multiple legal actions erupt from a single transaction, an organisation can quickly exhaust its primary layer of D&O cover.
Some types of legal actions occur less often, but result in catastrophic losses. Other types result in smaller pay outs, but occur more frequently. Nonetheless, defence expenses can be substantial, even if the director is not found liable.
Market rates for D&O cover are currently increasing. Insurers are pulling out of underwriting certain aspects of the sector and organisations will have fewer choices of D&O providers.
Know what your policy covers
While many organisations focus on the cost of their D&O policy, understanding the scope of the policy is critical. The type of cover and exclusions which can apply as laid out in this paper, have a significant impact on the price of your D&O policy.
A plan for arranging cover in time
Current market conditions and emerging trends have contributed to an increase in D&O claims. This surge in demand has resulted in a major market fluctuation, leaving D&O insurers to pay the hefty price tag of additional claims with a limited financial supply. Consequently, D&O insurers have implemented a variety of measures to reduce their risk of paying out costly claim settlements.
To ensure you obtain cover which meets your needs, you should take the following measures into account:
Select a specialist broker - make sure you select and talk with a specialist broker to discuss what level of cover and unique policy features your organisation needs. Many insurers have implemented serious restrictions upon policy renewals, such as reducing indemnity limits and eliminating various policy extensions. Ensuring frequent communication with your broker will help you stay informed and supported during these market conditions.
Start the renewal process early - in a difficult market, you can’t wait until the last minute to secure quality cover. With this in mind, be sure to engage in your D&O policy renewal process as early as possible. Doing so will give you plenty of time to gather any documentation required for renewal. In addition, insurers will likely ask more questions than usual before finalising your policy, making it even more vital to get a head start on the process. Organisations should start the D&O buying process three months ahead of their renewal date.
Expect higher premiums - in order to compensate for lost profits from a growing number of claims, many insurers have increased their premium rates, forcing organisations to pay additional expenses for adequate cover.
Invest in risk management - now more than ever, it’s vital to invest in robust D&O risk management processes and provide documentation of these practices to your insurer upon renewal time. Your risk management documentation should highlight:
Proper financial practices and cash flow controls
Seamless contracts with stakeholders
A business continuity plan, cyber-incident response plan and risk assessment. (Contact us if you need templates for these plans).
Robust internal policies to mitigate on-site risks and ensure regulatory compliance
If you have questions about anything in this paper, or would value advice and help in arranging D&O insurance please contact one of our specialist advisers.

### What Access is doing for clients amid cost-of-living pressures
86% of charities surveyed by CAF worry about the effect of the cost of living on people, services and budgets. Reducing expenditure and raising enough funding to continue will be on the minds of most finance managers and treasurers.
At Access we want to make it easy to get cost-effective insurance cover, so you don’t have to worry about not being covered adequately or having unnecessary cover.
Our personal service means we can talk through the risks you face, any changes in your activities, finances or operations and answer any questions you have about the policy we build with you.
Throughout the life of your policy, we are here to support you by answering any queries you have, making changes to your policy on your behalf, and assisting you with claims. That’s one of the times you’ll value our help the most, as we support you in getting you back up and running.
Performing risk assessments and updating your risk register is vital to ensure good risk management and to fulfilling your duties of care, prudence, and compliance. We are producing new checklists and guides to help you with this task. We share these through our Risk Insights newsletter, partners and on social media.
Contact us if you would like to review your insurance.
There will also be many other things besides insurance you will want to find help on. Below is a list of partner organisations that have compiled resources to help you through the cost-of-living crisis.
ACEVO's Cost of Living Hub
CFG's Cost of Living Hub
Plunkett Foundation Guide to Tackling Energy Costs for Community Businesses
Other resources
Managing financial difficulties in your charity arising from cost-of-living pressures - Charities Commission
Our guide on setting up Warm Spaces
Access Insurance in Charities Network - "Reviewing your charity insurance in uncertain times"
Charities Aid Foundation in Charities Network - "Considering alternative funding streams"
Access Insurance in ACEVO's blog - "Assessing risk in strategic responses to cost-of-living pressures"
NCVO's Cost of Living Resources
SCVO's Cost of Living Resources
Charities Aid Foundation's Cost of Living Hub

### Avoiding cost-of-living scams
Fraud and cyber attacks on the rise
Fraud is on the rise in the UK, with a 25% increase from pre-pandemic levels in the year to March 2022, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). During the pandemic, fraudsters seized the opportunity to take advantage of widespread behavioural changes, such as accelerated growth in online shopping. For instance, ONS data reported a 900% rise in advance-fee fraud — where victims paid upfront for goods or services that later failed to appear.
More recently, fraudsters have been adapting their tactics to exploit the rising cost of living. For instance, in the two weeks to 5th August 2022, more than 1,500 scam emails were reported to the suspicious emails reporting service (SERS) related to fraudulent energy rebate offerings.
Helping your beneficiaries, staff, volunteers and trustees identify and avoid such scams/attacks will help you protect them individually and your charity if you are using your organisation’s equipment or accounts from potential fraud or cyber-attacks.
Smartdesc — charity IT specialists speaking to Civil Society Media Ltd and at Charity Finance Group, stated that charities are particularly susceptible to cyber attacks due to the sensitivity of the data collected and stored by charities.
Identifying cost-of-living scams
Phishing attacks are one of the most common scam types to be aware of. Traditionally sent via email or text message, phishing attacks involve fraudsters posing as legitimate organisations to trick victims into clicking on bad links or revealing personal information. For instance, common scams include fraudsters posing as utility providers offering deals on energy bills or competitions to win fuel vouchers.
It’s wise to be cautious; consider these “red flags” that might indicate a cost-of-living scam:
Urgency — Scammers often pressure victims into making quick decisions before fully analysing the facts. For example, a scam message might offer recipients a cost-of-living payment, but only if they provide bank details immediately. In contrast, a genuine company will usually give ample time for responses and won’t ask for personal details via email.
Authority — Scammers may claim to be someone official. Therefore, it’s important to carefully check the sender’s details on all messages received. Often, scam messages will be sent from a public email domain rather than an official business address, though scammers may be able to mask their email domain, which your email service provider may flag for you. If in doubt, cross-reference the sender’s details against those displayed on the official company website.
Avoiding cost-of-living scams
During financial crises, it’s crucial to protect yourself from related scams. Consider these tips:
Take your time. Some scams adopt official company logos and colours to fool victims. As such, review any messages and offers carefully, even if they first appear genuine. Look out for spelling and grammatical errors, sloppy layouts or informal greetings; these are all tell-tale signs of a scam.
Conduct due diligence. Never send money to anyone you don’t know or aren’t entirely sure of. Instead, check the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) website for a list of authorised companies. Remember, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Bolster your protection. Clicking on fraudulent links in messages could release malware onto your device. Think before you click to avoid downloading files and attachments from suspicious sources. Additionally, make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a scan before opening suspicious links.
Check that websites are genuine. For additional protection, always check that weblinks are secure — look for “https” and a padlock symbol in the domain bar.
Moreover, you can always hang up a phone call or ignore an email, then contact the organisation that supposedly got in touch with you. For instance, if you suspect a bank employee calling you is a fraud, hang up and call the bank using the phone number listed on their official website to enquire about the situation’s legitimacy.
Should you fall victim to a scam, it’s vital to act swiftly; contact your bank or financial provider without delay. Additionally, notify relevant authorities, including Action Fraud, the police, the FCA and Ofgem.
If you are looking to protect your charity from cyber risks, take a look at our Cyber Risk Fundamentals guide.

### Access Refurbishment - Official Opening
Access celebrated the opening of our newly refurbished office, as well as acknowledging the long service of almost 20 years of our Operations Director, with a donation to London’s Air Ambulance Charity.
The Access office in Selsdon has been totally refurbished over the last few months, complete with new desks for our 50+ staff as well as a breakout area to enable staff to get some time away from their desk and to collaborate.
				Our newly refurbished office space at Selsdon
				Access Insurance refurbished breakout area
The office was reopened to staff in early September and an official opening was held on Thursday 6th October.  Access staff were pleased to welcome and network with clients, partners and insurers.
				Official office opening 2022
				Official office opening 2022
This occasion was also used to present Rita Chadha, a trustee of London’s Air Ambulance Charity (LAAC), with a cheque for £2000. Operations Director, Steve Blake, had his life miraculously saved by LAAC on 1 Jan 2020 after a major accident from which he took 9 months to recover. Steve’s family have raised over £5000 for the LAAC since his accident and Access was pleased to be able to add to this.
				Our company vision, values and mission
				Left to right: Steve Blake (Ops. Director), Simon Hickman (CEO), Rita Chadha (Trustee at LAAC)
Access continues to grow and pursue its vision of serving charities & not-for-profits, whilst giving back to great causes each year – something that now appears on one of the walls.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff, clients and partners of Access who have shaped the Company into what it is today.

### What is claims inflation and how does it affect your insurance premium?
Policyholders will notice some insurance premium increases upon renewal, particularly on policies that include buildings or contents cover.
It's estimated that rebuild and replacement costs have risen 24% this year, and with many other costs increasing, organisations will want to make sure their insurance is cost-effective and covers them adequately for their most important risks. If you would like to review your insurance, then get in touch with one of our brokers. 
Many costs are being impacted directly or indirectly by inflationary increases. This article explains why you'll be paying more to transfer buildings and contents risks through insurance on renewal as well as explain terms you might hear such as claims inflation and index linking/indexation.
Table of contentsWhy are insurers increasing premiums?What is claims inflation?What is index linking/indexation?So, what is driving rebuild costs up?What about contents?What does this mean for business interruption policies?What is the danger of underinsurance?What can I do?
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Why are insurers increasing premiums?
Insurers are increasing premiums based on an index they apply to the declared value of items each year to keep in line with claims inflation, so the sum insured reflects the true cost of reinstatement and so avoids you as the policyholder being put in a position of underinsurance.
What is claims inflation?
Claims inflation is the increase in the amount it would cost to settle a claim.
Due to increased costs in materials and labour and other inflationary costs, reinstatement costs are higher, so the cost of settling claims following damage to buildings/contents will also increase.
What is index linking/indexation?
Index linking is an essential tool insurers use to protect clients' interests. The indexation applied to policies, is designed to allow for the annual effects of claims inflation, so the sum insured reflects the true value of reinstatement. One index such as the rebuild cost or the materials index, shown below, allows for the increases in costs of rebuilding a property following damage which would influence the cost of settling a claim following damage to the property. These increases ensure that you are not left in a position where you are underinsured against the actual cost of rebuilding the property.
With buildings insurance, the declared value is the rebuild cost of the property from day one (known as Day One Reinstatement) which should be accurately valued at the outset to avoid underinsurance. The sum insured, is the declared value (rebuild cost) plus the inflationary increase to allow for the period of time it would take to reinstate the building. Insurers apply the indexation to your policy to adjust this sum insured at renewal (providing this was accurate at the start of your policy) to allow for the annual claims inflation. This will be a larger increase than usual due to the large increase in claims inflation.
So, what is driving rebuild costs up?
Rebuilding costs will be impacted by the rise in costs of construction materials as well as labour expenses due to labour shortages. These will increase the rebuild cost i.e. the amount it will cost to replace the exact same property including demolition, decontamination and clearance of the site, local authority restrictions on materials or construction, external works and infrastructure, and professional fees. BIBA describe the rebuild cost as "the anticipated sum, net of VAT, of a fixed price competitive tender cost that would be submitted by a competent contractor to completelyrebuild the property on the day of valuation".  These increases in rebuild costs have been slowly increasing but now jumped by 24% overall this year (BCIS).
Effects from Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic have been largely responsible for these increases. Here are some of the specific factors influencing high materials and labour costs:
Brexit induced inflation and complexity in international trade and supply chain such as tariff changes
Migrant workforce shortages and changes caused by new immigration rules
A decline in the value of the pound and added bureaucracy further complicate workforce issues
Covid lockdowns and closures reducing manufacturing capacity around the world
Furloughing of construction workers putting delays and driving up labour costs
Surge in DIY projects, creating strain on the supply chain and further increasing the cost of materials
Material stockpiling and over-ordering cause further strain on the supply chain
Low unemployment and increased salaries, increasing the cost of labour
Inflation of fuel and energy costs driven by supply chain issues
Long lead times in manufacturing
Environmental factors like war driving up energy prices as well as extreme weather events that have damaged timber production
As the graph above shows, these factors aren't going to ease quickly, but the forecast currently expects inflation in material costs to die down in 2023 and beyond.
What about contents?
Again, due to the issues of demand outweighing supply, the cost of reinstating contents has risen which in turn inflates the cost of settling claims following damage to contents. Policyholders should ensure accurate valuations of specified items to avoid being disappointed when the maximum settlement is below what you would expect because of underinsuring the items at the outset. Insurers will apply an indexation on contents to ensure the sum insured is adjusted to meet the rise in claims inflation.
When insuring computer equipment, plants or machinery, again the same should apply, make sure the declared value is an accurate cost. Most will be insured on the amount it would cost to replace the items of the same value. You must also consider, particularly with specialist machinery that if you bought it second-hand, and it can no longer be found on the second-hand market, the replacement cost would include that of a brand new machine.
What does this mean for business interruption policies?
After an event such as fire or flooding, your buildings and contents cover will put you back in the position you were before for the physical building and items. However, when you take out business interruption insurance, you will be covering the losses as a result of the interruption to operations during the time the building/contents are being reinstated. Policyholders should consider that when estimating the indemnity period, and delays in manufacturing and supplies, the rebuild/reinstatement period could be longer. BIBA also recommend calculating gross profit carefully to avoid underinsuring as well as taking into account predicted growth.
What is the danger of underinsurance?
Insurers use index linking, applying the indexation to the sums insured, to increase the premium to protect your interests. The danger is that not increasing the sums insured will cause you to be underinsured and therefore will be subject to the average clause which means any claims settlement would be reduced by a percentage based on the underinsured amount which may not be enough to pay the true cost of rebuild/repair/reinstatement. See our guide on the average clause and underinsurance which goes into more detail.
What can I do?
Ensure the amount you put as the declared value (rebuild cost) at the start of your policy reflects the true value it will cost to rebuild it.
Ensure other declared values on specified contents, computer equipment, plants and machinery are as accurate as they can be.
Check the indemnity period for business interruption cover to account for supply chain issues and delays.
Consider using a valuations expert for specified items and a rebuild cost assessment which Access clients can obtain through us at a preferential rate (from £156) using our partner RebuildCostAssessment.
If you don't have an independent broker like Access looking after your insurance, then now may be a good time to review your insurance with one of our experts. We can help you make your insurance cost-effective, so you only pay for the cover you need.

### Access partners with ACEVO
Access is proud to support and partner with ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations).
This partnership reflects the work we both do in helping trustee boards fulfil their duties, ensure good governance and manage risk. ACEVO has supported charity and social enterprise CEOs since 1987, facilitating connection, producing high-quality resources and research, and promoting collaboration among other initiatives.
They have a range of partners who add their expertise to ACEVO’s blog and events. We will contribute our own specialist knowledge and experience in insurance and risk management to provide ACEVO members with an insurance partner and adviser who understands their contexts and unique risks.
If you are an ACEVO member you can speak to one of our senior insurance brokers today by contacting us here.

### Risk Insights: Volunteers and your duty of care
Volunteers provide incredible value and expertise to the public and third sectors each year.
It's estimated that 14 million people formally volunteered at least once a month in 2020/21. They are essential in meeting the demands and needs of many not-for-profit services. Although volunteers do not have the same rights as employees, they still have a right to a duty of care not just to fulfil specific laws but to ensure good relations between trustees, managers, volunteers and employees.
This article primarily focuses on the duties of volunteer managers and leaders to ensure compliance with the law and the maintenance of volunteers' rights.
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The rights/duties we consider are:
Equality - As volunteers act on behalf of charities, charities should take reasonable steps to ensure that volunteers are aware of equality issues and prevent prejudice, discrimination, or mistreatment. 
Data Protection – GDPR applies when processing personal data for volunteers as well as when volunteers process the data of others.
Safeguarding - Volunteers are also subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. Volunteers, stakeholders and beneficiaries should have appropriate measures and policies to protect them from harm.
Health and Safety – The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 places a duty of care on employers to ensure a safe working environment for employees and volunteers. Under civil law, there is a duty of care to volunteers even if you are not an employer too. Relevant risk assessments must include volunteers.
Insurance – Your insurance policy should adequately cover volunteers.
We first explore the difference between contractual employment and volunteer agreements and what to include in a volunteer policy - before going through the various duties and recommendations mentioned.
Do you need a volunteer agreement?
Employees have rights such as the right to a minimum wage because they are financially compensated and have entered into a contract. Volunteers, however, are not under a contract and do not have access to the same rights.
Usually, charities or voluntary organisations offer an agreement even though it is not compulsory. However, having a volunteer agreement and policy may show that a charity is serious about caring for volunteers.
The agreement expresses the relationship between individual volunteers and your organisation. A broader volunteer policy will detail how you manage volunteers across your organisation and outline processes and procedures relating to current or potential volunteers.
Making a volunteer agreement
You'll need to establish the relationship between volunteers and your organisation to prevent exploitation and build good relations. A great place to start is looking at the 10-point best practice charter put together by TUC and Volunteering England (NCVO) in 2009 or Volunteering Scotland's 10 principles.
These charters help you define the relationships and start to form an agreement relative to your own charity's needs, of course.
The government states that an agreement usually includes:
the level of supervision and support
training provided
liability insurance cover in place
health and safety issues
any expenses paid
NCVO adds that a volunteer agreement might outline an introduction, equal opportunities policy, safeguarding procedures, and some expectations.
You should be careful not to suggest obligations, be overly prescriptive about the future or use contractual language. It doesn't take much for a volunteer to be seen as an "employed worker" in the eyes of the law. Moreover, NCVO suggests including a sentence that the agreement is not a legal contract.
Making a volunteer policy
The volunteer agreement may be included in a volunteer policy or handbook which outlines your mission, roles and responsibilities, essential information, and other relevant policies, rights and procedures for volunteers. 
Policies should be accessible and transparent so volunteers are confident in using them. VASLAN have created a checklist of policies/statements that you could include in your volunteer policy.
Some of these statements and policies reference the issues below that you and your volunteers should know and manage.
Equality
Volunteers are not necessarily included in the Equality Act 2010, as it applies to employers and contracted workers. However, as volunteers act on behalf of your organisation and to show your commitment to removing discrimination or prejudice against volunteers, which could happen because of their role, it's recommended you pay attention to and include volunteers in your equality, diversity and inclusion policies. It is also possible that if your organisation fails to take reasonable steps to safeguard volunteers, it could become a health and safety issue or an issue of harassment.
Some actionable steps you can take to ensure volunteers are kept safe from equality issues are:
Make volunteers aware of equality issues and how they can mitigate discrimination against others, such as beneficiaries
Include volunteers in your equality policies
Consult with volunteers about potential problems and policy changes
Set the bounds of roles and responsibilities
Ensure adequate training
Have supervisors, safeguarding leads or contacts that volunteers can access
Monitor and communicate arising concerns
Define procedures for making complaints or concerns
Data protection
The Data Protection Act 2018 – implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to any organisation responsible for handling personal data. 
It will encompass your volunteer programme in a couple of ways.
As data processors
Volunteers may be involved in collecting or managing other people's personal data. They should be aware of GDPR, their obligations and internal processes to handle data correctly, accurately, and securely. Making sure cyber security is adequate will also be a priority. You can read more about cyber security in our article here.
As data subjects
Your organisation also processes volunteers' personal data and has the same duties in lawfully processing that data and deleting or updating it on request. Here is a reminder of the rights of subjects under GDPR:
The right to be informed
The right of access
The right to rectification
The right to erasure
The right to restrict processing
The right to data portability
The right to object
Rights concerning automated decision-making and profiling
Ensure your volunteer policy or handbook includes data management procedures if volunteers are handling beneficiaries' personal data, for example, so that they adhere to GDPR. Your agreement could also state how you process the data of your volunteers. You can read more information on GDPR and how it affects volunteers here.
Practical steps to take
Assess what you need to comply with using ICO's self-assessment tool here.
Appoint a Data Protection Officer if required for your organisation
Communicate how volunteer's personal data is handled
Explain the processes volunteers should follow when handling the personal data of others
Follow cyber security fundamentals
Write and update a privacy policy
Audit your data handling, security and processes
Adhere to DBS rules on the retention of DBS reports and records
Health and Safety
Health and Safety Law
The Health and Safety law only usually applies to volunteers under an employer. However, it also includes volunteers in control of non-domestic premises or construction work, for example, a village hall committee or organising renovation of commercial property.
Charities that are employers have a duty of care to ensure volunteers can work in a safe and suitable environment and that they have the proper training or equipment to carry out their duties.
Employees and anyone who represents or works on behalf of your organisation are protected by the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and must be included in risk assessments, along with any volunteers. Volunteers should have the same level of protection under health and safety as employees doing similar or the same tasks.
Civil Law
When volunteering for an organisation without employees, civil law will apply. Voluntary organisations and individual volunteers have a duty of care to each other and the beneficiaries in their care. If there is a breach, individuals can sue for damages under civil law due to illness or injury caused by the negligence of the organisation or other volunteers.
Duties and managing risks
Write a health and safety policy (legally required if you have 5 or more employees)
Include volunteers in risk assessments (also legally required to be written if you have 5 or more employees). Risk assessments provide a mechanism to manage risk with controls proportionate to those risks. It will not eliminate the risk entirely. Many will be straightforward, like slips and trips, but working at height, construction, lone working or using machinery are high-risk activities. They may require a separate policy or risk controls. HSE provide advice and templates on this here.
Consult with volunteers on health and safety issues
Include the same level of protection for employees and volunteers carrying out identical or similar activities
Ensure volunteers can do the activities required and are properly informed, trained and equipped to carry out those tasks
Monitor and record accidents
Take out appropriate insurance covers such as public or employer's liability and any other insurance depending on activity and organisation structure.
Check your responsibilities under RIDDOR 2013 to report certain incidents as an employer or person in control of work premises which are further detailed in HSE's manual.
Safeguarding
Caring for your volunteers will require you to support them as you perform the relevant checks to ensure the care and safety of all your stakeholders and beneficiaries.
Recruitment
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 applies to voluntary organisations and charities and prevents people deemed unsuitable for working with children and vulnerable adults from entering work in those areas. Caring for your beneficiaries will mean carrying out the necessary precautionary measures when recruiting volunteers.
You should obtain disclosures for volunteers working with children or vulnerable persons if they are eligible. A risk assessment for volunteer roles will enable you to identify which roles require a DBS check.
Writing a policy
You can also help your volunteers by communicating the various measures and procedures required in your volunteer policy. For example, you should include procedures for dealing with child protection, contact numbers, designated safeguarding leads and any guidance for your organisation's specific activities. NCVO detail some guidance for writing safeguarding and other policies on their know-how site.
You can also check out NSPCC's guide on children's safeguarding policies
Ann Craft Trust have a guide on tips when writing a policy for vulnerable adults
Types of risk and harm to be alert to can be found on the government website.
Furthermore, volunteers should know the procedures which protect them from bullying, harassment and other types of harm.
Taking steps to support volunteers
Take a holistic view of safeguarding across your organisation – build protection into your recruitment, activities and services, including digital provisions and journeys.
Make sure volunteers know who safeguarding leads are.
Ensure volunteers have access to someone skilled and experienced with safeguarding when working.
Train volunteers on child protection and adult safeguarding.
Outline clear procedures on whistleblowing, bullying and harassment, complaints and raising concerns.
Look for advice and keep up to date with regulatory changes.
Comply with the DBS Code of Practice.
If you work with other organisations, it will be vital to ensure partnerships share your commitment to safeguarding and work together to ensure your policies and procedures protect all parties. NCVO have a resource dedicated to this issue.
Insurance
You should include in agreements and policies what insurance volunteers are covered by, what they can or can't do under the insurance policies and any updates over time. 
You must also have adequate insurance in place because of the liabilities presented, particularly regarding negligence and breach of duty of care under the health and safety directive. 
Identifying who is liable and what insurance is needed for volunteers will depend on the organisation's structure, and the roles volunteers will take. There are a variety of covers that can protect you and your volunteers, some of which are outlined below:
Public liability (PL) insurance is the most common policy taken out by charities and community groups of all sizes. It is not a legal requirement, but you should consider it if working with the public or holding public events. It covers the costs relating to third-party injury, illness or damage to property. It can include claims from volunteers arising from injury or sickness as a result of negligence by the organisation. It can also protect you against loss or damage to property caused by the negligence of someone acting for the organisation, which may include volunteers.
Employer's liability (EL) insurance protects employers from claims of negligence made by employees who suffer injury or ill health due to their work. Unlike other types of insurance, EL insurance is compulsory for paid staff with a minimum of £5m protection; insurers exclude them from PL insurance, which is why it is essential to distinguish between those working under a contract and a volunteer. However, it is advisable to take out EL cover if you have volunteers to protect your organisation if claims due to negligence are brought against you.Sadly, volunteers do suffer injuries as a result of negligence on the part of the organisation for whom they are volunteering. Whether it be a 'slip or trip' type injury or a more complex injury – volunteers are exposed to risk, just as employees are.Several factors determine the insurance premium for EL:
the type, scale and risk level of your activities
the quality of your health and safety risk management system
your loss history (the severity and frequency of your past claims and accidents)
Personal accident insurance covers accidents, injuries or fatalities that occur when your organisation is not negligent. This extension can be added to show your commitment to volunteers.
Professional indemnity insurance covers volunteers if your organisation gives advice and other professional services and insures you for claims arising from injury, loss or damage resulting from the advice or professional service.
Speak to your charity insurance specialist about the appropriate covers and level of protection for your organisation.
If you would like to receive our Risk Insights and Updates emails - sign up here.
Access Insurance are Chartered Insurance Brokers specialising in serving charities, committees, trustee boards and not-for-profits. Their experienced advisers provide jargon-free advice and design a bespoke insurance policy to cover your unique risks.https://www.accessinsurance.co.uk/charity | charity@accessinsurance.co.uk | 0333 344 7420
Disclaimer: Though we do not guarantee this, or the links included, will contain the most up-to-date guidance at all times, we have made a reasonable effort to ensure accuracy by referencing official government guidance and other reputable resources. 
Key references:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/voluntary/index.htmhttps://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-manage-your-charitys-volunteers

### Cyber security fundamentals for charities
Cyber-security breaches continue to be a problem for all types of organisations. According to a survey by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, 30% of charities reported experiencing cyber-attacks in the past 12 months.
While organisations are always at risk from a cyber-attack, there may be a heightened risk at certain times. Broader problems — such as hacktivism and geopolitical tensions — can increase the cyber-risk organisations face. Regardless of the threat, it’s always wise to adhere closely to a cyber-strategy. Below we will go through some cyber-security fundamentals.
Table of contentsDefences and UpdatesAccess ManagementLogging and MonitoringReview BackupsTrainingCyber Insurance
Defences and Updates
Keep systems and cyber-defences up-to-date.
1. Check Your System Patching
System patching is essential to correct errors in software that could lead to vulnerabilities if not fixed. Make sure you patch the following:
Users’ desktops, laptops and mobile devices (If possible, turn on automatic updates.)
Firmware on your organisation’s devices
Internet-facing services
Additionally, review any unpatched systems. Ideally, all key business systems should be patched. If this isn’t practical, put mitigations for any remaining unpatched systems in place.
2. Check Your Defences
Bolster your defences by ensuring antivirus software is installed correctly and active on all systems.
Review all firewall rules regularly. These determine the network traffic allowed to enter and exit your network. Often temporary firewall rules are set up to enable a contractor or similar to perform a task for a particular timeframe. If such rules are left in place for longer than required, security risk increases.
Additionally, check the security defences of all other devices such as laptops and mobile phones. Consider the National Cyber Security Centre’s device security guidance.
Access Management
Access management is the process of identifying, tracking and managing users’ access to any IT applications or systems. Increase your access management resilience through the following methods:
Bolster password security — Ask staff to ensure passwords are unique to the organisation and not re-used at home. Educate users to create strong and unique passwords with a mixture of letters, numbers and characters.
Review accounts — Carefully review any accounts with privileged or administrative access. The fewer people with access to sensitive information, the better, so manage the number of privileged accounts and swiftly remove old or unused accounts.
Review multi-factor authentication (MFA) — If you have MFA enabled, check it’s properly configured.
Check third-party access — If third-party organisations have access to your IT networks, make sure you thoroughly understand what level of privilege they have and take time to review any third-party security practices. Remove any third-party access that’s no longer required.
Logging and Monitoring
Check security logsLogging is the practice of managing the log data produced by your applications and infrastructure. Determine what logging you have in place, where logs are stored and how long logs are retained. Security monitoring is vital for the identification and detection of threats to your IT systems. Review your logs — especially antivirus logs — regularly to search for errors, anomalies or suspicious activity. Where possible, keep your logs for at least one month.
Check your internet footprintCheck your external internet-facing footprint is up to date. This includes checking which IP addresses your system uses and which domain names belong to you. Check that your password is secure on any domain registration account.
Consider performing a vulnerability scan to check that everything you need to patch has been patched. Better still, make this a part of a wider organisational Vulnerability Management Plan (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/vulnerability-management).
Review your incident response plan to ensure escalation routes and contact details are up to date. Make sure your policy states who has the authority to make critical decisions and covers the procedure for any out-of-hours response. Additionally, consider how your incident response plan will be made available if your business systems are no longer functioning during an attack.
Review Backups
Check that your backups are working to ensure your data is safe and secure in the event of a cyber-attack:
Perform test restorations — Test currently saved data by restoring a small number of files/folders to a machine to confirm that your backups are running as planned.
Consider a cold backup — A backup taking place when the database is offline and not accessible to update is known as a cold backup. This method ensures the backup remains unaffected should any incident impact your live environment.
Extend your backup — Don’t just back up data. Ensure machine state and any critical external credentials (such as private keys and access tokens) are backed up too.
Training
Educate staff on the different types of cyber-attack. One such attack is phishing. According to Symantec, one in every 3,722 emails in the UK is a phishing attempt. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure you have a process in place to deal with any reported phishing emails.
Furthermore, ensure that your staff are made aware of any heightened cyber-risk. Getting buy-in from employees is crucial to help facilitate the adherence to the cyber-security strategy. Also, make sure everyone knows how to report suspected security breaches quickly.
Cyber Insurance
Another issue to consider in protecting your organisation against cyber-attacks is considering insurance that could help cover the costs that may arise if you suffer from a data breach or cybercrime.
Costs may arise through:
Financial damage
Reputational damage
As a result of a
data leak
breach
or other cybercrime
Speak to charity insurance specialist about whether you might need cyber insurance, as per your unique risks.

### 6 steps to developing a business continuity plan
One industry report estimated 40% of businesses never reopen after a disaster. With this startling statistic in mind, it’s clear that implementing steps to prepare for and respond to disasters is crucial to help your organisation reduce the risk of experiencing large-scale losses.
Table of contents1. Determine the risk2. Calculate the cost of interruptions3. Understand your insurance cover4. Implement steps for prevention and mitigation5. Create a crisis communication protocol6. Prepare an incident response plan
To protect your not-for-profit organisation or business from unavoidable interruptions, it’s important to have an effective business continuity plan (BCP) in place. At a glance, this should serve the following purposes:
To protect employees and personnel
To prevent environmental contamination
To protect revenue, assets and information
To prevent loss and to contain loss that occurs
To protect your reputation
Review the following guidance for an outline of steps that you can take to develop an effective BCP and minimise business interruptions.
1. Determine the risk
When determining the potential risks for business interruptions, consider both environmental risks and human risks. Additionally, consider which risks are preventable and which are not.
Once the risks are identified, you can begin to understand all elements involved, such as the hazard itself, the assets at risk, vulnerability to the risk and the ultimate impact of the risk. To be best prepared, rank each risk according to the likelihood of occurrence and the severity of impact.
2. Calculate the cost of interruptions
After the risks have been ranked, analyse the impact of each risk. In calculating cost containment, the following should be considered:
Lost sales or income
Increased expenses
Regulatory fines or contractual penalties
Potential business delays
3. Understand your insurance cover
The next step would be to review your insurance cover. Business interruption insurance generally comes into effect in these circumstances:
Physical damage (e.g. fire or flood) to the premises causes suspended operations.
Damage to property that is covered by the policy prevents customers or employees from accessing the business.
Since business interruption cover can differ significantly, it is important to understand the policy terms, such as exclusions, extensions, cover limits and indemnity periods. Be sure to review your policy carefully with your specialist insurance broker to ensure bespoke cover for your unique business needs.
4. Implement steps for prevention and mitigation
There are three different approaches for controlling and containing potential hazards:
Prevention: This method identifies preventable hazards and implements steps to avoid occurrence of the hazards.
Deterrence: This method identifies potential criminal activities that create business hazards. Steps are taken to prevent the criminal activities.
Mitigation: This method identifies hazards that cannot be prevented. Steps are taken to control and contain the hazards in case of an occurrence.
5. Create a crisis communication protocol
As part of your BCP, it’s important to establish a crisis communication protocol to provide employees and customers with updates and critical information. The protocol should include the following:
A chain of command allows for information to be shared efficiently and ensures that all personnel receive proper information in the event of a disaster.
Pre-scripted messages to eliminate confusion by pre-scripting messages that will be shared with customers, employees and the public in the event of a disaster.
A bi-directional communication network allows for communication to occur in multiple directions to efficiently pass information in the midst of a disaster.
6. Prepare an incident response plan
In addition to a crisis communication protocol, your BCP should include an incident response plan to ensure your organisation is prepared to respond appropriately and efficiently to a disaster. This plan should be practised and reviewed regularly for effectiveness. Specifically, the plan should include the following elements:
IT and data recovery: Implement a data backup programme to protect and recover important information. Enforce workplace policies that assist in both preventing and mitigating the impact of a data breach. Further, consider developing a separate cyber-continuity and incident response plan with your staff to address your organisation’s unique cyber-security risks.
Contracts: Pre-arrange written contracts with other organisations and external suppliers to continue fulfilling commitments to customers.
Resources: Prepare an inventory of resources that are essential to regaining the ability to operate.
Testing and training: Run a test of the plan to ensure the plan is successful. Offer routine staff training to make sure employees understand their responsibilities in helping execute the plan.
By taking these steps, it is possible to minimise potential business interruption risks and limit the impact of unexpected disasters. With a Business Interruption insurance policy, you can be covered for resulting costs such as relocation, increases in rent, loss of income and publicity costs. Cover for grants and donations can also be added. Speak to your charity insurance specialist about the appropriate levels of cover for your unique risks.

### Participating in Mental Health Awareness Week
Last week (9-15th May) our team got together to raise money and awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week, a national event hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, in its 22nd year. Altogether Access staff raised £289 for Mental Health UK!
This year, the theme for the week was ‘Loneliness’. Across the country, people reflected on the impact of loneliness on our mental health. Long-term loneliness is closely linked to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation has produced a report that looks into those links. This includes case studies of different people who are more likely to experience severe and enduring loneliness. The report also shares coping mechanisms and ways to address the barriers to connection if we want to reduce the impact of loneliness on our mental health.
During the week, we had an office bake sale, a “wear something green” day, virtual coffee and a Friday quiz to round off the week and complete our fundraising week for Mental Health UK, just one of many organisations seeking to tackle the issue of mental health. You can find out more about their work across the UK here.

### Access raise £10,000 for charities helping in Ukraine
It is deeply saddening to see what is unfolding in Ukraine, and we must do what we can to support its people.
We recently completed an appeal from within the Access team to raise money to help the people of Ukraine. Overall, across staff donations and match funding by Access, we raised £10,000!
These donations were given to multiple charities supporting Ukrainian people, and Access provided matched funds across the following three campaigns:
UNICEF
International Needs
European Mission Fellowship

### Access partners with Ecologi
Improving our service while reducing our footprint. We have partnered with Ecologi to create a "tree planted for every review" initiative.
We love getting reviews from clients. It helps us know what we are doing well and where we need to do better. This year, we have once again been named as Platinum Trusted Service Provider, awarded by independent review platform - Feefo. This award signifies are ongoing commitment to providing the best service for our clients. More details can be found in our previous years' post.
Our mission is bigger than profit. We give back to charitable causes each year, but we also aim to be a socially and environmentally responsible business. Though we already have some recycling and environmental initiatives in our office, we are looking for more ways to reduce our footprint on the environment.
Tree planting is a simple way that we can have a positive impact and integrates well with our review request programme to provide a further incentive for clients to provide their feedback. To do this, we have partnered with Ecologi, who facilitate the funding of carbon offset projects and tree planting around the world. They have a mission to reduce 50% of global CO2 emissions by 2040 and responsibly plant billions of trees every year.
Our Ecologi profile measures our impact and our sustainable business goals. Let’s get 650 trees planted by the close of 2022!
See how we are progressing so far:

### Our company culture
Why is it important to have a culture? It's more than just a perks scheme. Setting values enables an organisation to be more focused, people-centred and sustainable. Just as a company vision sets the direction, its values set the culture.
In 2019 we asked our people what they thought our culture should be, we asked "What values do you live by at home?", "What values do you bring to work?" and "What values do you think our company should have?" This resulted in setting three distinct values for Access of being positive, honourable and reliable.
Positive – being able to excel in self-development, to achieve more in their role and remain optimistic when faced with challenges or under pressure.
Reliable – being dependable and dedicated, going the extra mile and taking on the challenge of supporting the team even in times of limited availability.
Honourable – always doing the right thing for clients and colleagues alike and supporting the team well, which reflects on Access' external and internal image.
These are now embedded at the heart of Access, when working with clients, informing our internal processes and teams as well as in recruitment and appraisal. These values continue to be integrated within Access and embody Access' commitment to its staff as well as our people's commitment to Access.
 

### Trust Advice: An excellent resource for charities
This month we want to highlight an excellent resource for charities; Trust Advice, formerly Advice For the Voluntary Sector (AFVS), one of our partners, that has provided expert advice, training, and resources to the charitable sector for over ten years. Their founder has many more years of experience working with charities as the CEO of Independent Examiners (IE), which helps charities and CICs with year-end accounts, independent examinations, submissions, and advice.
Having started IE 25 years ago, Daryl Martin saw a need for continuous charity support and set up AFVS in 2010, which in 2020 became Trust Advice. Trust Advice has grown from being an off-shoot organisation off of IE to a membership organisation still run within the family and powered by a great team of people.
These changes have enabled Trust Advice to provide even more value to its members and the wider charity sector in the form of monthly webinars, Q&As, bespoke training and advice for trustees and leadership teams, GDPR training, briefings, financial toolkits and access to a library of white papers, policy documents and templates. The briefings and templates cover essential topics such as charity governance, trustee responsibilities, risk assessments, VAT submissions and charity formations. Some briefings are also available free to download and well worth checking out to see the membership's value.
In addition, outside of its membership offerings, although intrinsic to it, is its services. Charities can access tailored support for setting up their charity, a Gift Aid scheme, or a GDPR policy. Whether you're running a night shelter, food bank, outreach mission, service or raising awareness, it can be challenging to nail down support when needed, especially with many charities struggling in the events of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The charity sector has been forced to re-evaluate its activities, some to pause or narrow their focuses, whilst others expand and broaden theirs to find new ways of creating sustainable impact and obtaining future funding.
While some charities evaluate their impact over the last year and what direction they should take, others may have already started implementing more complex yet robust systems. Whatever situation your charity finds itself in, it's important to make the most of your existing resources and build a support network. Trust Advice has positioned itself well to support charities as they develop, change, and grow. It has an exciting future ahead as it expands its network, membership, and range of services.
Trust Advice has worked with Access to create a resource to help charities manage risk. This guide is available for free, which you can access here.

### Access joins TLG's Future Builder Initiative
We are excited to be part of TLG’s Future Builder Initiative!
By partnering with TLG we hope to support the opening of new TLG programmes across the UK, which serve struggling children and families.
Transforming Lives for Good (TLG) aid both the physical and emotional wellbeing of children through 3 main programmes. TLG Make Lunch supports children facing food insecurity, particularly in the holidays when Free School Meals are not available. TLG Early Intervention assists children who need additional support with their emotional wellbeing and TLG Education Centres are Alternative Provision schools, supporting children who are excluded or at risk of exclusion.
There are many more children who are struggling in the UK, and the new Corporate Future Builder initiative, which Access is proud to be part of, aims to combat this by bringing businesses on the journey to help reach more disadvantaged children.
We look forward to celebrating the stories of children and families helped by TLG and building a better future together.

### Access wins Platinum Trusted Service award
Access has been given the Platinum Trusted Service Award! This achievement is part of Feefo’s 2021 awards which celebrates businesses that provide consistently excellent customer service.
Feefo, an independent review service, introduced this new accolade to acknowledge service providers dedicated to providing a positive customer experience and who achieve it’s Gold award for 3 consecutive years. The Gold Trusted Service award is given to businesses who receive an average rating of 4.5 or higher and have 50 or more new reviews in a year.
Over the last year our customer-first approach has helped thousands of charities, churches and community groups get the cover they need. Below is a selection of the reviews we have recently received through Feefo.
“Extremely helpful, shared information in a clear and concise manner and explained what everything was for. No delay in responding to queries. Very professional and friendly.”Oakapple Housing Co-operative Limited
“A very helpful response, carefully considered and reflecting our needs.”Parkside Residents’ Association
“Our broker provided us with the most suitable policy for our operations in addition to excellent advice.”Charity Football League

### Access Renews Support for Charity Finance Group
Access has pledged its support for the valuable work done by the Charity Finance Group (CFG) and have renewed our corporate membership.
CFG inspires a financially confident, dynamic and trustworthy charity sector. They champion best practice, nurture leadership and influence policy. Over 1,400 UK charities rely on CFG for support in developing their finance management, knowledge and skills.
Simon Hickman, Access CEO, said: “We are very supportive of the work CFG do on behalf of the sector. The way in which they represent and serve charities is excellent with well thought out research, resources and campaigns.”
Access previously worked closely with CFG on our #NoCharityIPT campaign; an effort to exempt charities from the insurance tax bill which costs the sector around £40M each year.
We are particular support of CFG’s work on influencing policy. They produce excellent opinion pieces, such as this article by their CEO (Charity isn’t ‘gentle’ – it’s messy, hard, difficult and painful), in response to the COVID-19 situation.
To find out more about CFG, their work and their latest campaigns, visit CFG News.

### Supporting The Lantern Trust
Access are delighted to announce that one of our key insurer partners, Ecclesiastical Insurance, has donated to The Lantern Trust as part of their ‘Closer to You’ programme.
Ecclesiastical is owned by a charitable trust and is one of the largest corporate donors to charity in the UK. The programme gives their partners the opportunity to apply for funding on behalf of charities they support. We recently put in an application on behalf on The Lantern Trust.
The Lantern is a charity which helps vulnerable and marginalized people in the Weymouth & Portland area. They offer a range of services including advocacy, housing, benefits advice, counselling, support groups, crisis response, and frontline practical support. Last year they placed 30 vulnerable people into safe housing.
Access applied for £6,000 of funding, to be used to provide 6 people with their own homes. At a cost of £1,000 per person they are able to provide a safe home with a deposit and month’s rent paid in advance. This money will make a huge difference to some of the most vulnerable people.
“Firstly may I take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of all of us at The Lantern Trust.  The recent CO-VID 19 crisis has led to an increased demand being placed on our service and this amazing, generous donation will go straight to our front line funds to help us continue to support our communities most vulnerable. Once again, thank you!” – Mike Graham, CEO The Lantern Trust

### Supporting Savannah Education Trust
Access are delighted to announce that one of our key insurer partners, Ecclesiastical Insurance, has donated to the Savannah Education Trust as part of their ‘Closer to You’ programme.
Ecclesiastical is owned by a charitable trust and is one of the largest corporate donors to charity in the UK. The programme gives brokers the opportunity to apply for funding on behalf of charities they support. As keen supporters of the Savannah Education Trust we decided to apply for funding on their behalf.
The North West region of Ghana faces great poverty. Many children are malnourished and have no access to education, instead spending most of their childhood working on subsistence farms. Life expectancy is low and infant mortality rate high with diseases like polio still a threat.
The Savannah Education Trust provides these children with a quality education by building schools, providing school meals and training teachers. Currently there are six Savannah schools operating with another school (300 pupils) and a nursery (60 children) due to open in September 2018. The benefits of building schools in this region extend beyond education with obvious health, hygiene and general wellbeing benefits. Families who have not received an education for generations are now able to send their children somewhere safe to learn and develop.
 
The donation of £9,270 will provide equipment and resources for the new school and nursery including textbooks, notepads, furniture and blackboards. This will ensure a high standard of education and open up opportunities for these children of the Savannah.
The Trustees of Savannah Education Trust have expressed their sincere thanks for this grant. “This is a significant donation for our charity and it will help make a real difference to the lives of children in one the poorest regions of West Africa”. Tim Wiltshire, Trustee
You can read more about Savannah Education Trust here.

### Funding for The Orpheus Centre
We recently supported The Orpheus Centre Trust in a bid to secure funds from Ecclesiastical's 'Closer To You' programme.
The grant-making programme allows 'select' (partner) brokers to apply for funding on behalf of local charities. Ecclesiastical is wholly owned by a charity and is one of the largest corporate givers to charity in the UK.
When we heard about the programme we decided to support The Orpheus Centre, having worked with and supported them before. The Orpheus Centre is a specialist college in Surrey, focused on increasing the confidence and skills of young disabled adults, using performing arts and a wide range of other activities to achieve this aim.
After assessing our bid, Ecclesiastical agreed to provide £6,180 to help The Orpheus Centre as they continue on an ambitious plan to update and improve their facilities.
Simon Hickman, Access CEO and Tim Wiltshire, Senior Insurance Broker visited The Orpheus Centre recently to present a cheque and plaque to Moria Chaudhry, Head of Fundraising and Jack Betteridge, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser.
Simon commented: "We've had the privilege of supporting The Orpheus Centre in different ways over the last few years. They are doing great work with young disabled adults and we look forward to continuing to support them in the coming years."
You can read more about The Orpheus Centre here.

### Access Supports Local Homelessness Charity
We recently ran #UKCharityWeek in our Croydon office, with staff putting on a series of events and activities to raise funds.
Our staff chose Croydon Nightwatch as the charity we would support this year. Croydon Nightwatch is a fantastic local organisation which has been running since 1976. Each night of the year they provide food and other necessities to homeless people in Croydon, with up to 80 people receiving soup and sandwiches on some evenings.
The activities run in our office included a baby photo competition and cake sale. Many staff commented how good it was to be able to give back to the local community whilst enjoying the festivities.
We rounded off the week on Friday with a Christmas jumper competition, quiz and buffet lunch. We raised in excess of £300 which was gratefully received by Tony Packwood, Croydon Nightwatch's Fundraising Officer. Tony reminded us that as no central funding is received, support from individuals and local businesses is vital.
We were delighted to be able to raise funds for Croydon Nightwatch and look forward to next year's #UKCharityWeek.

### Supporting Waterways Chaplaincy
We are delighted to announce our support for Waterways Chaplaincy in their bid to receive funding from Aviva's Community Fund.
The newspaper headlines are often full of stories of the homeless on our streets, but rarely do you hear about the vulnerable and marginalised who use our 2,000 miles of inland waterways and canals.
Waterways Chaplaincy’s vision is to be “a catalyst in the waterways communities to bring about short and long-term transformation in people’s lives”. Many people are living on the waterways because it’s cheaper, they have low or no income, they have mental health issues, family breakdown or they’ve moved for a less stressful way of living.
Their personal problems are compounded, because many have no permanent address and only have continuous cruiser licenses. This means that simple activities like visiting the doctor, using foodbanks, obtaining benefits and even visiting family becomes a challenge. Without the normal framework of local community and support services, people living on the waterways often fall through the gaps.
Their needs are then in danger of becoming more complex, costing more to local services and impacting on their well being. Without support, in some cases they become suicidal. Having Waterways Chaplains patrolling the canal banks, means that problems can be picked up before they escalate.
Waterways Chaplaincy plays a vital role in reaching out to these people and helping them get back on their feet. 
They currently only have one part time Chaplain for the waterways and the other 40+ Chaplains are volunteers who give up of their time to help. They do amazing work and make a real difference in the lives of those boaters who are in need. If Waterways Chaplaincy are successful in winning one of these grants, then it would enable them to recruit, train and equip another 35 volunteers, meaning they can expand their reach to around 4,500 people a year.
Please join us in supporting this incredible work.  

### Access Receives Cyber Essentials Certificate
We recently attained our Cyber Essentials Certificate. The government-backed, industry supported, scheme helps organisations protect themselves against common cyber attacks. It is believed that, when implemented correctly, the scheme can prevent around 80% of cyber attacks.
The scheme addresses five key areas of security:
Boundary firewalls and internet gateways are utilised to provide protection when connecting to the Internet. Firewalls prevent attempts by attackers to access a system as well as monitoring network traffic; identifying and blocking potentially dangerous visitors.
When building computers and networks, secure configuration reduces unnecessary cyber vulnerabilities.
Access control is used to ensure only necessary individuals have special access privileges such as administrative accounts.
Malware protection ensures computers and networks are protected against malware attacks (including viruses, worms, spyware and ransomware).
Software is kept up-to-date under a system of patch management ensuring the continued ability to withstand low-level cyber attacks
We strongly believe that cyber is already a risk for most organisations and will become an even greater risk in the next few years. We encourage all of our clients to look into and complete the Government's Cyber Essentials Scheme. Once you've been accredited you may wish to consider putting cyber insurance in place.

### What Type of Customer Are You?
Each one of our clients is different. Different aims, purpose, activities and situations make each organisation unique. But when it comes to insurance the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have only two classifications: 'consumer' or 'commercial' customers.
The FCA's Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook states: "A consumer is any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade or profession. A commercial customer is a customer who is not a consumer."
Put simply if you are purchasing insurance for yourself or your family (typically home, travel and personal motor insurance) you'll be classed as a consumer. One question we are often asked is about property bought to be let out. In this instance the individual would be considered a commercial customer because the property has been bought as a commercial venture.
Regardless of whether an organisation is for-profit or non-profit they'll be classed as a commercial customer for insurance purposes. This includes unincorporated groups and clubs, registered charities, CICs, limited by guarantee companies, CIOs and social enterprises. The Insurance Act 2015 confers more onerous duties on commercial customers. If you are classed as a commercial customer you should ensure you are aware of these. 
What type of customer are you? If you need help determining which classification applies and what this means for you speak with your broker who can provide the advice and guidance you need.

### Government Change to Ogden Rate
A recent change by the Government to the 'Ogden rate' (the way in which liability injury claim payments are calculated) means all organisations need to urgently review their liability insurance limits. Many organisations will find this change renders their current limits inadequate.
Table of contentsA liability injury claim made against youThe specificsThe impactClaims impactWhat does this mean for your organisation?What should I do?The bottom line
By understanding the change, analysing the impact on your organisation and taking advice from us you can ensure this change does not leave you exposed should you face a serious liability injury claim.
A liability injury claim made against you
When an employee, volunteer or a member of the public is injured because of your negligence, they can bring a claim against you. This person is called a ‘claimant’. These claims are covered by your Employers and Public Liability insurances.
Claims for serious, life-altering injuries usually consist of:
Compensation for pain and suffering
Future loss of earnings
Future cost of care (for serious injuries: 24-hour care for the rest of a claimant’s life)
Other financial support (for example the cost of caring for claimant's children)
Legal and professional fees
Often a large lump sum is paid to the claimant. The most serious claims can go well into millions of pounds, especially for young claimants and those with high earning potential.
The specifics
The Government recently amended the way in which lump sum amounts for serious liability injury claims are calculated. In simple terms, insurers were previously allowed to assume that any lump sum payment would grow by a rate (known as ‘Ogden Rate’) of 2.5% each year in interest gained from low-risk investments.
Following a review by the Government this rate had been reset to -0.75% because of recent poor investment returns. Insurers must now assume that the lump sum paid out will lose value each year, over the rest of the claimant’s life.
The impact
The rate change sounds small but it has a huge impact on the amount paid out in liability injury claims. The lump sum paid out to a claimant now has to be substantially higher in order to account for the depreciation that will occur to this sum over their lifetime.
The new rate applies to all claims settled after 20th March 2017, regardless of when the claim occurred. The following examples and real-life claim situations are provided by leading insurers Zurich & AXA.
Claims impact
Examples
A plasterer suffers a traumatic brain injury.Previously insurers would have paid £2.24m. Insurers would now have to pay £6.15m.
A claimant suffers a spinal cord injury at work.Previously insurers would have paid £7.6m. Insurers would now have to pay £19.3m.
Real-life claims (actual ongoing cases):
Child fell off swing at school resulting in serious and life-changing injuriesPreviously insurers would have paid £7m. Insurers will now have to pay £15m.
Claimant fell from window of house resulting in severe head injuryPreviously insurers would have paid £4.6m. Insurers will now have to pay £9.6m.
Claimant fell from height of 8m whilst workingPreviously insurers would have paid £5.3m. Insurers will now have to pay £10.6m.
Claimant fell from bike because of a pothole and suffered a traumatic brain injuryPreviously insurers would have paid £6.8m. Insurers will now have to pay £10.7m
What does this mean for your organisation?
The claims outlined above demonstrate that serious claims can come against any organisation – even if you perceive yourself to be operating ‘low risk’ activities. Almost regardless of your activities, a claim could come against your organisation for negligence which leads to an employee, volunteer or a member of the public suffering a serious injury.
A bad fall or accident can result in serious back, neck and head injuries which could now cost millions of pounds if a successful claim is made.
If a claim is made against you and your sum insured is inadequate: what would you do?
Previous ‘normal’ limits of £1M, £2M & £5M for Public Liability are clearly no longer adequate in many situations. The same applies to the current industry-standard limit of £10M for Employers Liability.
What should I do?
Talk to us for advice on the factors you should consider.
Review your current Public and Employers Liability limits.
Act: increase your liability limits to appropriate levels. (We can obtain quotes from your insurer to increase your current limits as well as getting quotes for top up policies.)
The bottom line
The Government change impacts nearly every organisation. It is no exaggeration to say that failure to review this issue could put your organisation at risk of bankruptcy or closure in the event of a serious liability injury claim.
We advise that you set aside time to consider the information provided and discuss this with the relevant people within your organisation.
Each organisation is different, facing different risks and different risk exposures. Please contact us as soon as you are able, to discuss this matter and ensure your organisation is adequately protected.

### Acquisition of Finance ReDirect
Access Insurance Services is pleased to announce it has signed a contract to acquire the business of Finance ReDirect Limited from the 1st Feb 2017.
The company is based in Bedford and was formed in 1999 as specialist broker advising charities, non-profit and community groups. Since then they have gained a reputation as experts in their specialist areas. This strategic acquisition builds on our existing strength in advising community and non-profit groups and forms part of our '2025' growth plan; to reach £20m premium income by 2025.
The purchase gives us the opportunity to grow our presence within our specialist areas in East Anglia and the Midlands. The existing team will continue to service their clients and Steve Moore ACII has been appointed as Branch Manager to manage the team and grow the business.
Note: Any questions should be directed to James Hill, Marketing & Communications Manager.

### The Insurance Act 2015
The Insurance Act comes into effect on 12th August 2016 and affects all commercial insurance policies governed by UK law.
The Act is designed to shift the power imbalance from insurers to the insured. Introducing a new ‘duty of fair presentation’ the Act requires insureds to capture more knowledge from more people in their organisations.
We are committed to raising industry standards, promoting transparency and verifying that our clients have the cover they need for their organisations to thrive and will work hard to ensure the Insurance Act has nothing but a positive effect on your insurance buying process.
The Insurance Act is designed to make it harder for insurers to wriggle out of paying claims. Consultancy group Mactavish estimates 45% of large or strategically significant commercial insurance claims are disputed. On average these disputes take three years to resolve and result in only 60% of the amount claimed being paid out.
Regulatory Guidance from Access Insurance for our customers
The Insurance Act 2015 (the Act), is a piece of legislation designed to modernise and support Britain’s insurance sector. It became law on 12th February 2015, and applies to all commercial policies governed by UK law beginning or renewed from 12th August 2016. The Act ushers in a more modern regime for the industry by replacing the 110 year-old Marine Insurance Act which governs contracts between businesses and insurers.
The government believes that updating the regulations will lend transparency to the industry, redress an imbalance in power which sometimes overly favours insurers, and lower the number of legal disputes—resulting in businesses saving an estimated £100 million over the next 10 years due to lower litigation and transaction costs.
The Act is ‘principles based’ rather than a rigid code, meaning everyone from small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to FTSE 100 employers can apply the new changes. The Act ushers in key changes that alter how you buy cover.
The insurance act 2015 replaces the Marine Insurance Act 1906. Many insurance industry insiders are hailing the insurance act as the most significant change to UK insurance contract law in more than a century.
In considering what change the Act brings we can break this down into four broad categories.
1. The Duty of Fair Presentation
The duty of fair presentation replaces the previous duty of disclosure and further specifies whose knowledge needs to be captured for the insurer when applying for cover. The actual Act states, ‘Before a contract of insurance is entered into, the insured must make to the insurer a fair presentation of the risk.’ It then specifies that the ‘fair presentation of risk’ must:
Be ‘clear and accessible to a prudent insurer’, meaning that sending overly brief or huge ‘dumps’ of data to an insurer when applying for cover is unacceptable;
Be ‘substantially correct, and[…]made in good faith’; and
Include ‘every material circumstance which the insured knows or ought to know’, or failing that, include ‘sufficient information to put a prudent insurer on notice that it needs to make further enquiries for the purposing of revealing those material circumstances’.
The Act defines information that the insured ‘ought to know’ as anything which would be revealed by a reasonable search of available information. This means that the Act will require insureds to make adequate enquiries within their organisation to identify and verify information relevant to the risks they are trying to insure. These enquiries should capture all relevant knowledge of the organisations senior management (those who ‘play significant roles’ in making management or organisational decisions) and those involved in buying the insurance (including the insurance broker).
Depending on your organisation, these relevant enquiries could also extend to third parties involved with the organisation, such as external consultants, contractors and other people insured by the policy.
Should an insured fail the duty of fair presentation, insurers have a new system of proportionate remedies that replaces the previous avoidance-only regime. These ‘remedies for breach’ depend on whether the breach was deliberate or reckless, or not.
If the breach was deliberate or reckless, the insurer ‘may avoid the contract and refuse all claims’ as well as keep the premium. However, it falls on the insurer to prove that the breach was deliberate or reckless.
If the breach was not deliberate or reckless, the insurer has several options:
If the insurer would not have written the policy based on the uncovered information, it may avoid the policy but must return the premium.
If the insurer would have charged a higher premium based on the uncovered information, it may proportionately reduce claim payments.
If the insurer would have written the policy but on different terms based on the uncovered information, the contract is to be treated as if it had been entered into on those terms.
2. Warranties and Conditions:
The Act abolishes ‘basis of the contract’ clauses, which automatically transform pre-contractual information supplied to insurers into a warranty. Under the Marine Insurance Act, any change in the information supplied to insurers (even if trivial or immaterial) would lead to termination of the policy. Abolishing these clauses helps shift more power back to the insured.
In the event that the insured does breach a warranty, the cover is merely suspended rather than automatically terminated under the Marine Insurance Act. The Insurance Act allows the insured to remedy the breach, and then cover will be automatically reinstated. However, not all breaches can be remedied, so policyholders should still make every effort to comply. The British Insurance Brokers’ Association uses the example that, if there is a warranty that a building is made of bricks and mortar when it is actually built of wood, then that breach can never be remedied and the policy would be effectively suspended for the rest of the policy term (i.e. terminated).
Lastly, the Insurance Act eliminates insurers’ ability to avoid a policy for any breach of warranty even when that breach was not relevant to the actual loss. For example, if an insured breached a warranty in their policy that they must have working fire alarms but suffered a flood the insurer would not be able to avoid paying the flood claim just because the insured did not install fire alarms. This is referred to as ‘terms not relevant to the actual loss’.
3. Fraudulent Claims:
The Act clarifies and harmonises insurers’ remedies in the event of fraudulent claims. Under the Act, insurers do not need to pay fraudulent claims (even if there are honest elements to it) but are still liable for losses occurring before the fraudulent act. Insurers have the option of terminating the policy at the time when the fraudulent act was committed, and may recoup anything paid out after the fraudulent act.
4. Contracting Out:
Think of the Insurance Act as a ‘default regime’—insurers must follow it, but they are allowed to contract out of requirements (except for the abolition of the basis of contract clauses) provided that any alternative terms (or, as the Act classifies them, ‘disadvantageous terms’) meet certain transparency requirements:
Insurers must take sufficient steps to draw the disadvantageous terms to the insured’s attention before the contract is entered into or the variation agreed.Disadvantageous terms must be clear and unambiguous.
How Can I Comply?
Although the new Act may seem complex, it only requires you to make small changes to your insurance-buying process. It does place more responsibility on your shoulders, but in return, the Act protects your organisation and ensures your cover is as effective as possible. The Act can be easily applied provided you take certain measures, such as the following:
Investigate whether there is anything special or unique about the risk your organisation faces that should be clearly indicated to insurers.
Understand who counts as ‘senior management’ and those involved in buying insurance in your organisation.
Assess your data-gathering process—does it need to be more in-depth to ensure insurers have all the necessary information to write your policy?
Determine whom in your organisation needs to be consulted as part of a reasonable search for information related to the insurance you purchase.
Ensure that you consult with any third parties or individuals in your organisation that may have material information that may need to be shared with insurers (external consultants, contractors, etc).
Establish a process for documenting that you undertook a reasonable search for information.
Leave more time for renewing your insurance, especially for gathering the necessary data for insurers, as now you will likely need more data, presented in a clear and accessible manner.
Research your organisations’ risks so you have a comprehensive understanding of what data insurers may need.
Check with Access Insurance to see whether any ‘contracting out’ of the Act applies to your policy.
For more information on purchasing insurance compliantly and successfully, contact Access Insurance today.


## Pages
### Allotment Association Insurance
Whether you manage a small community garden, a town-wide allotment association or a horticultural society, your organisation faces a unique set of risks.
At Access Insurance, we arrange tailored insurance cover for allotment associations and community growing groups across the UK, helping you manage liabilities, protect property and operate safely and securely.
Why would I need insurance for an allotment association?
Running an allotment site or gardening project brings responsibility for land, property, members, volunteers and the general public.
Your association could be held liable for accidents on site, damage to sheds or greenhouses, tools being stolen, or disputes among members. You may also face requirements from landowners or local authorities to hold public liability insurance.
What your allotment association insurance can include:
Public Liability Insurance – covers you if a member of the public, visitor or allotment holder is injured or suffers property damage due to your association’s negligence
Employers’ Liability Insurance – required if you have volunteers, workers or committee members assisting with the running of the site
Property Damage Cover – for sheds, stores, communal buildings, fences, gates and polytunnels owned by your association
Contents Insurance – covering tools, machinery, lawnmowers, strimmers and communal gardening equipment
Trustee Indemnity – protecting committee members and officers against claims of negligence or breach of duty
Legal Expenses Insurance – support for disputes, legal claims and employment issues
Money Cover – insuring association funds held on-site or in transit
We build your insurance around your needs and how your site is managed, whether it's through tenancy, membership, or community partnerships.
Request a quote - it’s simple Start today 
Trusted by community groups and associations
Access Insurance is trusted by thousands of not-for-profit organisations, including allotment associations, horticultural groups and community gardening projects.
We understand the challenges of maintaining land, managing volunteers and working with local authorities. We’ll help you ensure your insurance cover is comprehensive, suitable and cost-effective.

### Probate Insurance Enquiry
Contact us for a quote
Get in touch with our probate insurance team.

### Homeless Shelter Insurance
Homeless Shelter Insurance
Organisations supporting people experiencing homelessness provide essential care. 
Whether you run an emergency shelter, drop-in centre, supported housing or outreach work, your service faces a unique set of risks. Your organisation is likely already very conscious of unpredictable behaviour, particularly where working with people in recovery from alcohol or drug addictions. It is essential that your insurer understands your vetting processes and the spectrum of issues presented by the people you are helping in your hostel or homeless shelter.
At Access Insurance, we arrange tailored cover for homeless shelters, hostels and charities tackling housing insecurity, helping you manage risks and meet legal obligations while staying focused on those who need your help most.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why should we insure our homeless shelter?
Homelessness services often involve vulnerable individuals, overnight stays, food provision, and a range of support activities, each carrying its own risks. 
Your organisation could be held liable for injuries, safeguarding issues, property damage or allegations of negligence. Having the correct cover for allegations of abuse is also an important consideration working with vulnerable people in a residential setting.
Many funders, local authorities and property providers require you to hold suitable insurance before working with them.
What your homeless shelter insurance can include:
Employers’ Liability Insurance – defends you if employees or volunteers make claims for work-related injuries or illnesses.
Public Liability Insurance – protects the organisation against allegations brought against you by third parties that you have caused injury, illness or damaged their property
Abuse cover – for claims or allegations of abuse (Normally an extension to the liability insurance section of your homeless shelter insurance policy)
Professional Indemnity Insurance – for advice, counselling, advocacy or case work
Buildings & Contents Insurance – for shelters, offices and equipment
Business Interruption cover – to protect income and operations during disruption
Legal Expenses Insurance – for disputes, tribunals or other costs associated with legal action
We take time to understand your services, from supported accommodation and night shelters to food banks and outreach, ensuring your cover reflects the complex, sensitive nature of your work.
Trusted by thousands of UK charities and support organisations
Access Insurance works with over 18,000 not-for-profits across the UK, including homelessness charities, housing projects and frontline services. 
We understand the operational, reputational and safeguarding risks involved, and we’ll help you find the right level of protection.
Frequently Asked Questions

### Parent and Toddler Group
Parent & Toddler Group Insurance
Whether you run a community playgroup, baby and toddler session or a church-based parent meet-up, your group faces a unique range of risks.
At Access Insurance, we arrange bespoke insurance cover for not-for-profit toddler groups and early years organisations, helping you manage risks and focus on delivering safe, welcoming spaces for families.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why insurance for toddler groups is necessary
Working with children and families brings a duty of care and a responsibility to manage risk.
Your group could be held liable for accidents involving children, safeguarding issues, damage to venues or equipment, or allegations linked to advice or activities provided.
Many local authorities, funders and venue providers require evidence of insurance before allowing you to run sessions.
What Your Parent & Toddler Insurance Can Include:
Public Liability Insurance – covers you in the event an allegation is made that your negligence leads to injuries to children, parents and visitors or damage to hired community halls or church spaces
Employers’ Liability Insurance – essential if you have staff or volunteers helping run sessions
Abuse cover – to protect your organisation in case of abuse allegations (normally this is part of your public liability section of your baby and parent group’s insurance policy)
Professional Indemnity Insurance – for groups offering advice, parenting support or development sessions
Contents and Equipment Insurance – covering toys, mats, play equipment and supplies
Trustee Indemnity – protecting committee members, group leaders or organisers
Legal Expenses Insurance – for the costs of legal action and disputes
We tailor cover to suit the activities and structure of your group – whether you're an informal community group, part of a church, or a registered charity.
Trusted by early years groups and charities
Access Insurance supports thousands of not-for-profit organisations across the UK, including toddler groups, early years charities and community play providers.
We understand the specific risks of working with young children, managing volunteers and running sessions in shared venues and we’ll help ensure your cover is comprehensive and cost-effective.
Your questions answered.

### Volunteer Insurance
How can we help?
Volunteers play a vital role in the success of charities, not-for-profits and community organisations.
Whether they’re offering their time on a regular basis or helping with one-off events, it’s your responsibility and duty of care to ensure volunteers are protected.
At Access Insurance, we arrange cover tailored to volunteer-run groups as well as organisations with both staff and volunteers.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why do you need Public & Employers’ Liability Insurance for volunteers?
Public liability insurance is the most common policy taken out by volunteer-run groups. 
It’s not a legal requirement, but it is recommended as the potential cost of claims is high. 
Public Liability Insurance will ensure that if a volunteer damages third-party property or accidentally injures someone, your organisation is protected. 
Often venues and other local bodies will ask you to have this insurance in place. 
Similarly, whilst Employers’ Liability Insurance is only compulsory for organisations with paid staff, it’s also recommended when you have volunteers.
Typically, insurers treat volunteers as ‘unpaid employees’, and therefore, while it might seem unusual to a voluntary group, you should also consider Employers’ Liability cover to defend against claims brought by volunteers that may have injured themselves whilst carrying out duties for the charity. 
If a volunteer is injured because you failed to take reasonable steps to ensure their health and safety, the organisation could be held liable in negligence or in breach of your duty of care.
See what they say
What types of cover do we provide
Our expert advisers work with you to create policies that meet your needs. Sometimes insurance can include common cover such as our public liability insurance for charity organisations. We also provide many other policies that will protect your assets, trustees, volunteers, supporters, participants and activities properly against the risks you face.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance for charities, sometimes referred to as charity liability insurance, ensures you are covered for claims as a result of injury or third-party property damage involving members of the public or other third parties, such as volunteers, due to your charity’s activities. We can provide charity public liability insurance for non-profit organisations and charities to cover these risks.
Staff Liability Insurance
It’s a legal requirement to have this policy in place if you have paid staff. You must also consider your volunteers' safety and well-being. We design insurance that enables you to fulfil your duty of care for staff and volunteers.
Trustee Indemnity Insurance
Another popular cover is trustee indemnity insurance which protects people in positions of trust from claims made against them for mistakes or wrongful acts. This cover can also assist in legal costs associated with defending trustees and actions taken.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
To defend against claims for wrongful advice, errors or breach of care given for free or in exchange for payment.
Property and Contents Insurance
To properly protect your charity's premises, infrastructure and physical assets in the case of theft or damage.
Cyber Insurance
To defend against the increasing risk of cyber-attacks, breaches and claims made regarding theft or loss of data.
and many more...
As specialist insurance brokers for charities, we can develop comprehensive policies to cover all the risks your organisation faces.
Trusted by 18,000+ not-for-profits across the UK
We’re proud to work with charities, CICs, voluntary groups, and faith-based organisations – large and small. 
Our experience means we understand the unique risks you face when managing volunteers, and we’ll make sure your policy reflects that.
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.

### Cyber Quote Form
Cyber Quote Form
This checklist will help you identify potential areas where you can improve your resilience to cyber threats. These questions, once answered, can be returned to us so that we can obtain a cyber insurance quote from our panel of cyber insurers. We recommend that a person with suitable experience in IT should fill in this form.
If you have any questions about cyber insurance cover, please get in touch: cyber@accessinsurance.co.uk / 0333 344 7420.

### Scout Group Insurance Enquiry
Scout/Guide Group Insurance Quote
Complete the form below to get a quote or call our team on 0333 344 7420. Our advisers are specialists who will understand the risks you face and the cover you need to design an insurance policy that’s right for you.
You face unique risks, so we build specific policies – you’ll only pay for the cover you need.

### Trustee Indemnity Insurance Enquiry
Trustee Indemnity Insurance Quote For Your Charity
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Expertly Built Trustee Indemnity Insurance Quote

### Property Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Property Insurance Quote
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Expertly Built Property Insurance Quote

### Professional Indemnity Insurance Enquiry
Professional Indemnity Insurance Quote For Your Charity
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Expertly Built Professional Indemnity Insurance Quote

### Minibus Insurance Enquiry
Minibus Insurance Quote
Complete the form below to get a quote or call our team on 0333 344 7420. Our advisers are specialists who will understand the risks you face and the cover you need to design an insurance policy that’s right for you.
You face unique risks, so we build specific policies – you’ll only pay for the cover you need.

### Housing Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Housing Insurance Quote
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Purpose Built Housing Insurance Quote Now

### Education Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Insurance Quote For Your School
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive An Expertly Built Insurance Quote For Your Independent School Or College

### Cyber Liability Insurance Enquiry
Cyber Insurance Quote For Your Charity
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Expertly Built Cyber Insurance Quote

### Community Insurance Enquiry
Community Insurance Quote
Complete the form below to get a quote or call our team on 0333 344 7420. Our advisors are specialists who will understand the risks you face and the cover you need to design an insurance policy that’s right for you.
You face unique risks, so we build specific policies – you’ll only pay for the cover you need.

### Church Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Insurance Quote For Your Church
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive Your Expertly Built Church Insurance Quote

### Care Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Insurance Quote
No matter the unique risks your company may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Receive An Expertly Built Quote For Your Care Organisation

### Club Insurance Enquiry
Bespoke Club Insurance Quote
No matter the unique risks your club or group may face, our knowledgeable team builds unique policies that are tailored to your individual needs.
Complete the form below to start your quote. Our specialist team will be in touch to go through your details, understand your risks and build a tailored policy for your club. Unsure on the cover you might need? Call our team on 0333 344 7420.

### Charity Insurance Enquiry
Charity Insurance Quote
You face unique risks, so we build specific policies – you’ll only pay for the cover you need.
Complete the form below to get a quote or call our team on 0333 344 7420. Our advisers are specialists who will understand the risks you face and the cover you need to design an insurance policy that’s right for you.

### Blog


### Homeless Link
Insurance for Homeless Link Members
Access Insurance are proud to be partners of Homeless Link, supporting members by designing bespoke insurance cover to meet their needs.
We support many homelessness charities and related services, from housing associations, homeless shelters and advice centres to foodbanks. We give independent advice and work with a large network of insurers, though work on behalf of our clients. Our approach means we build a policy that reflects the unique risks that each Homeless Link charity faces.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How we help members:
Centre Insurance – covering a wide range of protection for assets, liabilities and management risks
Trustee Indemnity Insurance and Directors and Officers Insurance together with associated risks such as libel, slander and professional advice risks
Employers Liability for staff and volunteers
Commercial Vehicle Insurance including minibus insurance
Professional Indemnity for people giving advice
Buildings Insurance for shelters, temporary accommodation and facilities
Public liability Insurance for third party injury or property damage
We offer a complete insurance review to our clients. Being trusted advisers of over 18,000 charities and community organisations including Homeless Link members, we help you get protected properly whilst only paying for the cover you need.
See what our clients say
Please contact us on 0333 344 7420 to discuss your requirements
Our friendly advisers will be more than happy to review your current cover and build an insurance policy that protects you...
Get a quote

### Insurance for Timebanks
Time banks are simply organisations which facilitate an exchange of time which can be used to perform many different tasks or activities.
Because these can be so varied, there are very few insurers who want to take the risk of covering such a varied range. A typical insurer likes to see a risk that they can understand – take, for example, running a shop. The same types of activity are repeated day in and day out, and insurers are able to see a pattern and understand the risk. When it comes to a time bank they are less able to define just what will occur as a pattern and tend to avoid the risk.
This is where we come in. We have arranged a special scheme – you can download the application for your insurance for timebanks and submit it to us for a quotation. The policy covers you for Employers Liability [£10M], Public & Products Liability [£5M], All Risks Equipment [£2,000], Trustee Indemnity [£250,000] and Professional Indemnity [£250,000] as standard. if you need additional cover please let us know.
Insurance for Timebanking Members – Enquiry Form (pdf)
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
Timebanking UK has a section for members where you will find more details of the insurance arrangements available. We ask for information about the time bank, including the number of hours exchanged, the categories of activities in which you operate followed by some general definitions to help you decide the type of additional covers you may require. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us on 0333 344 7420.

### No Section 27 Notice Insurance
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at providing advice on, and arranging, No Section 27 Notice Insurance.
If you, or the client you represent, want financial protection from the risks involved by not serving a Section 27 notice; we can help.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 requires executors to give public notice to potential creditors, giving them a specific timeframe to make claims against the estate. This insurance addresses situations where no Section 27 notice has been served, potentially leaving the estate vulnerable to unknown or unforeseen creditor claims.
No Section 27 Notice Insurance indemnifies beneficiaries and executors against potential creditor claims that could arise in the absence of a Section 27 notice, covering eligible payments, legal fees and costs incurred in defending against these claims.
Information we require to help you:
A thorough explanation of the circumstances
Details of the will or intestacy
Details of the grant of probate
Value of the residuary estate for distribution
Details of any disputes
Details of parties or confirmation that no parties are known that could make a claim
The amount of cover (limit of indemnity) required and how this has been calculated
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
Contact Us
What other types of probate cover do Access provide?
Our insurance brokers are experienced in advising on, and arranging a suite of probate & estate administration indemnity covers, sometimes known as trust and probate insurance, that are designed to protect and indemnify executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries involved in the administration of an estate. 
In addition to No Section 27 Notice Insurance, these covers include:
Missing Beneficiary Insurance
To protect executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries in case any unknown or missing beneficiaries come forward at a later date.
Missing Will Insurance
To address scenarios where the will itself is missing or cannot be located.
Early Distribution Insurance
To safeguard beneficiaries from the financial risks associated with receiving an early distribution.

### Early Distribution Insurance
Early Distribution Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at providing advice on, and arranging, Early Distribution Insurance.
If you, or the client you represent, want financial protection from risks involved in the early distribution of an estate; we can help.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Early Distribution Insurance specifically addresses situations where a beneficiary has received assets from an estate before all potential claims under the Inheritance Act 1975 have been resolved.
The policy aims to safeguard beneficiaries from the financial risks associated with receiving an early distribution. Under the Inheritance Act 1975, certain individuals have the right to make claims against an estate if they believe they have not been adequately provided for. In such cases, beneficiaries who have already received assets may face potential financial obligations.
It covers legal costs, expenses, and other potential liabilities arising from such successful claims that result in a redistribution.
Information we require to help you:
A thorough explanation of the circumstances
Details of the will or intestacy
Details of the grant of probate
Value of the residuary estate for distribution
Details of any disputes
Details of parties or confirmation that no parties are known that could make a claim
The amount of cover (limit of indemnity) required and how this has been calculated
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
Contact Us
What other types of probate cover does Access provide?
Our insurance brokers are experienced in advising on, and arranging a suite of probate & estate administration indemnity covers, sometimes known as trust and probate insurance, that are designed to protect and indemnify executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries involved in the administration of an estate. 
In addition to early distribution insurance, these covers include:
Missing Beneficiary Insurance
To protect executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries in case any unknown or missing beneficiaries come forward at a later date.
Missing Will Insurance
To address scenarios where the will itself is missing or cannot be located.
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
To indemnify beneficiaries and executors against potential creditor claims that could arise in the absence of a Section 27 notice.

### Missing Will Insurance
Missing Will Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at providing advice on, and arranging, Missing Will Indemnity Insurance.
If you, or the client you represent, want financial protection from the risks relating to a missing will in the estate administration process; we can help.
While Missing Beneficiary cover focuses on situations where the beneficiaries named in the will cannot be found or are unknown, missing will insurance addresses scenarios where the will itself is missing or cannot be located.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
These policies cover the costs, damages, and compensation if necessary to make a further distribution. This cover is often combined with Missing Beneficiary Indemnity cover.
Information we require to help you:
A thorough explanation of the circumstances
Details of research undertaken to find a missing will
Value of the residuary estate for distribution
A copy of the family tree
Details of research undertaken (with copies of correspondence and genealogists’ reports where applicable)
The amount of cover (limit of indemnity) required and how this has been calculated
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
Contact Us
What other types of probate cover do Access provide?
Our insurance brokers are experienced in advising on, and arranging a suite of probate & estate administration indemnity covers, sometimes known as trust and probate insurance, that are designed to protect and indemnify executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries involved in the administration of an estate. 
In addition to Missing Will Indemnity Insurance, these covers include:
Missing Beneficiary Insurance
To protect executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries in case any unknown or missing beneficiaries come forward at a later date.
Early Distribution Insurance
To safeguard beneficiaries from the financial risks associated with receiving an early distribution.
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
To indemnify beneficiaries and executors against potential creditor claims that could arise in the absence of a Section 27 notice.

### Missing Beneficiary Insurance
Missing Beneficiary Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at providing advice on, and arranging, Missing Beneficiary Indemnity Insurance.
If you, or the client you represent, want financial protection from unknown or missing beneficiaries who may come forward in the future; we can help.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Designed to protect and indemnify the executor, administrator, trustee and the beneficiaries traced in case any beneficiaries that are unknown or missing come forward at a later date. If any of these come forward, the cost of dealing with the claim is paid by the policy, and if successful the policy would pay the claimant the amount claimed.
Without a policy, the claimant could look to the executor, administrator, trustee and/or beneficiaries for compensation. The premiums can be paid as reasonable expenses in the administration of an estate.
Missing Beneficiary Insurance is usually only considered as the research and tracing of the wills and descendants comes into its final stages. The underwriters will only issue cover once they are satisfied that the correct steps to find all beneficiaries have been taken. This cover is often combined with Missing Will Indemnity cover.
Information we require to help you:
A thorough explanation of the circumstances
Details of the will or intestacy
Value of the residuary estate for distribution
A copy of the family tree
Details of research undertaken (with copies of correspondence and genealogists’ reports where applicable)
When each missing beneficiary was last seen or heard of, by whom and the circumstances in which this occurred
Details of advertisements or notices placed requesting information relating to missing beneficiaries
The amount of cover (limit of indemnity) required and how this has been calculated
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
Contact Us
What other types of probate cover does Access provide?
Our insurance brokers are experienced in advising on, and arranging a suite of probate & estate administration indemnity covers, sometimes known as trust and probate insurance, that are designed to protect and indemnify executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries involved in the administration of an estate. 
In addition to Missing Beneficiary Insurance, these covers include:
Missing Will Insurance
To address scenarios where the will itself is missing or cannot be located.
Early Distribution Insurance
To safeguard beneficiaries from the financial risks associated with receiving an early distribution.
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
To indemnify beneficiaries and executors against potential creditor claims that could arise in the absence of a Section 27 notice.

### Probate & Estate Admin
Why work with Access?
Access Underwriting is a Chartered Insurance Broker, with over 20 years of experience providing tailored insurance solutions to a wide range of organisations. Our portfolio has expanded over the years to include Estate Administration insurance, having worked with hundreds of solicitors, estates, trusts and genealogy research companies. We identify suitable cover at a competitive price, making sure the policy aligns with your client’s interests. Policies can be easily arranged and ensure a smooth and timely distribution of the estate.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What types of cover do we provide?
Our insurance brokers are experienced in advising on, and arranging a suite of probate & estate administration indemnity covers, sometimes known as trust and probate insurance, that are designed to protect and indemnify executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries involved in the administration of an estate. These covers include:
Missing Beneficiary Insurance
To protect executors, administrators, trustees and beneficiaries in case any unknown or missing beneficiaries come forward at a later date.
Missing Will Insurance
To address scenarios where the will itself is missing or cannot be located.
Early Distribution Insurance
To safeguard beneficiaries from the financial risks associated with receiving an early distribution.
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
To indemnify beneficiaries and executors against potential creditor claims that could arise in the absence of a Section 27 notice.
Partner with Access for Estate Administration cover
Enquire today about our range of trust and probate insurances.
 Get a quote

### Commercial Property
Commercial Property Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for commercial properties of all descriptions.
As Chartered Insurance Brokers we pride ourselves on working with insurers who will respond quickly and efficiently in the event of a loss. Whether you occupy the buildings yourself, or they are rented out, we can help you to obtain a quality policy from a reliable insurer.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
We understand that wide cover is key to ensure your income is protected, which is why we will only ever suggest policies which are completely appropriate for you. Each property owner we help has different needs so we’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price quickly and easily.
See what our clients say
We regularly arrange cover for:
Commercial & industrial properties
Commercial properties with flats above
Buildings with high risk trades or processes being undertaken
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
Quick turnaround on written quotes and issuing policy documents
Wide cover available with competitive premiums
Loss of rent / alternative accommodation cover for rehousing residential tenants
Legal Expenses with a 24 hour helpline
Engineering cover for lifts and commercial boilers
Risk management support

### Unoccupied Property
Unoccupied Property Insurance
Whether you class your building as unoccupied, empty or vacant it means the same thing to many insurers: “we don’t want to know”!
We deal with a small panel of selected insurers who are happy and willing to provide unoccupied property insurance policies. Whether your property is designed for residential or commercial purposes, however much refurbishment or building work is planning, we can help you.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
We understand that wide cover is key to ensure your income is protected, which is why we will only ever suggest policies which are completely appropriate for you. Each property owner we help has different needs so we’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price quickly and easily.
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
Quick turnaround on written quotes and issuing policy documents
Different levels of cover available with competitive premiums
Engineering cover for lifts and commercial boilers
Risk management support

### Heritage
Heritage Property Insurance
Our property insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for heritage properties. Grade listed? Operating as a business? Undergoing restoration? We can help.
From castles to country estates we have expertise in advising the owners of heritage assets. We work with specialist insurers who understand the risks which come with owning a heritage property.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
Our insurance brokers can provide you with the advice you need to make informed decisions about protecting your assets. This includes advising the owners of businesses and charities which operate from heritage properties..
Heritage property insurance is one of our specialisms and our heritage clients can receive much more than traditional property cover.
As an Access heritage property client, you’ll benefit from:
A dedicated broker. A specialist who knows you and understands the risks you face. Here to answer any questions you have and to help you in the event of a claim.
Rebuild valuations. The insurers we work with are often able to provide free rebuild valuations to ensure your buildings are adequately insured.
Support and claims assistance. With our experience, you can be confident that the policy we built with you provides the proper protection when you need to make a claim. We'll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
In addition to the insurance covers commonly purchased as part of a heritage insurance policy we also arrange the following covers:
Works of art (including those held in trust)
Minibus, motor & tractor insurances
Employment Practices Liability
Engineering inspection and statutory inspections

### Museum Insurance
Museum Insurance
We advise and arrange museum insurance for all sizes, including galleries, small heritage centres and volunteer-run museums.
Our policies protect your property, assets, and liabilities, with specialist cover for exhibits, fine art, and collections. Items can be insured on a market or agreed value basis, with jewellery insured at its market value rather than on a modern replacement basis.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
We understand that wide cover is key to ensure your income is protected, which is why we will only ever suggest policies which are completely appropriate for you. Each property owner we help has different needs so we’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price quickly and easily.
Insuring Exhibits
We will require you to submit a copy of any valuation or other listing of items.  These include items comprising of:  paintings, prints, drawings, antiquarian books, manuscripts, antique furniture, rugs, tapestries, mirrors, mirror paintings, non-fragile sculptures and bronzes, ceramics, glass, brittle items, clocks, barometers, gold, silver and plate, coins, stamps and medals.  Other items can be specified as well as an amount for unspecified exhibits.
Loaned Exhibits and Items Away from the Main Collection
Cover is available for items away from your premises for a temporary period including an amount for items in unattended vehicles subject to policy conditions regarding vehicle locking and storage.
If you are loaning exhibits, then you should seek the written approval of the owner in order to gain the benefit of policy cover. Where items have been loaned to you, you should seek to document the arrangement in a Loan Agreement to include the loan value and to avoid unfortunate situations should a loss arise.
Attention to detail
Visitor numbers is an influence on the amount you pay for liability insurance so we are keen to understand the level of activity and any special events which you may run.
Your questions answered.

### Residential Let
Residential Let Property Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for residential properties of all descriptions.
As Chartered Insurance Brokers we pride ourselves on working with insurers who will respond quickly and efficiently in the event of a loss. Regardless of your tenant type, we can help you obtain a quality policy from a reliable insurer.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
We understand that wide cover is key to ensure your income is protected, which is why we will only ever suggest policies which are completely appropriate for you. Each property owner we help has different needs so we’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price quickly and easily.
See what our clients say
We regularly arrange cover for:
Residential let properties
Properties occupied by asylum seekers or tenants receiving housing benefit
Commercial & industrial properties
Unoccupied property
Buildings undergoing renovation, refurbishment or conversion
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
Quick turnaround on written quotes and issuing policy documents
Wide cover available with competitive premiums
Loss of rent / alternative accommodation cover for rehousing residential tenants
Legal Expenses with a 24 hour helpline
Engineering cover for lifts and commercial boilers
Risk management support

### Community Land Trust
How can we help your Community Land Trust?
Whether you need to protect your buildings, trustees or volunteers, we can help. Our community land trust insurance covers you for essential needs such as building cover, management liabilities and cover for volunteers. As specialist Chartered Insurance Brokers, we have in-depth experience serving CLTs, affordable housing schemes and many other community-led organisations. 
We help you choose the right covers which will protect your activities, management structures, trustees, volunteers and buildings. We provide common management liability policies such as D&O, trustee indemnity, public and property liability cover.
Tailored policies and guidance
Only pay for the cover you need
Helpful expert advisers
Quick and easy quote
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Over 18,000 UK community groups, charities and committees have chosen us as their insurance adviser
We build bespoke policies for our clients, both large and small. Our expertise of 20+ years enables us to help hundreds of new charities each month, including Community Land Trusts.
What Our Clients Say
Protect your Community Land Trust with our specialist insurance
Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to guidance on determining what covers are needed. Please contact us on 0333 344 7420 or request a quote.
Get a quote
Your questions answered

### Sports Club
How can we help your Sports Club?
Each sports club we help has different needs. We'll understand the risks you face and build a specific policy - you only pay for the cover you need. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million+
Employers liability (for employees/volunteers) & trustees indemnity (for trustees/committee members) can be included
Cover for buildings, contents, equipment, money + more is built in as required
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging sports club insurance for clubs of all sizes doing a wide range of sports. Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your club faces and design an insurance policy specifically to give you the cover you need. This approach ensures you have adequate insurance without any gaps in cover as well as excluding costly and unnecessary cover. You'll only pay for the cover you need.
Get Sports Club Insurance Quote »
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Neighbourhood Forum
How can we help your Neighbourhood Forum?
Each Neighbourhood Forum we help has different needs. We'll understand the risks you face and build a specific policy - you only pay for the cover you need. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million+
Employers liability (for employees/volunteers) & trustees indemnity (for trustees/committee members) can be included
Cover for buildings, contents, equipment, money + more is built in as required
Only pay for the cover you need (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging Neighbourhood Forum insurance for Forums of all sizes. Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your Forum faces and design an insurance policy specifically to give you the cover you need. This approach ensures you have adequate insurance without any gaps in cover as well as excluding costly and unnecessary cover. You'll only pay for the cover you need.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Unincorporated Association
How can we help your Association?
Each unincorporated association we help has different needs. We’ll understand the risks you face and build a specific policy – you only pay for the cover you need. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million+
Optional covers available so your association has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging specialist insurance for unincorporated associations of all sizes who undertake a wide range of activities. Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your association faces and design an insurance policy specifically to cover those risks. This approach ensures you have adequate insurance, without any gaps in cover, as well as excluding costly and unnecessary cover. You'll only pay for the cover you need.
Get Unincorporated Association Insurance Quote »
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Men’s Shed
How can we help your Men’s Shed?
Each men’s shed we help has different needs. We’ll understand the risks you face and build a specific policy – you only pay for the cover you need. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million+
Employers liability (for employees/volunteers) & trustees indemnity (for trustees/committee members) can be included
Cover for buildings, contents, equipment, money + more is built in as required
Affordable policies – only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging arranging men’s shed insurance for groups of all sizes doing a wide range of activities. Our approach to helping you is simple. We’ll understand the unique risks your shed faces and design an insurance policy specifically to give you the cover you need. This approach ensures you have adequate insurance without any gaps in cover as well as excluding costly and unnecessary cover. You’ll only pay for the cover you need.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Community Garden
How can we help your Community Garden?
Each community garden we help has different needs. We’ll understand the risks you face and build a specific policy – you only pay for the cover you need. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million+
Employers liability (for employees/volunteers) & trustees indemnity insurance (for trustees/committee members) can be included
Cover for buildings, contents, equipment, money + more is built in as required
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging community garden insurance for gardens of all sizes doing a wide range of activities. Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your garden faces and design an insurance policy specifically to give you the cover you need. This approach ensures you have adequate insurance without any gaps in cover as well as excluding costly and unnecessary cover. You'll only pay for the cover you need.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Your questions answered.

### Community Interest Company
How can we help your Community Interest Company (CIC)?
Each CIC we help has different needs. We’ll understand the risks you face and build a policy designed to match.
Talk to advisers that understand the risks that community interest companies face.
Get protection that’s built to cover your unique risks.
Only pay for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
CIC Insurance Tailored to Your Unique Risks
You'll benefit from our experience arranging CIC insurance for companies of all sizes and social purposes.
Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your CIC faces and then provide you with specific recommendations based on our specialist knowledge of the sector.
This approach ensures you have adequate insurance, without any gaps in cover, as well as excluding unnecessary cover. You'll only pay for the cover you need.
Why choose Access?
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Fencing Club
How can we help your Fencing Club?
Each fencing club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover, tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Get advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1m to £10m
Optional covers available (including equipment) so your fencing club has the insurance you need
Tailored approach, ensuring you get the advice and policy you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging fencing club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with regular practice sessions and competitions; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Community Buildings
How can we help your Community Building?
Each community building we insure is different. We’ll ensure you get the right cover, tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Get advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
Varying limits of public liability cover available
Cover for all of your equipment
Tailored approach, ensuring you get the advice and policy you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why choose Access?
We work with a number of specialist insurers who understand the unique risks faced by operators of community buildings and who are able to offer suitable insurance cover.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 01234 358535. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Food Bank Insurance
Food Bank Insurance
Our friendly team can arrange insurance for food banks.
Get a Food Bank Insurance Quote »
As a food bank, you will need to manage risks such as property damage, liabilities, and potential accidents, ensuring the continuation of your community service. We’ll ensure you get the right insurance cover quickly and easily.
Your policy can include:
- Public liability insurance – covers your food bank if a volunteer, service user, or visitor is injured, or if property is damaged while under your care.
- Employers’ liability insurance – a legal requirement if you have employees and advisable if you have volunteers, protecting you if someone is injured while working for your organisation.
- Contents and stock cover – protection for food supplies, shelving, fridges, and other essential equipment against theft, fire, or accidental damage.
- Buildings insurance – cover for your premises or warehouse against fire, flood, vandalism, or other insured events.
- Money and donations cover – protection for cash donations or petty cash held on site or in transit.
- Business interruption cover – provides financial support if your operations are disrupted due to an insured event, such as a fire or flood.
- Trustee and management liability – protects trustees and senior volunteers against claims of mismanagement or breach of duty.
Every policy will be tailored to reflect your size, setup, and activities.
Access Insurance are trusted advisers to over 18,000 charities and community organisations, including foodbanks, housing associations, churches, hostels and day centres. We help you get properly protected whilst only paying for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Adventure Playground
How can we help your Adventure Playground?
Each adventure playground we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover, tailored to meet your specific requirements.
Get advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
We can arrange a visit to your adventure playground where this is required
Varying limits of public liability cover available
Cover for all of your equipment
Tailored approach, ensuring you get the advice and policy you need
We work with a number of specialist insurers who understand the unique risks faced by adventure playgrounds and who are able to offer suitable insurance cover. It is important that adventure playgrounds work with a specialist adviser who can explain the risks to insurers and demonstrate the way in which these risks are properly managed. We advise several adventure playgrounds who have previously been declined cover by other insurers.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What our clients say
Why choose Access?
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 01234 358535. 
Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Girlguiding
How can we help your girl guide group?
We are experienced at advising and arranging tailored insurance cover for youth charities like yours.
We provide a bespoke property insurance package for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, and Rangers groups. The policy provides wide cover for buildings, contents, and equipment while on site and away at other locations.
We provide Girlguiding Group Insurance to cover:
- Guide huts and halls – protection for the buildings your group owns or uses, covering damage from fire, flood, theft and other insured events.
- Girlguiding activity centres and camps – cover for sites and accommodation used for residentials, training or large-scale events.
- Contents left on premises – insurance for furniture, equipment, and supplies kept in your hut, hall or storage areas.
- Tentage, equipment and kit used away from premises and at camp – protection for tents, cooking gear and other portable items while being used or stored off site.
- Canoes and kayaks – specialist cover for watercraft used in Girlguiding activities, including damage or loss.
- Larger boats and vessels (marine insurance) – tailored marine cover for groups operating bigger boats or water-based training programmes.
- Transport – cover for minibuses or other vehicles owned or used by your Girlguiding group, including liability and damage protection.
- Travel – travel insurance for UK or overseas trips, covering cancellation, medical emergencies and loss of personal belongings.
What Our Clients Say
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
We’re Owned By A Charity
Access is proud to be part of the Benefact Group, an international family of financial service businesses with deep charity expertise in insurance, broking and investment management. The Group is owned by the Benefact Trust, and all available profits are given to charity. Since 2014, £250 million has been given in funding and donations to good causes.
The Group’s giving programme, Movement for Good, gives over £1 million annually. We’ve seen 68 scout and guide group winners, over 46,000 nominations and £68,000 go to scout and guide groups.
Movement for Good is open for anyone to participate in by nominating a charity from one of the regular £1,000 draws, special £5,000 draws and larger grants throughout the year.
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging girl guide group insurance for a range of sizes, whether you just need cover for equipment or need to insure other property.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Library
How can we help your Library?
Each library we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your library has the insurance you need
Affordable policies
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging insurance for community organisations, including community-run libraries. Whether you are a small community library or a larger library with many activities; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Support Group
Support Group Insurance
Each support group we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your support group has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging insurance for support groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small local group or a group which covers a larger area; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Your questions answered.

### Village Hall Insurance
How can we help your Community Centre or Village Hall?
We provide tailored insurance packages for village halls, church halls, community centres, heritage, outreach and similar buildings. We design policies that cover your building, contents and equipment as well as liability cover for your activities, volunteers and committee.
In the event of a fire, flood or another insurable event, you can have peace of mind that your policy will provide you with a quick response to getting your building repaired.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Each group we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Cover for fundraising and other events
Able to cover all types of building construction
Buildings, contents and equipment insurance
Business interruption insurance/loss of rent
Public liability including abuse cover and hirers liability
Employers liability cover including cover for volunteers
Trustee indemnity insurance
Money cover
Legal protection
What our clients say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging community centre and village hall insurance for buildings of all sizes. Whether you are a small centre or hall with a few activities or a larger premises with many activities and third-party groups meeting regularly; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Your questions answered.

### Community Transport
How can we help your Community Transport?
Each community transport organisation we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote
Specific community transport ‘package’ designed to ensure no gaps in cover
Very competitive motor fleet insurance premiums
Varying limits of public liability cover available
Optional covers available so your organisation has the insurance you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging community transport insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a Dial-A-Ride, FleetLink or Community Action organisation, or a charity providing transport services; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Art Club
How can we help your Art Club?
Each art club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your art club has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging art club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small community art group or a larger artist's collective who meet regularly; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Cinema
How can we help your Cinema?
Each cinema we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
High limits of public liability cover available
Access to specialist insurers for heritage and larger buildings
Specialist, affordable policies giving you the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why choose Access?
We are experienced at arranging cinema insurance. Whether you are a small community film theatre or a larger cinema with staff and daily screenings; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Film Club
Film club and community cinema insurance
Each film club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging film club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small film club or a larger community cinema; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Model Club
Model Club Insurance
Each model club we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your model club has the insurance you need
Cover for group-owned models and clubroom contents and equipment
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging model club insurance for groups of all sizes and types. Whether you are a small model club who meet occasionally or a larger group with your own space and lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Historical Society
Historical Society Insurance
Each historical society we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your historical society has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging historical society insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small history club or a larger society with many members and activities; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Civic Society
Insurance for Civic Societies and Civic Groups
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging civic society insurance and cover for civic groups.
Each civic society we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging civic society insurance for groups of all sizes. 
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Book Club
Book Club Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging book club insurance and cover for reading groups.
Each book club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging book club insurance for reading groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally to read or a larger reading group with regular get-togethers and activities; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Chess Club
Chess Club Insurance
Each chess club we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right insurance cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so you have the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging chess club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small board game club who meet occasionally to play or a larger group, taking part in tournaments; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Dance Group
Dance Group Insurance
Each dance group we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Insurance for dance groups can include:
- Public liability insurance – protects your dance group if a member of the public or a student is injured, or property is damaged during a class, rehearsal, or show.
- Employers’ liability insurance – required if you have teachers, helpers, or volunteers, covering injuries or illnesses that occur while assisting your group.
- Equipment and costumes – cover for sound systems, mirrors, lighting, and costumes against theft, accidental damage, or loss, both on site and when taken to performances.
- Venue and contents cover – protection for dance studios, halls, or rehearsal spaces your group owns, rents, or hires.
- Event and performance cover – insurance for public performances, competitions, or displays, including temporary event cover.
- Money and fundraising cover – protection for cash or fundraising proceeds held at your venue or during events.
- Travel insurance – cover for trips or performances abroad, including cancellation, medical emergencies, and loss of belongings.
Every policy is tailored to your group’s size, activities, and budget.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging dance group insurance for troupes of all sizes. Whether you are a small group who meet occasionally to dance or a larger group with regular practice sessions and performances; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Scout Group
Scout Group Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging property insurance cover for Scout Groups.
We provide a bespoke property insurance package for scouts groups and guide groups which offers most groups substantial savings. The policy provides wide cover for buildings, contents and equipment whilst on site and away at camp. Canoes & kayaks can also be covered.
We provide Scout Group Insurance to cover:
Scout huts and halls
Scout activity centres and camps
Contents left in premises
Tentage, equipment & kit used away from premises & at camp
Canoes & kayaks
Larger boats & vessels (marine insurance)
Transport
Travel
What Our Clients Say
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
We’re Owned By A Charity
Access is proud to be part of the Benefact Group, an international family of financial service businesses with deep charity expertise in insurance, broking and investment management. The Group is owned by the Benefact Trust, and all available profits are given to charity. Since 2014, £250 million has been given in funding and donations to good causes.
The Group’s giving programme, Movement for Good, gives over £1 million annually. We’ve seen 68 Scout group winners, over 46,000 nominations and £68,000 go to Scout groups.
Movement for Good is open for anyone to participate in by nominating a charity from one of the regular £1,000 draws, special £5,000 draws and larger grants throughout the year.
Need help? Call us
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.

### Hospital & Community Radio
Hospital & Community Radio Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for Community Radio Stations.
Our 10 years experience and involvement with radio stations puts us in an ideal position to provide advice and assistance on arranging suitable radio insurance. It’s important that a policy properly protects your community or hospital radio and the work you do.
Each group we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We have negotiated discounted rates for Hospital and Community Radio Stations with insurers. Our radio station insurance packages are designed to provide public liability and equipment cover. Other optional covers are available to ensure you have the cover you need. Offices and storage units can also be covered.
If you need help determining the type of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Choir
Do Choirs Need Public Liability Insurance?
Even small community choirs or informal singing groups can be held responsible if an accident happens during a rehearsal, concert, or event. Public liability insurance protects your choir if someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your activities.
It’s especially important if you hire venues, perform in public spaces, or take part in community events, as many organisers and halls will ask for proof of cover before allowing you to perform. Having public liability insurance in place gives peace of mind that your choir is protected should the unexpected occur.
What Does Choir Insurance Include?
Choir insurance protects your people, venues, and equipment, so you can focus on what matters most; singing!
Your policy can include:
- Public liability insurance – protects your choir if someone is injured or property is damaged during rehearsals, concerts, or events.
- Employers’ liability insurance – covers employees, conductors, accompanists, volunteers, and anyone helping to run the choir.
- Equipment and instruments cover – protection for sound systems, microphones, risers, music stands, and instruments against loss, theft, or damage.
- Venue and contents cover – insurance for rehearsal spaces or offices your choir owns, hires, or uses regularly.
- Event and travel insurance – cover for when your choir holds concerts, tours, and community performances, whether in the UK or abroad.
- Money and fundraising cover – protects cash collected at concerts, rehearsals, or fundraising events.
Each policy is tailored to reflect the size of your choir, how often you perform, and the level of cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging choir insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small choir who meet occasionally to sing or a larger group with regular practice sessions and lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Youth Club & Youth Group
Youth Club Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for youth groups and clubs.
Each group we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from (up to £10 million)
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How We can Help With Youth Club & Youth Group Insurance
Our youth group insurance packages are designed to provide public liability for all of your activities with options for any other covers you may need. We understand the unique risks you face and will work with you to ensure these are adequately protected.
Abuse insurance is an important consideration when working with children and our experts can provide you with the advice you need to make informed decisions about protecting your volunteers and members.
If you need help determining the type of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Your questions answered.

### Residents Association
Residents Association Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging insurance cover for Residents Associations.
We regularly help the following types of residents association:
Tenants of a building who hold meetings with their landlord
A ‘local members’ area residents association who provide news and representation on matters in the local area
A group of people who live in the same property (either owned or leased) who work together to manage, maintain or improve the property
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
Our residents association insurance packages have been specifically designed to meet the bespoke requirements of Tenants and Residents Associations.
Speak to one of our community group experts on 0333 344 7420 to get advice on the insurance you need. Each group we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)

### Clubs, Societies and Associations
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging insurance for clubs, societies & associations.
We regularly work with different groups to help them put in place suitable insurance at competitive premiums.
Each group we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
We arrange insurance for a wide range of community associations, including residents’ groups, neighbourhood forums, and local action groups. Cover typically includes public liability, trustee indemnity, and protection for meetings, fundraising events, and volunteer activities. We help associations big and small have peace of mind, by getting the specific cover in place that’s right for your association’s needs.
CategorySummaryExamplesClubsWe insure a wide range of clubs, providing cover for members, activities, equipment, and events.Sports clubs, hobby clubs, cultural clubs, social clubsSocietiesSocieties often engage in heritage, education, or community projects. We arrange insurance that supports their activities and public engagement.Civic societies, historical societiesAssociationsFrom unincorporated associations to local community associations, we build policies with a variety of cover such as liability protection, volunteer cover, and insurance for facilities or equipment.Allotment associations, residents’ associations, unincorporated associations
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
Our community group insurance packages are designed to provide public liability and other optional covers for the meeting and activities of clubs, societies and associations. If you need help determining the type of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420.
Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### After School Club
After School Club Insurance
Running an after school club comes with plenty of responsibilities; from keeping children safe to protecting your staff, volunteers, and equipment. After school club insurance brings together the key types of cover you need to operate confidently and responsibly.
Your policy can include:
- Public liability insurance – covers injury to children, parents, or visitors, and damage to third-party property during activities.
- Employers’ liability insurance – required if you employ staff or use volunteers, covering accidents or injuries that happen while they’re working for the club.
- Contents and equipment cover – protection for toys, sports kit, crafting materials, and other equipment used by your club, both on-site and when taken elsewhere.
- Buildings insurance – cover for clubs that own or lease their premises, protecting against fire, flood, and accidental damage.
- Money and fundraising cover – protects cash held on the premises or collected during events.
- Event or trip insurance – cover for excursions, parties, and off-site activities.
Each policy is tailored to your club’s size, activities, and budget, ensuring you only pay for what you actually need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
Out-of-school activities can be varied, from crafting and chess to basketball and everything in-between. It is an opportunity for kids to build new friendships, develop new skills, and explore their interests. This diversity means every club will be slightly different and carry a unique set of risks.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Knitting Club
Knitting Club Insurance
Our brokers are experts at arranging cover for knitting club and crochet groups.
Each knitting club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your knitting group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging knitting club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether your group knits, crochets or weaves; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Craft Club
Craft Club Insurance
Each craft club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your craft club has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging craft club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small craft club who meet occasionally to larger group with regular sessions; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Walking Group
Walking Group Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging insurance for walking groups and rambling clubs or any groups that involve hiking, rambling, trekking and hill walking.
Each walking group we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your walking group has the insurance you need
Insurance cover available for walking, hiking, rambling, trekking and hill walking
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging walking group insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small group who walk occasionally or a larger group with regular walks and activities; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Community Newspaper
Community Newspaper, Newsletter & Magazine Insurance
Our brokers are experts at arranging for insurance for Community Newspaper, Newsletter & Magazine.
Each community newspaper, newsletter & magazine we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your community newspaper has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging community newspaper/magazine insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether your group produces an occasional newsletter for a small number of residents or has a regular print run for a much wider audience; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Flower Club
Flower Club Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging flower club insurance and cover for floral groups.
Each flower club we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your flower club has the cover you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging flower club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small flower club who meet occasionally or a larger group who meet regularly and arrange trips and visits; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Orchestra
Orchestra Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging orchestra insurance.
Each orchestra we help has different needs. We'll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your orchestra has the cover you need
Cover available for musical instruments and equipment
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging orchestra insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small orchestra who meet occasionally or a group with regular performances and lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Gardening Club
Gardening Club Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging gardening club insurance and cover for community gardens.
Each Gardening Club we help has different needs. Some need basic liability cover while others need cover for buildings and tools too. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your gardening club has the insurance you need
Cover available for buildings, sheds, tools and equipment
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging gardening club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small gardening club or a larger group with a community garden and other activities; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Badminton Club
Insurance for Badminton Clubs
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging badminton club insurance.
Each badminton club we help has different needs. Some just need liability cover for using hired premises while others need cover for group-owned nets and rackets. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your badminton club has the insurance you need
Affordable policies
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging badminton club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether your club meets once a week or has more sessions for different ability levels; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Drama Group
Drama Group Insurance
Insurance for drama groups is designed to protect your members, audiences, and assets so you can focus on performing with confidence.
The policy we build with you can include:
- Public liability insurance – protects your group if someone is injured or property is damaged during rehearsals, performances, or events.
- Employers’ liability insurance – covers your legal responsibility for volunteers, staff, or performers helping with productions.
- Props, costumes and equipment – protection for lighting, sound, staging, and costumes against theft, loss, or damage, whether owned or hired.
- Buildings and contents – cover for theatres, halls, or rehearsal spaces your group owns or rents.
- Event and performance cover – cover for shows, festivals, or outdoor performances.
- Money and fundraising cover – protection for cash held on the premises or during events and fundraising activities.
- Travel insurance – for not-for-profit groups performing or touring in the UK or abroad.
Our brokers will discuss the risks your drama group specifically faces, so your policy is tailored to your group’s size, activities and budget, ensuring you only pay for the cover you actually need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What Our Clients Say
How can we help?
We are experienced at arranging drama group insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small drama group who meet occasionally or a larger group who put on regular productions; we can help. Some of the groups we insure do higher risk activities such as pyrotechnics and aerial displays.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
FAQs

### Astronomy Club & Observatory
Astronomy Club & Observatory Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at arranging insurance cover for astronomy clubs and observatories
Each astronomy club has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Get free advice & a no-obligation quote over the phone
Varying limits of public liability cover are available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers are available so your astronomy club has the insurance you need
Cover available for buildings and equipment
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How we can help
We are experienced in arranging astronomy club insurance for groups of all sizes. Whether you meet at your local village hall or you have your own telescope, instruments and observatory building; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you; from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### CIO
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Insurance
You'll benefit from our experience arranging CIO insurance for charities of all sizes and activities.
You'll also find our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks your CIO faces and then provide you with specific recommendations based on our specialist knowledge of the third sector.
This approach ensures you have adequate insurance, without any gaps in cover, as well as excluding unnecessary cover. Therefore, you'll only pay for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
See what our clients say
Get a CIO Insurance Quote
 Get a quote
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Social Enterprise
Social Enterprise Insurance
Running a social enterprise comes with unique responsibilities. Whether you are a start-up CIC or a long-established trading organisation, the right insurance ensures you can continue your mission without unexpected setbacks.
Our advisers specialise in arranging insurance for social enterprises, ensuring you only pay for the cover you need.
  Tailored policies: to match your organisation’s risks.
  Cost-effective cover: you only pay for the protection you need.
  Experienced brokers: who understand the third sector.
  Feefo Platinum Award: demonstrating our commitment to excellent service.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What insurance does a social enterprise need?
The cover you require will depend on your activities, assets and people. Common types of cover for social enterprises include:
Public liability insurance
Protects your organisation if a member of the public, client, or beneficiary is injured or their property damaged during your activities.
Employers’ liability insurance
A legal requirement if you employ staff, and highly recommended if you have volunteers. Covers injury or illness sustained while working for your organisation.
Directors’ and officers’ insurance
Protects directors, trustees and senior managers against claims relating to the breach of duty or negligence in decisions they make in running the organisation.
Professional indemnity insurance
Covers claims arising from advice, training or services that result in financial loss to a third party.
Property and business interruption insurance
Protects your buildings, equipment and contents against fire, flood and theft. Business interruption helps cover loss of income and extra costs if you cannot trade following an incident.
Cyber insurance
Provides protection if your systems are compromised by a data breach or cyber-attack, including data recovery and PR costs.
Event insurance
Cover for exhibitions, conferences or fundraising events organised by your social enterprise.
Motor and fleet insurance
If your organisation owns or operates a minibus or multiple vehicles. We can cover multiple vehicles under one policy.
See what our clients say
Why choose us?
  Third sector specialists: we advise hundreds of social enterprises, CICs and community businesses across the UK.
  Tailored advice: no generic packages, we build cover around your organisation’s needs.
  Cost-effective policies: ensuring you only pay for the cover you need.
  Trusted nationwide: with a 4.8/5 Feefo rating and Platinum Service Award.
  Part of the Benefact Group: a group of financial services companies that gives all available profits back to charity and good causes.
Get a Social Enterprise Quote
 Get a quote
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Your questions answered.

### Community Business Insurance
Community Business Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging insurance for community businesses.
Each community business we help has different needs, whether you’re a community owned village shop or a cooperative society. We’ll understand the risks you face and build a policy designed to match.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
See what our clients say
Benefits
You'll benefit from our experience arranging insurance for community owned and run businesses of all sizes and legal structures, including CICs, Companies Limited by Guarantee, Community Benefits Societies and Cooperative Societies.
We work with like-minded organisations like Plunkett Foundation to help community organisations manage risk.
Our approach to helping you is simple. We'll understand the unique risks you face and then provide you with specific recommendations based on our specialist knowledge of the sector.
This approach ensures you have adequate insurance, without any gaps in cover, as well as excluding unnecessary cover. Therefore, you'll only pay for the cover you need.
Get a Community Business Insurance Quote
 Get a quote
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Bowling Club
Insurance for Bowling Clubs
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Insurance for Bowling clubs of all types and sizes..
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need – from £60/year
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Bowling Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Basketball Club
Insurance for Basketball Clubs
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Insurance for Basketball clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Basketball Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Football Club
Insurance for Football Clubs
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Insurance for Football clubs of all types and sizes..
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Football Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Table Tennis Club
Insurance for Table Tennis Clubs
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Insurance for Table Tennis clubs of all types and sizes..
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need – from £60/year
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Table Tennis Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Snooker Club
Snooker Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Insurance for Snooker and Pool clubs of all types and sizes..
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Snooker Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Cycling Club
Cycling Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Cycling Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Cycling Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Cricket Club
Cricket Club Insurance
Our insurance advisors are experts at arranging Cricket Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Cricket Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Dog Club
Dog Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Dog Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need – from £60/year
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Dog Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Rugby Club
Rugby Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Rugby Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Rugby Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Tennis Club
Tennis Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Tennis Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Tennis Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Swimming Club
Swimming Club Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Swimming Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Swimming Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Fishing Club
Angling & Fishing Club Insurance
Our community & not-for-profit insurance advisers are experts at arranging Angling & Fishing Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Angling & Fishing Club Insurance for community clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Club
Insurance for Clubs
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging Club Insurance for clubs of all types and sizes.
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal or cover forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your club has the insurance you need
Only pay for the cover you need – from £60/year
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
We are experienced at arranging Club Insurance for clubs and groups of all sizes. Whether you are a small club who meet occasionally or a larger group with lots of equipment; we can help.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Examples Of The Types Of Clubs We Insure:
Walking Group
From rambling, hiking to local walking clubs, we help many groups protect their risks.
Drama Group
We help drama groups get the protection they need for the risks they face.
After School Clubs
Protection for the risks faced by those operating clubs for children and youth in an out-of-school setting, such as sports, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and holiday clubs.
Choir & music groups
Insurance for contents, equipment and liabilities for choirs, music groups and not-for-profit orchestras.
Youth Clubs/Groups
With expertise on safeguarding and youth club risks, we can help you get the right insurance and protection.
Theatre Group/Cinema
We arrange insurance for typical liabilities as well as contents and buildings, for small not-for-profit drama and theatre groups to independent community cinemas.
Art Club
From not-for-profit support groups, arts centres to local art clubs for children and adults. We insure a wide range of risks for community arts groups and organisations.
Dance Group
Public liability insurance and other covers for not-for-profit dance clubs and groups.
Football Clubs
Insurance to cover liabilities, players, equipment and facilities for grassroots and community football clubs.
Cricket Clubs
Protection for pitches, pavilions, equipment and public liability tailored for community cricket clubs.
Cycling Clubs
Cover for organised rides, events, and liabilities faced by local cycling clubs and groups.
Tennis Clubs
Insurance for courts, clubhouses, members and events, designed for community tennis clubs.
Swimming Clubs
Tailored cover for swimming clubs including liabilities, events and equipment.
Bowling Clubs
Protection for facilities, greens, equipment and public liability for community bowling clubs.
Book Clubs
Insurance for informal community book clubs and reading groups, covering liabilities and activities.
Snooker Clubs
Insurance for snooker clubs and leagues, covering liabilities, equipment and organised activities.
Craft Club
We arrange insurance for lots of hobby groups like arts, crafts, quilting, knitting and sewing groups.
Dog Clubs
Insurance for dog clubs, training groups and walking packs, covering liabilities, events and canine activities.
Fishing Clubs
Insurance for fishing clubs, angling societies and matches, covering liabilities, events and waterside activities.
Rugby Clubs
Insurance for rugby clubs, teams and tournaments, covering liabilities, fixtures and training activities.
Table Tennis Clubs
Insurance for table tennis clubs, leagues and tournaments, covering liabilities, events and coaching activities.
Chess Clubs
Insurance for chess clubs, leagues and tournaments, covering liabilities, events and over-the-board play.
Your questions answered.

### Cyber
Cyber Insurance for Charities
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising charities and arranging charity cyber insurance, designed to protect your organisation from the significant financial and reputational costs of a data breach or crime committed following unlawful access or hacking.
Cyber attacks are constantly evolving. According to the 2025 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 30% of charities reported that they experienced some sort of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months, with prevalence being significantly higher amongst charities with incomes above £500k. Charities often hold sensitive information such as donor data, financial records and beneficiaries’ personal information, which makes them attractive targets for cybercriminals. If a cyber attack succeeds, it can be very costly to recover.
Why work with us:
Get free independent advice & a no obligation quote over the phone.
Assess the suitability of cyber insurance for your charity.
Friendly and professional brokers with specialist knowledge of the third sector.
Only pay for the cover you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What does cyber or cyber liability insurance cover?
Cyber insurance exists to cover the costs incurred of responding to a privacy breach or ransom attack, business interruption, cyber extortion, liabilities and legal fees, as well as expenses associated with crisis management.
Cyber liability insurance refers to cover that will protect against the liabilities faced from a data breach, but doesn’t cover the broader risks of cyber crime and costs associated with responding to cyber incidents.
Typically insurers will include:
24/7 access to incident response teams, including forensic experts, legal advisors, and PR consultants to manage the impact of cyber incidents.
Cover for the costs associated with managing a data breach, such as notifying affected individuals, offering credit or identity fraud monitoring services and handling regulatory investigations.
Cover the costs of recovering data lost due to viruses, hacking, ransomware or denial of service attacks. This includes repairing or replacing damaged computer equipment.
Business interruption cover for loss of income resulting from cyber incidents like extortion or data breaches.
Network security and privacy liability to cover liabilities arising from the transmission of harmful malware to third parties or failure to prevent unauthorised access to personal data.
Cover for legal costs and regulatory fines associated with breaches of data protection regulations, where insurable by law.
Additional insurer services & benefits
Many of the cyber insurers we work with provide a range of different benefits, for example:
Cyber risk portals that provide tools such as security alerts, deep scanning, dark web monitoring and real-time incident reporting.
Training guides and resources on topics such as phishing attacks and cyber response planning.
Access to legal helplines, consultancy and experts.
Some insurers also have their own claims handling team and cybersecurity specialists to support clients during the claims process.
Understanding Cyber Insurance For Charities
It is important for charities to manage common vulnerabilities and ensure they have robust cyber security in place before taking out this cover, as insurers will usually stipulate conditions that must be met before the policy is offered.
You can download our complete guide to ‘Understanding Cyber Insurance For Charities‘ to get a clearer idea what these policies cover and some common challenges and cyber liabilities charities have.
See what our clients say
Join hundreds protected with cyber insurance for charities
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Your questions answered.

### Professional Indemnity
Understanding Professional Indemnity Cover
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising charities and arranging charity professional indemnity insurance.
Charity professional indemnity insurance cover legal costs, compensation and settlements following claims of negligent or poor advice.
Our advisers specialise in arranging professional indemnity insurance for charities, ensuring you only pay for the cover you need.
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of charity professional indemnity insurance available, from £100,000 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £7.50/month for £100,000 of cover)
Our charity professional indemnity insurance packages are designed to cover your organisation against claims for wrongful or inadequate advice, errors or omissions or a breach of care. This includes advice given in exchange for a fee as well as advice given to an organisation or individual without cost.
Cover can be extended to include trustee indemnity insurance for claims against you or your trustees for wrongful acts and fidelity guarantee insurance (cover for fraud or dishonesty by employees or volunteers).
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What does professional indemnity insurance cover?
Professional indemnity insurance protects charities and not-for-profits against claims for:
Negligent advice or errors – for example, if your guidance leads to a client losing out on funding or a grant.
Breach of confidentiality – accidental disclosure of personal data or sensitive information.
Defamation – statements made by your organisation that allegedly harm an individual’s or another organisation’s reputation.
Copyright infringement – unintentional use of protected content or materials.
Loss of documents – misplacing important papers or files that result in a financial loss.
Employee dishonesty – cover can be extended to include fraud or dishonesty by staff or volunteers.
This insurance applies whether advice is given face-to-face, in training sessions, or digitally via email, social media or online platforms.
How does it work?
Charity professional indemnity policies are written on a claims-made basis. This means the policy must be active both when the alleged incident took place and when the claim is reported. If a claim is made after your policy has expired, it may not be covered. 
Our advisers will explain this clearly and help you maintain continuous protection.
Do charities need professional indemnity insurance?
Not every charity is legally required to have PI cover, but it is highly recommended if your organisation:
Provides professional advice, consultancy or training
Handles personal or confidential data
Produces publications or resources for external use
Signs contracts with local authorities or funding bodies that specify PI cover
Engages in advocacy, campaigning or public communication
Without insurance, a single claim could cost your organisation tens of thousands of pounds.
How can we help you? 
If you need help determining whether you need charity professional indemnity insurance, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
See what our clients say
Join thousands who are protected with our charity professional indemnity insurance
 Get a quote
FAQs

### Trustee Indemnity
Trustee Indemnity & Liability Insurance for Charities
Expert advice and trustee indemnity insurance for charities and D & O insurance for not-for-profits.
People who volunteer their expertise to help lead a not-for-profit organisation may face allegations relating to how they have carried out their duties. Although the risk of such allegations against a committee member is generally lower than against the organisation itself, it can be reassuring to know that the group has arranged insurance to defend, support, and indemnify individuals in that role.
Our brokers are experts in arranging D&O insurance (Director and Officer) for not-for-profits and charities. This essential cover, also known as Trustee Liability Insurance, is designed to protect your leadership team from personal financial risk.
Whether you call it Trustee Indemnity or D&O cover, this is the specific insurance for charity trustees that covers claims against them for wrongful acts. You can read more about the risks, types of cover and claims in our Trustee Risk Guide.
Each charity we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of trustee indemnity insurance available, from £100,000 to £10 million of D&O insurance for not-for-profits
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £7.50/month for £100,000 of cover)
Our charity trustee indemnity insurance packages are designed to cover your Trustees against claims for wrongful acts. Wrongful Acts include actual or alleged acts (including breach of duty or trust) and the policy is designed to pay for and defend these actions.
Cover can be extended to include professional indemnity insurance for services you provide and fidelity guarantee insurance (cover for fraud or dishonesty by employees or volunteers).
D&O Insurance for Not-for-Profits Explained
Many not-for-profits search for Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance, wondering if it's different from Trustee Indemnity. For charities and not-for-profit organisations, they are functionally the same policy. 
Our D&O insurance for not-for-profits is specifically designed for the third sector, protecting the personal assets of your directors, officers, and committee members from claims of negligence or wrongful acts in their management capacity. 
If your not-for-profit has a board or management committee, this insurance may be a standalone policy to consider or part of wider charity insurance policy.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
If you need help determining whether you need trustee indemnity insurance, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Understanding Your Personal Liability as a Trustee
Trustees can be held personally responsible for their actions, even within the structure of a limited company or CIO.
This personal liability is precisely why trustee liability insurance is so critical. It acts as a safety net, covering the legal costs to defend you and paying settlements if a claim is successful, ensuring a mistake doesn't lead to personal financial loss.
This is liability protection that insurance can provide for charity trustees.
See what our clients say
Join thousands who are protected with our charity trustee indemnity insurance
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.

### Employers Liability
Charities Employers Liability Insurance
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising charities and arranging charity employers liability insurance.
Each charity we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly & easily.
Our charity employers liability insurance packages are designed to provide employers liability and other optional covers for the activities of charities and non profit organisations.
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Cover for staff, trustees & volunteers
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Employers' Liability vs. Public Liability: What Your Charity Needs
While both policies protect your charity from liability claims, they cover risks from two entirely different groups:
Employers’ Liability: covers claims made by your internal team (staff and volunteers) for injury or illness they sustain as a result of their work for you.
Public Liability: covers claims made by third parties (like service users, members of the public, or venue owners) for injury or property damage caused by your charity's activities.
Because you have a duty of care to both your team and the public, many charities require both policies as part of their insurance programme. Our charity-specialist brokers are experts in arranging comprehensive Public and Employers' Liability insurance.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
If you need help determining whether you need charity employers liability insurance, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
Legally you must purchase employers liability insurance if you have paid employees.
See what our clients say
Other considerations:
You owe your volunteers a duty of care under health and safety laws
Charities can be, and are, sued where a volunteer is injured because of your negligence
In the absence of charity employers liability insurance the cost of the claim may need to be met by the organisation, its trustees or committee members.
Covering Volunteers: Your Duty of Care
While the law only compels you to have Employers' Liability insurance for paid staff, your duty of care extends to everyone working on your behalf, including volunteers. UK health and safety law requires you to protect them from harm.
For this reason, we ensure our charity employers' liability insurance policies include cover for volunteers. This protects your organisation from potentially costly claims if a volunteer is injured due to your charity's negligence and ensures you are fulfilling your moral and legal responsibilities.
Join thousands who are protected with our specialist insurance
 Start your quote
Your questions answered.

### Public Liability
Public Liability Cover for Charities
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising charities and arranging charity public liability insurance.
Each charity we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly & easily.
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
No proposal forms to fill in
Varying limits of public liability cover available, from £1 to £10 million
Optional covers available so your group has the insurance you need
Affordable policies (from £60/year)
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
How can we help you?
Our charity public liability insurance packages are designed to provide public liability and other optional covers for the activities of charities and non-profit organisations, whether at owned or rented premises, or away from them.
If you need help determining the amount of charity public liability insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
See what our clients say
Join thousands who are protected with our public liability insurance for charities
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.

### Buildings
Our Charity Buildings Insurance
Our insurance advisers are experts at arranging charity buildings insurance cover for premises such as charity shops, youth and community venues, day centres, offices, schools, museums and hostels.
As Chartered Insurance Brokers we pride ourselves on working with insurers who will respond quickly and efficiently in the event of a loss. Whether you occupy the buildings yourself, or they are rented out, we can help you to obtain a quality policy from a reliable insurer.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Or Call 0333 344 7420
A key issue is to ensure that the sum insured reflects the cost of rebuilding or re-instating the building should it be totally destroyed by an insured event such as fire, explosion or earthquake. This, more often than not, will not be reflected in the valuation or purchase price of the building if it were to be sold.
See what our clients say
How can we help you?
We design specific policies, whether you require charity shop insurance or protection for your premises, property or contents – we will help you ensure that you have the cover you need.
Free advice & no obligation quote over the phone
Quick turnaround on written quotes and issuing policy documents
Wide cover available with competitive premiums
Loss of rent / alternative accommodation cover for rehousing residential tenants
Legal Expenses with a 24 hour helpline
Engineering cover for lifts and commercial boilers
Risk management support
We arrange buildings and contents insurance for charities that covers a wide range of charity buildings including youth & community venues, shops, day centres, churches, offices, schools, museums and hostels. As we create a bespoke insurance programme at a competitive price, we can help your charity with all types of insurance depending on your activities and risks.
For example, if you run a charity shop or network of charity retail outlets, we not only help you with covering the risk of damage to the premises but can arrange typical charity shop covers such as stock and contents, business interruption, money cover and goods in transit as well as anything from employer’s liability to professional indemnity cover.
How much property insurance do you need?
When it comes to arranging buildings insurance it’s important to make sure you are not underinsured. When asked for the building sum insured, you should state the amount it would cost to rebuild the property from scratch. The video below helpfully explains your responsibilities here.
We have partnered with Rebuild Cost Assessment Ltd so we can arrange a professional rebuild cost assessment for our clients at a discounted price.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today  or call 0333 344 7420
FAQs

### Minibus
Minibus Insurance
Our insurance brokers advise and arrange cover for charity, community and scout group minibuses, including those with alterations or modifications.
Our aim is to find you a cost-effective minibus insurance policy for your needs. There is also a possibility of protecting your no-claims bonus if you have over three years of no-claims experience.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Or Call 0333 344 7420
Our team specialises in Minibus Insurance for Youth Clubs, Charities, Churches, Community Organisations, Scout Groups and Schools, so please click or call to take advantage of our experience, expertise, service and access to special schemes.
See what our clients say
Our Minibus Insurance Service
As specialists, we work with insurers who are able to offer specially negotiated minibus insurance policies designed to meet your individual needs to protect your minibus and cover your liabilities.
Minibuses owned by charities, community groups, care organisations, schools and scout groups can all be covered. Use of your minibus by other groups can be noted on your certificate to ensure that the correct Road Traffic Act cover is in place: please be sure to tell us of use by others who are not part of your organisation.
Whether you are purchasing a new minibus, have an older minibus or a modified minibus, you will need the best protection available at the best price whilst maximising the benefits. We are able to arrange Comprehensive and Third Party Fire and Theft cover to protect your vehicle and liabilities to third parties. Up to 17 seater minibuses can be covered.
Policyholders can benefit from:
Accident and breakdown service in UK
Free legal services and advice
Home start minibus cover
Windscreen breakage including optional cover on some Third Party Fire and Theft policies
No claims bonus up to 45%
European cover extension
Any driver (may be subject to age limitation)
Protected No claims bonus on higher bonus levels
Monthly instalments
Free emergency helpline
Discounts
Age of Drivers and Excess can be key factors in determining premiums charged. If you can restrict driving to drivers over 25, or over 30 years of age, savings can be made. Where cover can be restricted to one or two named drivers over 30, you may be able to receive additional savings. This needs to be weighed up against the convenience of an any driver policy.
Selecting a high voluntary excess may produce some premium saving. High value vehicles or those used for Public or Private Hire will in most cases attract a high excess automatically.
Managing the risk of operating a Minibus
Access Insurance have a 30 page Minibus Operator Handbook resource written by QBE Insurance, a leading supplier of minibus underwriting capacity throughout the UK. We insure minibuses for charities, non-profit organisations and churches with them.
The guide covers driving licences for minibuses; operators licences and permits including the limitations of Section 19 and 22 permits; driving your minibus abroad; EU and UK driving hour rules; tachographs; effective driving; speed limits; youth work and school minibuses; tail lifts; operational procedures; Safe operating and how to deal with an incident.
It’s important to manage risks and also to transfer them which of course is the underlying reason for insurance! Call our friendly and helpful team now on 0333 344 7420 for your individual or fleet minibus insurance.
Minibus Insurance Online Quote Request
Or Call Us on 0333 344 7420

### Property
Property Insurance
Our property insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for properties of all descriptions.
As Chartered Insurance Brokers we pride ourselves on working with insurers who will respond quickly and efficiently in the event of a loss. Whether you occupy the buildings yourself, or they are rented out, we can help you to obtain a quality policy from a reliable insurer.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Call Us on 0333 344 7420
We understand that wide cover is key to ensure your income is protected, which is why we will only ever suggest policies which are completely appropriate for you. Each property owner we help has different needs so we’ll ensure you get the right cover at a competitive price quickly and easily.
See what our clients say
We regularly arrange cover for:
Residential let properties
Properties occupied by asylum seekers or tenants receiving housing benefit
Commercial & industrial properties
Unoccupied property
Buildings undergoing renovation, refurbishment or conversion
Key benefits:
Get free advice & a no obligation quote over the phone
Quick turnaround on written quotes and issuing policy documents
Wide cover available with competitive premiums
Loss of rent / alternative accommodation cover for rehousing residential tenants
Legal Expenses with a 24 hour helpline
Engineering cover for lifts and commercial boilers
Risk management support

### Community
Each group we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly and easily.
Every community group is different, whether you are running a village hall, a scout troop, a residents’ association or a food bank. 
With our expert advice and straightforward process, we’ll help you get the right community group insurance in place.
Our friendly, specialist brokers will discuss the risks you face and the insurance you need, without confusing language, ensuring you receive the right protection for your group.
- Affordable policies from £60 a year- Free advice and no obligation quotes- Public liability cover from £1 million up to £10 million- Other cover to ensure your group has the protection it needs
What does community group insurance cover?
Community groups face a range of risks, from a visitor tripping at an event to a claim against trustees or the loss of equipment. Policies can include:
Public liability insurance
Protects your group if a visitor, volunteer or member of the public is injured, or their property is damaged during your activities.Example: someone trips over a cable at a meeting and suffers an injury. Public liability insurance covers the legal costs and compensation.
Employers’ liability insurance
A legal requirement if you employ staff, and strongly advised if you rely on volunteers. Covers injury or illness suffered while working for your community group.
Trustees’ and officers’ indemnity
Protects trustees, officers and committee members from personal liability claims related to decisions they make on behalf of your group.
Equipment and contents cover
Cover for computers, technical equipment, furniture and items used at events. Options available for cover while items are in storage or in use at different locations.
Property damage and business interruption
Covers your community hall, office or storage unit against fire, flood and other damage. Business interruption insurance helps with additional costs if you need to operate from a temporary location.
Professional indemnity
Protection if your group provides advice, guidance or services and someone claims it caused them financial loss.
Cyber insurance
Helps with the cost of recovering from cyber attacks or data breaches, including data recovery and PR costs.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Many UK community groups have chosen us as their insurance adviser
Our community group insurance packages are designed to provide public liability and other optional covers for the meeting and activities of clubs, associations and societies, whether at hired or rented premises or away from them. 'Contingent' liability cover can be provided for activities undertaken at third party suppliers premises. Offices and storage units can also be covered.
If you need help determining the type of community group insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.
See what our clients say
Community Insurance for
Village Hall & Community Centre Insurance
We advise and arrange insurance for hundreds of community halls, building trusts, institutes, associations and management boards.
Scout & Girl Guiding Insurance
With a special scheme designed specifically for the property and equipment needs of scout and girl guiding groups.
Community Associations and Local Societies
Clubs, societies, include. Civic societies, fundraising group, befriending groups, womens institutes, hobby groups, community action groups.
Resident Association
We provide public liability insurance and other covers for resident associations and neighbourhood groups.
Community Transport
Transport organisations need insurance for their fleet. We can also arrange public and employers’ liability insurance
Community/Hospital Radio
Arranging transfer of the risks faced by community and hospital radio stations.
Community Garden/Allotments
Whether public liability, or buildings and contents cover, we advise trustees of community gardens and allotments.
Support Groups
We arrange insurance for support groups for a variety of purposes, such as disability groups, mental health, addiction groups, asylum and refugee support and carers support..
Food Banks
As a Homeless Link member and partner, we are passionate about insuring charities and local projects like food banks and shelters
Community Interest Companies
Insurance for community interest companies, covering assets, liabilities and day-to-day operations.
Community Land Trust
Our team are experienced in advising CLTs, social and community-led housing organisations.
Community Gardening Groups
Insurance for community gardening groups and allotment societies, covering liabilities, events and practical gardening activities.
Community Buildings
Insurance for community buildings, village halls and centres, covering property, liabilities and regular activities.
Civic Societies
Insurance for civic societies and heritage groups, covering liabilities, events and day-to-day activities.
Why choose Access Insurance?
  Specialist advisers giving you independent advice by phone
  Affordable protection starting from £60 a year
  Trusted by groups nationwide, from small clubs to large community projects
  Recognised service quality with a Feefo Platinum Award and a 4.8/5 rating from hundreds of customer reviews
  Part of the Benefact Group, which gives all available profits to charity
Join thousands who are protected with our community group insurance
Your organisation has a unique set of risks – get insurance designed to match. 
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.

### Church
How can we help your church?
With 20+ years of experience working with churches and strong relationships with a wide range of church insurers, Access is in an ideal position to provide advice and arrange suitable church insurance.
Our church insurance policies typically include liability cover for your staff, volunteers and the public with options to insure church buildings, contents, equipment and money as needed. We also regularly arrange minibus insurance for churches.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Why Choose Access Insurance
  Specialist knowledge: over two decades of experience insuring churches across the UK.
  Strong insurer relationships: access to more than 40 church, charity and commercial insurers including Ecclesiastical, Ansvar and Congregational, plus our exclusive in-house scheme.
  Independent advice: as a Chartered Insurance Broker, we provide impartial guidance and build a programme tailored to your needs.
  Highly rated service: Feefo Platinum Award, with clients rating us 4.8/5 for customer service.
  Part of the Benefact Group: a family of financial services companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes.
See what they say
What types of cover do we provide?
We understand the variety of activities your church may be involved in, whether it's running weekly services, clubs, group and outreach events or other activities. With our specialist church insurance coverage in place, we can help you continue your mission. Below are just some of the covers we offer.
Liability Insurance for Churches
As an organisation, your church faces certain liabilities. We can build policies with employers’ liability and public liability insurance and as well as cover for products and property owners.
Church Buildings Insurance
We can make sure your church buildings, halls, premises and contents are properly protected in the event of theft, fire, flood, vandalism and other unforeseen incidents. Cover can include buildings, fixtures, furnishings, equipment and musical instruments. We’ll ensure your policy is accurate and up to date, so you’re not left underinsured when it matters most.
Church Vehicle Insurance
If you run activities, trips, social work or church groups you may have cars or minibuses that require church vehicle insurance. We can easily add this in when you purchase a minibus or vehicle.
Money Insurance
Money kept at the home of a church official or in transit can be covered as well as loss by the dishonesty of church officials.
Personal Accidents Cover
For church workers accidentally injured while engaged in authorised church activities.
Insurance for Child Care Activities
For after school care, nursery schools, playgroups or clubs managed by the church.
Pastoral Care Cover
For negligence in rendering pastoral care for injury to the public or damage to their property.
Publisher’s Indemnity
As well as trustee indemnity insurance, we can also offer churhes indemnity insurance for libel, slander, infringement of trademark etc. arising from official church publications.
and many more...
We'll help you get the policies that are needed to manage the risks you face as a church such as loss of income, legal expenses and liabilities.
Why churches need insurance
  Legal requirements: employers’ liability is compulsory if you employ staff.
  Financial security: a fire, flood or major liability claim could place your church at serious risk without insurance.
  Peace of mind: ensures your services, outreach and community activities can continue if something goes wrong.
  Contractual requirements: many landlords or local authorities require proof of cover before allowing you to use their premises.
Join thousands who are protected with our church insurance
Your church has a unique set of risks – get insurance designed to match. Insurance for churches, fellowships, groups and connected organisations.
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.

### School
Insurance for Independent Schools
Our school insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging insurance programmes for independent special schools, Christian schools, theological seminaries and Bible colleges. If you provide independent education, with or without boarding; we can help.
Our insurance brokers use their experience and knowledge to design individual insurance programmes suited to each of our clients. For each school we work with, we go through our comprehensive review process. Find out more about how we work with our clients.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Schools and other educational establishments face unique and, in some cases, complex risks. Working with a specialist gives you the confidence you are properly protected.
We don’t shy away from addressing difficult issues, including how you manage and insure allegations and instances of abuse. Our independent school insurance brokers can give you the advice you need to make informed decisions about protecting your pupils, staff and reputation.
Education is one of our specialisms and our school clients can receive much more than just the traditional insurance policy.
Need help? Call us 
0333 344 7420
Weekdays 9am - 5pm
Our brokers are knowledgeable and friendly. They’re specialists who can provide the advice and help you need.
As an Access education client you’ll benefit from:
A dedicated broker. A specialist who knows you and understands the risks you face. Here to answer any questions you have and to help you in the event of a claim.
Rebuild valuations. The insurers we work with are often able to provide free rebuild valuations to ensure your buildings are adequately insured.
Support and claims assistance. With our experience, you can be confident that the policy we built with you provides the proper protection when you need to make a claim. We'll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
In addition to the insurance covers commonly purchased as part of an independent school insurance programme, we also arrange the following covers for our clients:
Works of art (including those held in trust)
Minibus, motor & tractor insurances
Overseas travel including skiing trips and ‘adventure’ holidays
Employment Practices Liability
Engineering inspection and statutory inspections
Supply teacher insurance (covering a range of circumstances in which you may need to pay supply staff)
Your questions answered.

### Housing
Insurance for housing associations and RSLs
Our insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging insurance programmes for Housing Associations, RSLs, emergency and temporary housing, supported accommodation, homelessness and asylum refugee accommodation.
Having a broker who understands the social housing sector is an essential part of ensuring you have a robust insurance programme in place.
Our experienced brokers use their knowledge and expertise to design individual insurance programmes suited to each of our housing clients.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
At the start of any new relationship with a housing client, we complete a comprehensive review process tailored to their needs. Find out more about how we work with our clients.
Housing is one of our specialisms, and our housing association clients receive much more than just a suitable insurance solution.
As an Access housing client, you’ll benefit from:
A dedicated broker. A specialist who knows you and understands the risks you face. Here to answer any questions you have and to help you in the event of a claim.
Rebuild valuations. The insurers we work with are often able to provide free rebuild valuations to ensure your buildings are adequately insured.
Support and claims assistance. With our experience, you can be confident that the policy we built with you provides the proper protection when you need to make a claim. We'll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
We’ll help you to put in place the insurance you need to protect your tenants, homes, and staff. Contact us to speak with a specialist or email across your tender documents.
We are well placed to advise housing associations, social housing, YMCA groups and charities that tackle homelessness. We also insure:
Homeless Link Members
We are members and sponsors of Homeless Link, having provided advice to Homeless Link on their insurance since 2009.
Food Banks
We are passionate about insuring charities and local projects like food banks and shelters.
Support Groups
We arrange a cover for a variety of support groups, mental health organisations, abuse crisis centres, and more.
If you need help understanding the risks you face and the types of insurance cover you require, please contact us on 0333 344 7420. Our specialist team of advisers are here to help you from a simple question to advice on a more complex range of covers.

### Home page
How can we help you?
Access Insurance Services are Chartered Insurance Brokers and specialist advisers to charities, churches and community groups. Each organisation faces a unique set of risks, so we design specific insurance policies to ensure you’re adequately protected and only paying for the cover you need..
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
See what they say
Our specialist areas
Charity Insurance
Each charity we help has different needs. We’ll ensure you get the right cover quickly & easily.
Church/Fellowship Insurance
With 20+ years of experience working with churches, Access is in an ideal position to provide advice and arrange insurance.
Community Insurance
Our packages are designed to provide public liability and other optional covers for the meeting and activities of community groups
Village Hall & Community Centre Insurance
We advise and arrange insurance for hundreds of community halls, building trusts, institutes, associations and management boards.
Scout & Girl Guiding Insurance
With a special scheme designed specifically for the property and equipment needs of scout and girl guiding groups.
Club Insurance
We understand your club’s unique risks before designing an insurance policy which gives you the specific cover you need.
Minibus Insurance
Our aim is to find you a cost-effective individual or fleet minibus insurance policy for your needs. 
School/Education Insurance
For each school we work with, we go through our comprehensive review process.
Care Insurance
Your dedicated broker will help you to determine the types, and appropriate levels, of cover you require.
Property Insurance
Whether you occupy the buildings yourself, or they are rented out, we can help you to obtain a quality policy from a reliable insurer.
and many more...
As specialist insurance brokers for charities, we can develop comprehensive policies to cover all the risks your organisation faces.
Award Winning Insurance
As a Chartered Insurance Broker we are committed to providing an exceptional level of service to our clients. Our Platinum Trusted Service award from Feefo demonstrates our clients recognise and appreciate the consistently excellent service we provide.
 Get a quote

### Care
Care Insurance
Our care insurance brokers are experts at advising and arranging cover for care organisations. If you provide care for children, the elderly, those with learning difficulties or mental health issues; we can help.
Your dedicated broker will help you to determine the types, and appropriate levels, of cover you require. We look to provide our care clients with comprehensive solutions which will provide the cover you need when things go wrong.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
What our clients say
As an Access care client you’ll benefit from:
A dedicated broker. A specialist who knows you and understands the risks you face. Here to answer any questions you have and to help you in the event of a claim.
Support and claims assistance. With our experience, you can be confident that the policy we built with you provides the proper protection when you need to make a claim. We'll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
Business and legal helpline. Unlimited access to a solicitors & barristers, including care specialists.
Legal toolkit. A separate Legal toolkit with over a thousand legal documents and templates prepared by solicitors.
Consultancy services. Access to a team of care, legal, tax and funding specialists to assist you in growing and maximising business opportunities.
Training. Access to a care sector specialist team who provide tailored training programmes to help you remain focused on best practice.
Our experienced, knowledgeable and friendly brokers deliver a personable service. You’ll always know who to call if you have a question, require changes to your insurance or if you need urgent advice and help in the event of a claim. Find out more about how we work with our clients.

### Charity
How can we help your charity?
Our specialist charity insurance is constructed around you. Unlike off-the-shelf policies that leave gaps in your cover, we design our policies because we understand the risks you face. Insurance can be confusing, that is why our experienced advisers provide the expertise, guidance and jargon-free advice you need.
Request a quote - it’s simpleStart today 
Over 18,000 UK charities & non-profits have chosen us as their insurance adviser
We build bespoke policies for small charities, third sector organisations and non-profit groups, medium and large charities. Our expertise of 20+ years enables us to help hundreds of new charities each month.
See what they say
What types of cover do we provide
Our expert advisers work with you to create policies that meet your needs. Sometimes insurance can include common cover such as our public liability insurance for charity organisations. We also provide many other policies that will protect your assets, trustees, volunteers, supporters, participants and activities properly against the risks you face.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance for charities, sometimes referred to as charity liability insurance, ensures you are covered for claims as a result of injury or third-party property damage involving members of the public or other third parties, such as volunteers, due to your charity’s activities. We can provide charity public liability insurance for non-profit organisations and charities to cover these risks.
Staff Liability Insurance
It’s a legal requirement to have this policy in place if you have paid staff. You must also consider your volunteers' safety and well-being. We design insurance that enables you to fulfil your duty of care for staff and volunteers.
Trustee Indemnity Insurance
Another popular cover is trustee indemnity insurance which protects people in positions of trust from claims made against them for mistakes or wrongful acts. This cover can also assist in legal costs associated with defending trustees and actions taken.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
To defend against claims for wrongful advice, errors or breach of care given for free or in exchange for payment.
Property and Contents Insurance
To properly protect your charity's premises, infrastructure and physical assets in the case of theft or damage.
Cyber Insurance
To defend against the increasing risk of cyber-attacks, breaches and claims made regarding theft or loss of data.
and many more...
As specialist insurance brokers for charities, we can develop comprehensive policies to cover all the risks your organisation faces.
Join thousands who are protected with our specialist charity insurance
Your organisation has a unique set of risks – get insurance designed to match. Insurance for small charities and non-profit groups, medium and large charities.
 Get a quote
Your questions answered.


## General
### Contact
Contact us
Get in touch with our charity-specialist team.
We operate Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. usual working days excluding Bank Holidays.
Looking for a bespoke insurance quote for your charity? Fill out our quote form to get started.
Start a charity insurance quote
For any other enquiries, you can call us or send a message through the form below.
London Office
Access InsuranceSelsdon House212-220 Addington RoadSouth CroydonSurreyCR2 8LD
Telephone: 0333 344 7420Email: london@accessinsurance.co.uk
Chesterfield Office
Access Insurance/Ladbrook Insurance21b Napier CourtGander LaneBarlboroughChesterfieldDerbyshireS43 4PZTelephone: 0333 344 7420

### Callback
Request a Callback
Looking for a bespoke insurance quote for your charity? Fill out our quote form to get started.
Start a charity insurance quote
For any other enquiries, you can fill in your details below.

### Links
Useful Links
Movement for Good
Nominate your favourite charity for an award of £1000. Anyone can participate by nominating a charity for one of the regular £1,000 draws, special £5,000 draws, or larger grants throughout the year.
Risk Insights Newsletter
Join over 10,000 charity risk managers who receive our occasional emails that provide insights into best practices, free templates, resources, regulatory updates and expert guides from our team and from the sector.
Charities.Network
Inspiration for charity leaders, to help your charity grow. Our monthly issues cover a variety of topics from leadership, financial resilience and fundraising strategy, to archiving, cyber security and volunteer management.
Read our guides and resources
View our blog to read our risk and insurance insight guides as well as find our company news and other regulatory updates.
Connect with us on LinkedIn
To keep up-to-date with company news, new guides and job openings, follow our company page on LinkedIn.
Careers
See what it's like working at Access Insurance and explore our current job openings.

### Tim Larden
Tim Larden
Sales & Marketing Director
Tim is the Sales & Marketing Director at Access. He manages the New Business and marketing teams, driving our vision of growing to give.
Tim has extensive leadership experience, having spent 10 years managing the Chesterfield-based charity insurance broker, Ladbrook Insurance, which was acquired by Access in 2025. 
Tim has also previously held CF3 (FCA Chief Executive) positions with responsibility and directorship for subsidiary organisations within Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited. His deep commercial knowledge and understanding of charities' unique needs make him well-equipped to support our diverse range of charity clients.
Beyond his professional achievements, Tim is passionate about giving back.  He has completed half marathons and marathons for charities including Whizz Kidz, Meningitis Trust, and Footsteps Foundation. He also volunteers as treasurer for Bassetlaw & District Cricket League, helps run Wiseton Cricket Club and is currently a governor for his local primary school.

### Jamie Duncan
Jamie Duncan
Finance Director
Jamie joined Access Insurance in 2025, bringing 20 years of experience in senior finance roles across insurance, trading, investment management, and foreign exchange firms. His expertise ensures the company’s financial stability and long-term growth.
As Finance Director, Jamie manages all aspects of financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning. He is committed to implementing robust financial processes that enhance efficiency and give clients confidence in working with us, knowing we are a reliable and sustainable business.

### Guides
Resources Risk Management Portal Login Speak to your account handler to get set up with access to the full portal.You face a whole range of risks, unique to your circumstances. Good risk management is crucial to minimise the chances of accidents and losses.We produce a range of free guides on different topics and issues. You can download these below.In addition, our clients automatically qualify for access to our extensive resource portal, which contains risk management information, resources, policy templates and much more.   Your Duties Under The Insurance ActThis guide covers your duties and walks you through the steps to ensure you are adequately covered. Download Guide   Protect Your Organisation From Abuse ClaimsThis guide considers the risk of abuse claims and how to protect the vulnerable and your charity. Download Guide   Employers Liability For CharitiesThis guide goes over everything you need to know when buying employers liability insurance. Download Guide   Protecting Trustees & Charity LeadersThis guide looks at the risks your leadership faces and the insurance cover options available. Download Guide   Terrorism Insurance For CharitiesThis guide goes over everything you need to know about your options for terrorism insurance. Download Guide   Avoiding The Common Risk Of UnderinsuranceThis guide looks at underinsurance and how to ensure you are buying the right amount of cover. Download Guide   Charity Risk Management OverviewThis guide provides an overview of the risk management policies you need to consider having in place. Download Guide   Legal Expenses InsuranceThis guide goes over everything you need to know about legal expenses insurance and employment practice liability. Download Guide   Protect Your Charity From Cyber RisksThis guide looks at the cyber risks you face and how to protect yourself against attacks. Download Guide   Fire Safety For CharitiesThis guide looks at the fire risk you face and how you can prevent fires in your building. Download Guide

### Specialisms
Access Insurance Specialisms
Care
Charity
Buildings Insurance
Cyber Insurance
Employers Liability
Professional Indemnity
Public Liability Insurance
Trustee Indemnity
Church
Church Vehicle Insurance
Club
Basketball Club
Bowling Club
Cricket Club
Cycling Club
Dog Club
Fishing Club
Football Club
Rugby Club
Snooker Club
Swimming Club
Tennis Club
Table Tennis Club
Community
Adventure Playground
After School Club Insurance
Art Club Insurance
Astronomy Club & Observatory Insurance
Badminton Club Insurance
Book Club Insurance
Chess Club Insurance
Choir Insurance
Cinema Insurance
CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Insurance
Civic Society Insurance
Community Buildings Insurance
Community Business Insurance
Community Land Trusts Insurance
Community Newspaper Insurance
Community Transport Insurance
Clubs, Societies and Associations Insurance
Craft Club Insurance
Dance Group Insurance
Drama Group Insurance
Film Club Insurance
Flower Club Insurance
Food Bank Insurance
Gardening Club Insurance
Guides
Historical Society Insurance
Hospital and Community Radio Insurance
Knitting Club Insurance
Library Insurance
Model Club Insurance
Orchestra Insurance
Residents Association Insurance
Scout Insurance
Support Group Insurance
Social Enterprise Insurance
Village Hall & Community Centre Insurance
Walking Group Insurance
Youth Club & Youth Group Insurance
Housing
Minibus Insurance
Probate & Estate Administration Insurance
Early Distribution Indemnity Insurance
Missing Beneficiary Indemnity Insurance
Missing Will Indemnity Insurance
No Section 27 Notice Insurance
Property
Commercial Property
Heritage
Museum Insurance
Residential Let Property
Unoccupied Property Insurance
School Insurance

### Our Impact
Our Impact
In 2024:
Philanthropy
Access' mission is bigger than profit.
Back in 2009, Access committed to act as a socially responsible organisation and significantly contribute to various charities and worthy causes each year. We also continue to actively sponsor organisations such as Charity Finance Group, Homeless Link and Plunkett UK, promoting their work and insuring many of their members.
We give back through the Benefact Group's various giving programmes. The Group itself is owned by a charitable trust, and all available profits go to charities and good causes. Over £1 million is donated annually through the Movement for Good awards.
Social enterprise is embedded deep in our company culture. Staff are encouraged to volunteer and fundraise for local charities and causes. Some of our team hold trustee positions, regular voluntary roles or get involved in charity days.
Climate impact
As well as the social and governance aspects of being a responsible company, we realise we must also commit to doing our part for the planet. 
The Benefact Group who have been working on making sure business activities across the Group are not just ethical, but positively impact the environment. The Group's climate plan guides how the Group invests, how we insure, how we give and the Group’s direct impact. The Group has already achieved Net Zero for its Direct Impact and will be working towards net zero historic impact too - setting a long-term net zero target for 2040.
As part of the Group's giving back, £250,000 was given to climate and environmental charities in 2023. This includes funding a range of causes, including biodiversity, river health, regenerative agriculture, wetland restoration, transition, and environmental education. The outcomes of some of these projects include rewilding 600+ acres and supporting 150 young people to understand and establish climate plans for their schools.
Ethical and compliant
We are regulated by the FCA, which means we are committed to upholding ethical standards, being compliant and ensuring our staff and company our properly trained to provide a high level of service to our customers.

### Cookies
Cookie Policy
For more information on how we use your data, please view our privacy policy.

### TOB
Terms of Business Agreements
We trade with our clients under one of our two standard terms of business agreements (ToBAs).
The type of ToBA which applies depends on whether the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) classes you as a ‘commercial’ or ‘consumer’ client. If you need help determining which ToBA applies to your relationship with us please call us for free advice on this matter.

### Complaints
Complaints
Our aim is to provide a first class service, however, if you wish to register a complaint, please contact us by writing to Complaints Manager, Access Insurance Services, Selsdon House, 212-220 Addington Road, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 8LD, or by phone 0333 344 7420.
Wherever possible, we will endeavour to resolve your complaint by close of business the next day. If this has not been possible we will acknowledge your complaint promptly, in writing, with details of the individual who will be handling the matter in our office, together with a copy of our full complaints procedure. Where your complaint is in relation to our activities as your agent in arranging the policy, we will investigate your complaint and aim to provide you with a final response within eight weeks, following which you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you remain unsatisfied.
If your complaint relates to our activities on behalf of Underwriters, we will fully investigate your complaint and write to you within two weeks with our response, or keep you informed as to why this is not possible. At that time, if you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of your complaint, and if your policy is underwritten at Lloyd’s you have the right to refer the matter to the Policyholder and Market Assistance team at Lloyd’s who will then conduct a full investigation of your complaint and provide you with a written final response within 8 weeks. Details of Lloyd’s complaints procedures are set out in a leaflet “Your Complaint – How We Can Help” available at: www.lloyds.com/complaints or from the address below:
Complaints
Lloyd’sOne Lime StreetLondon EC3M 7HATelephone: +44 (0)207 327 5693Fax: +44 (0)207 327 5225Email: complaints@lloyds.com
If your policy is not underwritten at Lloyds or if you remain dissatisfied after Lloyd’s has considered your complaint, you may be able to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service, and eligible complainants will have a period of six months to do so. The FOS contact details are:
The Financial Ombudsman ServiceSouth Quay Plaza183 Marsh WallLondon E14 9SRTelephone: 0800 023 4567 / 0300 123 9123, or +44 (0)20 7964 0500 for calls from outside the UKFax: 020 7964 1001Email: complaint.info@financial-ombudsman.org.ukWebsite: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

### Privacy
Privacy
Introduction
This is a statement of the data protection policy adopted by Access Underwriting Limited. Responsibility for the management, updating and dissemination of the policy rests with the company’s senior managers and the policy is subject to regular review to reflect changes to legislation, accepted best-practice or to the structure or policies of the firm. All staff are expected to strictly apply the policy and to seek advice when required or when data security concerns arise.
The business needs to collect and use certain types of information about the people with whom it deals in order to operate and, in addition, the firm may need to hold and process information to comply with its legal obligations. This personal information must be dealt with properly however it is collected, recorded and used – whether on paper, electronically, or other means – and there are legal safeguards to ensure this in the Data Protection Act.
No staff members are permitted to download, copy or save customer details, either in hard copy or onto personal mobile devices, storage devices or into cloud-based storage, other than any such procedure or facility operated and approved by the company’s director/s.

### Claims
Claims
It’s often said the first real test of an insurance policy comes when you need to make a claim. You can rely on us to support and assist you throughout the process of making a successful claim. We work for you and will always put your interests first.
Claims can be complex, stressful and lengthy. It’s likely to be the time when you’ll need us most. With our experience, you can be confident that when you need to make a claim, the policy we built with you provides the proper protection. We’ll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
Contact us on 0333 344 7420 as soon as you suffer a loss or are aware of a potential claim.
For liability claims you should contact us immediately with all the relevant details. You should not respond to any letters from a claimant or their legal representation; instead pass this to us without delay.
The stages below apply to property damage and losses:
Assess the situation and bring into play your ‘business continuity’ or ‘disaster recovery’ plans.
Contact us as soon as you can. Some insurance policies have strict notification periods so it’s vital that you let us know about a loss as soon as possible. We will inform your insurer and take appropriate action. For small losses, such as minor theft, this may include the completion of a claim form. For larger losses your insurer may appoint their rapid response team or a loss adjuster to visit you to assess the loss and help mitigate any further damage.
Your insurer will investigate the circumstances of the loss and advise on how they intend to proceed.
The claim proceeds to negotiation and settlement. This may involve cash settlement, replacement of items or reinstating property. We represent you to ensure you are treated fairly and receive the best outcome.
Your insurer may look to recover from a third party who is responsible for the loss. This stage helps reduce future premiums.

### Matt Newberry
Matt Newberry
Broking Director
Matt joined Access in 2012. He leads two client focused teams and oversees all of the broking for existing clients.
Having successfully achieved his Dip CII Matt has now also obtained chartered manager status from the CMI. He particularly enjoys working with charities because of the diversity of third sector clients and seeing the passion that they have for their cause.
Outside of work, Matt volunteers for his church and at his local Scout group. As a dad of 3 and having a puppy cockapoo around he is kept very busy!
Email: matt.newberry@accessinsurance.co.uk

### Steve Blake
Steve Blake
Operations Director
Steve joined Access Insurance in 2003, having previously worked for a high street broker. As our focus moved to clients in specialist areas he led the way in designing our processes, ensuring these would serve our clients well.
Steve holds the position of Operations Director, managing company operations with responsibility for the implementation of our strategy and business plan whilst also managing the internal IT, communications infrastructure and client teams.
Outside of work Steve enjoys family time, travel, films, music, reading and keeping fit by running and especially cycling. Steve commutes by bike all year round, organises weekly company rides into the Surrey and Kent hills and has participated in several endurance rides for charity.Email:steve.blake@accessinsurance.co.uk

### Simon Hickman
Simon Hickman
Chief Executive
Simon Hickman FCII is a Chartered Insurance Broker and founder CEO of Access Insurance. 
Having started Access in 1999, Simon has led the company to become a leading charity broker, employing over 60 staff and handling £18m in premiums.
Access has been built on social enterprise principles. Its vision is to be passionate about insuring every charity and living generously. This culture of giving is embedded throughout Access and shared by staff.
In 2024, the company joined the Benefact Group, which also shares the same values and a vision for giving, and Simon continues to lead Access. 
Simon is involved with the Finance and Audit function as a trustee at two charities, one of which he chairs.

### Our People
Our People
Our team are friendly and professional, committed to providing quality advice and delivering excellent service to our clients.
Our success as a business is largely down to our people. We firmly believe the individuals who make up our team are our greatest assets. Our staff share a common set of values and a passion for serving the charity sector.
Culture
Our culture supports our vision to help our clients and live generously. In 2020, we asked our staff about the values people live by at home and work. These were distilled down to 3 values: being Positive, Reliable and Honourable; each supported by six behaviours. These are embedded into everything we do and what we look for in new staff. Each month we celebrate a Culture Champion, who is nominated and voted for by our staff based on our values and behaviours.
We invest in our staff’s training and professional development, by funding qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Insurance. We have various initiatives to help staff, including an expanded benefits package to include health and wellbeing perks.
What our staff say:
Here is a small selection of quotes from our bi-annual staff survey:
Want to be part of an outstanding team and a growing company? Find out more about how to join our team.
Our values
We are:
Positive
Reliable
Honourable
Leadership team
We employ 60+ staff across different teams including client management, broking, finance, operations, HR and marketing which are overseen by our directors.

### What we do
What we do
We help charities manage their unique risks by designing bespoke insurance for them.
Who we work with
We work with over 18,000 charitable organisations across the UK. Reflecting the breadth of the third sector, our client base ranges from small local groups to large and national charities.
View our specialisms
Building the right policy
We use our specialist knowledge of the charity sector to advise clients on the cover they need. This ensures their unique risks are managed effectively and results in a bespoke policy where they only pay for cover they need.
It’s often said insurance brokers ‘search the market’ to find a solution. At Access we believe the best solutions aren’t found; they are built. For this reason, we continually invest in developing new products, giving our clients greater choice. Our distinct, tailored approach truly benefits each of our customers, ensuring each client receives what they really need. Our reputation and dedication to work predominately with charities means we have excellent working relationships with 40+ insurers, which is a great advantage when negotiating on your behalf.
Representing your interests
As a Chartered, independent broker, we represent our clients’ interests from initial enquiry right through to assisting you through the claims process. We don’t just provide quotes, we give advice based on our knowledge of the sector. Throughout the lifetime of your policy, we provide help and guidance. We also work with insurers to build specialist schemes with your needs in mind.
Claims assistance
It’s often said the first real test of an insurance policy comes when you need to make a claim. Claims can be complex, stressful and lengthy. It's likely to be the time when you'll need us most.
With our experience, you can be confident that when you need to make a claim, the policy we built with you provides the proper protection. We'll work with you, providing the advice you need to get things back to normal as soon as possible.
You can rely on us to support and assist you throughout the process of making a successful, hassle-free claim. We work for you and will always put your interests first.
Visit our claims page for more details on the claims process.
Additional support
We know there are a host of activities you may be involved with on local or national scales. We provide additional support on a range of issues such as safeguarding or rebuild costs, where we can arrange for our specialist partners to carry out a rebuild cost assessment for you.
We support our clients and the wider sector by creating resources, downloadable guides and templates for risk management and charity governance.
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Customer Charter
As part of our commitment to delivering excellent customer service and fair value across our business, we created a Customer Charter. This was a staff-led project with workshops that generated the attributes of what great customer service looked like. This Charter summarises what every client can expect from us.
We commit to:
Being friendly and professional
Maintaining responsive and efficient services
Taking the time to understand your needs
Building solutions
Giving clear information and guidance
Open communication

### Our Story
Our Story
Every company has a story to tell. From humble beginnings to leading specialist Chartered Insurance Broker, Access has come a long way.

### Careers
Working with us
Access Insurance is an ethically driven, independent broker serving third sector organisations. Our mission is to help all types of charities and not-for-profits manage their risks by giving specialist advice and designing bespoke insurance policies. We’re a business built on social enterprise principles and values. Join us and you’ll be part of a fast-growing business of friendly specialists, where your ideas are valued, and professional development is encouraged. By joining us, you’ll be helping us to positively impact the sector through philanthropy, one of our key motivations for growth.
Access Insurance is proud to be one of 30 plus financial services businesses that make up the Benefact Group. Operating over three continents, we’re a Group with a difference – we give all available profits to charity and good causes. When you work for one of our companies, you know that every single day, everything you do helps make a positive change in the lives of people and communities.
Visit our careers site
Click here for our latest vacancies
We look for talented individuals who are willing to work hard to progress in a fast-growing broker with an entrepreneurial outlook. Many of our leadership team started as trainees and worked their way up to their current positions. 
As a fast-growing business, new roles regularly become available. We offer competitive salaries with a range of perks. If you recognise yourself as someone who shares our values then we’d love to hear from you. Email us at hr@accessinsurance.co.uk explaining why you’d like to join our team along with a copy of your CV.

### Who we are
Who we are
Passionate about insuring every charity & living generously.
Access is an ethically driven, independent broker serving third sector organisations.
Our mission is to help all types of charities and not-for-profits manage their risks by giving specialist advice and designing bespoke insurance policies.
We are a business built on social enterprise principles and values. Our culture embodies generosity in serving and giving to charitable causes. One of our key motivations for growth is to positively impact the sector through philanthropy.
Proudly part of the Benefact Group
Access Insurance is part of the Benefact Group, an international family of financial service businesses with deep charity expertise in insurance, broking and investment management. The Group is owned by the Benefact Trust, and all available profits are given to charity. The Group has been the UK’s third largest corporate donor for a decade*, and has given over £250 million in donations and funding since 2014. Anyone can get involved in the annual giving programme which donates over £1 million annually - Movement for Good.
In addition to the Group’s philanthropy which sits at the foundation of everything we do, there is a whole range of charity support available in the form of webinars, templates and articles.
Whilst part of the wider Group, Access continues to provide an independent service. Our expert advisers will work with you to create bespoke policies that meet your needs across our available market of 40+ insurers.
*Directory of Social Change's Guides to UK Company Giving 2017-2026
Charity-specialist broking
We help all types of charities with their insurance, from the smallest to the largest, working hard to deliver great customer service, quality advice and a policy that protects each charity’s unique activities and assets. We regularly ask for feedback so that we can apply changes that will improve the customer journey. You can see our most recent reviews here.
When an organisation appoints us as their broker, they quickly notice what sets us apart: an excellent level of knowledge, skill and professionalism delivered in a friendly, helpful manner. This approach to how we do business and our commitment to excellence demonstrated by our Chartered status, are why thousands of organisations trust us to act for them.
What being Chartered means for you
The Chartered Institute of Insurance awards the Chartered status to brokers who publicly commit to professional and high-quality service standards, are ethically driven, knowledgeable and provide competent advice based wholly on your needs and requirements.
Read more about our approach
"The service provided was excellent. They sought to provide cover that is tailored and appropriate to meet our organisation's needs and matched us to a suitable provider.”Etherow Centre Charitable Trust
Investing in great causes
Back in 2009, Access committed to act as a socially responsible organisation and significantly contribute to various charities and worthy causes each year. Social enterprise is embedded deep in our company culture. Staff are encouraged to volunteer and fundraise for local charities and causes. Some of our team hold trustee positions, regular voluntary roles or get involved in charity days.
Read more about our impact