Bushcraft Instructor Insurance

[falling rain]

I've been lucky enough to have been given some work recently for various places like colleges and a big company in UK - I must get some good bushcraft Instructor Insurance so can anyone recommend a good reliable and most of all 'Straight' company to go with for Bushcraft/outdoor Insurance. I DO NOT want any back street dodgy companies but a reliable one and am willing to pay the price for it. Thanks for any help or advice. - FR - I believe the Institute for Outdoor Education provide Insurance but was wondering if anyone has experience of them or knows of anywhere better. Money isn't a problem but absolutely MUST be genuine and reliable.

 

[Chiseller]

Afternoon falling rain. Is there such a specific thing? Will not a decent public liability policy not be the same? We were well covered for all eventualities when I was in demolition and civil engineering and it didn't cost the earth. Just used a reputable company iirc Zurich or similar. Sure somebody will point you in the right direction.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Spaniel man]

There might be a bit of useful info in THIS thread

 

[abominable_scouse_monster]

Afternoon falling rain. Is there such a specific thing? Will not a decent public liability policy not be the same? We were well covered for all eventualities when I was in demolition and civil engineering and it didn't cost the earth. Just used a reputable company iirc Zurich or similar. Sure somebody will point you in the right direction.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

Not always, especialy if any of the following are regularly involved Fire, Wild Plants and Animals.
Most Liability policy are designed for places like Shops, the thinking is if any of the above are involved it is a dangerous activity so you must pay more, I found this up looking into insurance a while ago when I was planning on running a Casting class (fly an beach) the rates where crippiling because it involved open water. And the restrictions where just silly.

 

[rik_uk3]

As there are no real qualifications for 'Bushcraft' I can't see how you'd get an all in one off the shelf sort of policy; you may need to talk in more detail to various companies.......brush up on your 'Risk Assessment' policy writing skills as I fear these will be called for.

 

[Dave-the-rave]

Should be relatively cheap as long as you aren't starting fires, using sharp knives, axes, climbing trees, sleeping high off the ground, sleeping in the rain, or eating snow, eating mushrooms or food past it's sell by date or playing with meths. Swinging Billhooks will void the policy. Guns and bows are definitely out as is drinking urine.

Apart from that you'll be fine. :sulkoff:

 

[xylaria]

We got ours off DARE insurance, they do PLI for sports and outdoor instructors. They were only the third company we contacted, first said "whats bushcraft" second said "we will will insure you as long you dont light any fires or give knifes to mental people". There are other companies. Read the previous thread. It was about the £250 mark for a year. It covered eating mushrooms, sharp things and lighting fires and teaching people with mental health problems (including giving them knives).

 

[swright81076]

We took out liability insurance (ansvar insurance) for our recent woodland fun day, the insurance covered fires in the woods, knife and axe carving, use of saws and axes to fell trees and other minor things including food prep. The years premium was less than £500. This covers 2 woodlands in our area.


Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

 

[falling rain]

Excellent stuff thanks very much everyone. Yes my courses WILL involve fires and knives, Axes, plants, funghi etc. £500 is a lot of money but I've got myself a very good deal to train staff for a fairly large company and some work in colleges so will be able to afford it. I'm actually extremely excited about it all. Had a lot of pretty bad luck throughout life and this is a great break for me
Thanks everyone for your help and very best wishes FR

 

[ozzy1977]

Have you thought about contacting one of the existing bushy schools and asking them who they use? Might be worth a punt worse they can say is bugger off

 

[didicoy]

Some years ago I ran similar projects. Get a quote direct from Loyds. College will prob need a minimum of £5mil cover. You will be responsible for all risk assessments.

 

[digitracker]

Why dont you pm the Bushmoot organizers/mods on here, they may be able to tell you who they are insured with, after all the activities at the bushmoot are similar to what you want to do. I cant see a problem with them giving you the info as you have no commercial conflict of interest with them.

 

[Scots_Charles_River]

You really want 'Professional Indemnity Insurance' which allows for cover if you make a mistake when leading eg someone breaks a leg when on a course you are teaching.

I have £10million cover when I'm Outdoor Teaching and teaching in my Classroom/Workshop, via my employer. So I don't pay the premium !

 

[Stringmaker]

Firstly, good luck with the venture!

Secondly, I do some freelance stuff and on the advice of someone here (apologies I forgot who it was) I have liability insurance with Birnbeck Finance of Weston Super-Mare. They do a lot of work with Forest School providers so know the market and the activities well.

I have £5 million quid's worth of public and product liability cover, plus activities including sharps and fire lighting for less than two hundred quid.

Give them a call; no connection just a satisfied client.

 

[Gray]

I used to use the Bateman group ( no connection) they were dead cheap

 

[falling rain]

Firstly, good luck with the venture!

Secondly, I do some freelance stuff and on the advice of someone here (apologies I forgot who it was) I have liability insurance with Birnbeck Finance of Weston Super-Mare. They do a lot of work with Forest School providers so know the market and the activities well.

I have £5 million quid's worth of public and product liability cover, plus activities including sharps and fire lighting for less than two hundred quid.

Give them a call; no connection just a satisfied client.

Thanks Stringmaker and one and all. Knew I could rely on you folks for help and advice. Gutted I couldn't make it to the moot after all, so hope everyone is having a blast!! - Yes indeed 'Personal Indemnity Insurance is vital too. I teach the bit I know about wild plants for food & medicine so there's always potential for me to make a mistake or someone to pick and eat the 'wrong plant' and become ill after a course. As we well know some plants look similar and mistakes can be made. In these wonderful days we all live in of litigation at the drop of a hat!!........a very wise move. Cheers y'all - FR