Policy, Organisation and Rules

Trustee Boards are responsible for ensuring that people, property and equipment are appropriately insured. This chapter sets out the policies and requirements that support this responsibility.

Unity is the official insurance broker of The Scout Association. See also POR 6.12.1.4.

Unity is one provider that is able to arrange the insurance cover required under this chapter, particularly POR 5g.4.

5g.3.1 Scope 

The insurances outlined in POR 5g.3 apply exclusively to Scout units and their members operating within the Federation governed by The Scout Association’s Royal Charter. These insurances are purchased by UK Headquarters from the membership subscriptions. Scout units must not independently purchase the insurances listed in this POR 5g.3.

The insurances described in POR 5g.3 do not extend to members of Girlguiding or any other individuals or organisations that are not formally part of the Scouts’ Federation.

Details of the current benefits under these policies are available from Unity. 

5g.3.2 Compliance

For insurance cover provided by UK Headquarters to be remain valid, all POR rules must be complied with, particularly those relating to the organisation of activities and the safety precautions applying to activities.

All insurances and indemnity provided by The Scout Association are subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant insurance policy in force.  

5g.3.3 Personal Accident and Medical Expenses Policy (PAME)

5g.3.3.1 Cover for members of Scouts
PAME insurance is funded by UK Headquarters and covers all members included on the annual census return, as well as new members who join during the year, in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and British Scouting Overseas.

More details, including the schedule of benefits, are available on the Unity website.

5g.3.3.2 Cover for visiting Scouts from overseas
The PAME policy also extends coverage to parties of up to five visiting Scouts who are not members of The Scout Association but who are in the United Kingdom to take part in Scout activities organised by a British home unit.  

5g.3.3.3 Additional third-party risks
Certain adventurous activities carry higher third-party risks and may require additional insurance arrangements which must be made by Unity.

For this reason, Groups, Districts or Counties must notify Unity in advance when planning to undertake air activities or karting.

5g.3.4 The Scout Association Legal Liability Policy (LLP)

5g.3.4.1 Liability cover
This LLP policy, which includes both Public Liability and Property Owners Liability, covers the whole The Scout Association and provides coverage for all Lead Volunteers, adult volunteers and other authorised individuals responsible for, or assisting with, Scout activities.

This includes claims brought by members (or their parents or guardians) or by third parties, alleging legal liability resulting from incidents during any authorised Scout activity or fundraising event. This is covered under the Public Liability section of the policy.

The LLP policy extends to cover every Group, District and County within the Federation, subject to POR 5g.3.2. No additional Public or Property Owners’ Liability insurance is required to be purchased by Groups, Districts or Counties. 

5g.3.4.2 Property Owners Liability
The LLP policy also provides Property Owners Liability cover for any Scout unit that owns or is responsible for land or buildings, excluding liability accepted under any agreement.

5g.3.4.3 External activity providers
External activity providers must provide evidence of holding a public liability insurance policy which covers their activities to a minimum level of five million pounds. (POR 9a.5.7.4) 

5g.3.5 The Scouts Trustee Indemnity Policy (TI)

5g.3.5.1 Purpose
The TI policy protects Trustees in the event they are held personally liable for the loss of charity assets or for making a decision that results in the charity sustaining a financial loss.

More details, including the schedule of benefits, are available on the Unity website.

5g.3.5.2 Scope
The TI policy applies to all Trustees and members of any sub-team of a Trustee Board within any charity that is part of the Federation, where the individual’s Trustee or sub-team role is recorded on the Scouts’ membership system.

The TI policy also covers any person co-opted or appointed to act as a Trustee or Trustee Board sub-team member, including Custodian Trustees or Holding Trustees, of Scout assets, regardless of whether or not they are members of a Trustee Board or are a member of Scouts.

5g.4.1.1 Extensions to PAME
This section 5g.4.1.1 lists options for Groups, Districts, Counties to purchase extensions to the PAME insurance in POR 5g.3.3.1 and POR 5g.3.3.2. These extensions are not included in the PAME policy purchased by UK Headquarters.

Note that these policy extensions may be purchased from Unity, or from alternative insurance providers.

1. Additional insurance may be purchased to extend benefits beyond those included in the standard Scouts’ PAME policy. 
2. Non-members are not covered under the Scouts’ PAME insurance. However, non-members residing in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands can be insured under PAME if a Group, District or County purchases specific PAME cover for their non-members. POR Chapter 16 Teams Table indicates which roles have ‘member’ status.
3. As an extension to POR 5g.3.3.2, larger groups of visitors are not automatically covered under PAME. They may, however, be independently insured by the host unit, provided the visitors are not already covered by their home Scout Association.  

5g.4.1.2 Locally arranged insurance cover
Under POR 5c.1.5.4(e), 5c.2.5.4(d), 5c.3.5.4(d), 5c.34.5.4(d), 5d.1.5.3(i), 5d.2.5.3(i) and 5d.3.5.2(i) every Group., District, and County Trustee Board must maintain, and regularly review, appropriate insurance cover in respect of other risks, including, but not limited to: 

1. Supplementary extensions to PAME insurance (POR 5g.4.1.1(a))
2. PAME for non-members (POR 5g.4.1.1(b))
3. PAME for larger groups of visiting Scouts (POR 5g.4.1.1(c))
4. property and equipment, owned, hired, or borrowed, including the loss or damage whilst in transit or at camp or on expeditions
5. minibuses and other motor vehicles, including passenger risk, whether in the British Isles or other countries
6. marine and boating activities (POR 9b.5.5.3)
7. aviation and air activity (also note POR 5g.3.3.3(c), POR 9b.2.2.3, POR 9b.2.10.1(a), and POR 9b.2.10.2)
8. karting (POR 5g.3.3.3(c))
9. visits abroad (POR 9a.3.1.6)
   The policy available from Unity covers accidents and medical expenses but is only available to groups of members based in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.  
   For Scouts in Northern Ireland travelling to the Republic of Ireland, additional travel insurance is not required for trips lasting 48 hours or less. However, if it is assessed that cover is required for emergency medical expenses, personal possessions, or cancellation, then travel insurance must be purchased (POR 9a.3.1.7)
   Members based in British Scouting Overseas or the Overseas Territories should obtain equivalent travel insurance cover locally.
10. employers’ liability for persons employed by a Group, District or County. 

5g.5.1.1 Agreements or indemnities required by third parties
If a Group, District or County is arranging to use land, premises or facilities belonging to another authority, organisation or individual, and is asked to sign an agreement or indemnity, details must be sent to Unity as early as possible.

Arrangements must not proceed, and no agreement or indemnity must be signed, until Unity has confirmed both: 

1. that the terms of the agreement or indemnity are acceptable
2. that The Scout Association’s Legal Liability Policy provides adequate cover for the proposed terms.