Insurance and safety
The below guidelines will safeguard the group's success for the long term and establish your space as a thriving and beneficial greenspace for everyone in the community.
Insurance
Before you plan or host any events you must secure the appropriate insurance coverage for your activities. Public liability insurance is crucial to protect your group against claims arising from accidents or injuries.
What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance is absolutely necessary for community groups that host events. It helps protect your friend group if someone from the public gets hurt or if something gets damaged at one of your activities.
For example, if someone trips over equipment you set up for an event and gets hurt, this insurance can help pay for any legal costs or compensation awarded.
It’s important to speak to a qualified insurance provider to make sure you get the right type of coverage for your group's activities.
There will be some circumstances where the Council’s own public liability insurance policy will cover volunteers (either as an individual or as part of a group). It is likely that the Council’s own public liability insurance will cover Friends groups if:
- friends are assisting the Council with a Council activity
- friends are authorised by the Council to carry out the particular activity
- a Council employee is present to supervise the particular activity.
These activities need to be authorised with the Council through your Parks & Greenspace, Natural Heritage or Cemeteries Officer, who must be fully informed of your plans in writing or via email.
These activities are also subject to site-specific risk assessments to ensure that standards are being met, tasks are matched to the capabilities of those involved and the public are not put at an increased risk. You must contact your Council Officer in advance to let them know of any activities being carried out and to agree on a risk assessment for your activities.
TCV Scotland and Scotland’s Rural College offer training on many of these practical tasks.