Business Interruption – FCA Test Case ruling

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For those Members with Business Interruption on their cover the following update applies following the decision made by the FCA.

We are reviewing and considering the decision made by the FCA in the test case judgement handed down this week.  The Mutual Managers are discussing both internally and with supporting insurers and are doing so as quickly as we can, but cannot make any further comment at this stage.

If you want to pursue a claim under the BI cover, please follow the usual procedure for claims but we cannot comment on the validity of any claim at this stage.

For further information about how to make a claim please visit the Claims page on our website 

COVID 19 – Latest Update

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Supporting our Members through COVID 19 – UPDATE 7

We hope that you are all keeping safe and well and managing to resume businesses and activities or looking to the future with plans to restart.

Just a gentle reminder to ensure you have the correct Public Liability cover in place before you resume activities, email the team on [email protected] if you have any queries.

Keeping everyone safe

We wanted to remind all AIM Members that whilst we have eased from the initial lockdown there are still some restrictions in place and everyone must ensure that they are adhering to current Government guidelines to keep staff, visitors, and participants safe.  Notably to maintain the social distancing required and the hygiene and sanitisation of equipment.  We believe that this will significantly reduce the spread of the infection and any possible suggestion that a person has caught the infection whilst on your site or doing your activity.  Unfortunately, we have all come across instances where people have breached the rules whilst out and about, whether that be in public spaces or whilst shopping.  The team here are available if you have any concerns or queries about Risk Assessments related to COVID 19.

Business Interruption

The FCA test case has concluded and we await the Court’s ruling.  This is expected in September and we will update Members as soon as we have any further news.

Zoom meetings

Thank you to all of you who have attended the Zoom calls.  These have proved popular and there are planned meetings for the following dates.

Wednesday 9th September 17.30 – Co-hosted with Sam Sutton of New Forest Activities

Wednesday 16th September 17.30 – General catch up

Please let Cath Watson know if you would like to attend on [email protected].  If you have any suggestions for other topics, then please do let us know.  The Mutual is here for its Members so please tell us what you would like!

Claims

We know that many of our Members have resumed activities either fully or partially, therefore, please ensure that you notify us promptly if any accidents or incidents occur.  Even where there does not appear to be any failure or negligence on your part, it is important that we can work with you to investigate and if possible head off any potential formal claim.  With the financial difficulties faced by so many, unfortunately this can give rise to spurious accidents and claims as a way of seeking money.  We want to protect you all against such issues, so please ask if you have any concerns or need any pointers for risk management.  Our Mutual Manager, Sophia, and Account Executive, Ralph would be happy to assist with this so please contact them at [email protected] or [email protected].

If you are adhering to Government guidelines then it is unlikely that you will receive a claim that a person contracted the infection whilst on your premises, or whilst taking part in your activity. For a claim to succeed, the person would need to demonstrate that they did not contract it anywhere else.  With pubs, shops and restaurants now open, we envisage that this will be more difficult to prove.  Please be aware that if you do receive a claim, specifically for COVID 19 related issues, the Mutual’s supporting insurers have excluded any cover from the Public Liability section of your cover.  This means that we would not deal with any claim under the Public Liability cover and you would need to defend or settle the claim yourself; the cover would not respond to provide payment of any fees or claim.  We have seen this being excluded throughout the insurance industry as a result of the pandemic.  Unfortunately we have been unable to change this exclusion for AIM Members.

If you do receive a complaint or allegation concerning COVID 19 related issues, please inform us in the usual way, using the contact information below.  Wherever possible, we will assist you with developing a suitable response, including providing you with a template response letter.

For all incidents and claims, please contact the Claims team as follows:

Phone: 01892 888 475

Email: [email protected]   

We hope that you are all keeping well and if you have any queries or concerns do get in touch.  Thank you for your support of AIM.

Please join our closed Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/798451153625523/

Or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/activitiesindustrymutual/

The AIM Team

 

COVID 19 – Coasteering Update

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An update on Coasteering 

The Govt Guidelines are clear…ish and we know that you are all trying to find ways to make them work for you.  We appreciate that Members are finding it frustrating only being able to take out small groups.  At present, albeit subject to change, in England, providers can only meet with up to 30 people for non-commercial reasons (funerals etc). Otherwise, you have to stick to the Government Guidelines so a maximum of 6 people (including the guide/instructor).  This leaves a group of 5 clients which can consist of a maximum of 2 lockdown groups.

The exception to this is that if there is a lockdown group that has self-isolated for more than 2 weeks previously, you can go to normal ratios.

In their guidance, the Government also says that if the NGB/Equivalent applies for an increase of group numbers, then they will consider it.  Surfing England have been successful in this, and last Thursday have increased their ratios to 1:8.  The NCC is also considering this and meeting to discuss so please keep an eye on their website for further information.

If you are in Wales, the position is slightly different and you can take up to 30 people out from different households!  Lucky Wales.

We hope this update assists.  As the situation develops we hope to provide you with more information.

Mountain Training – Hill Walking and Climbing Update

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https://www.mountain-training.org/latest-news/hill-walking-and-climbing-coronavirus-update—13-july?fbclid=IwAR3OmM6YLq7bWMJh6iPUEcw4b_2bxAwWdAEqkgOZhxVQx7JIhMtu4fm44HY

COVID 19 – Protective measures for out-of-school settings – Government Guidance

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As schools start to break up for the summer holidays we know many providers will be looking at what they can safely offer in terms of out of school clubs.  The latest Government advice provided on 10th July 2020 gives more information about the measures required to undertake activities. This guidance is for organisations or […]

Read more

COVID 19 – Recovery Planning for the Outdoor Sector

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Giving activity providers the opportunity to have their say on the challenges they face in the sector.  Colleagues from the Institute of Outdoor Learning have designed this survey to gather data to support the recovery of the sector as restrictions related to the pandemic are eased across the UK. Its findings will be shared with all Home Nation governments. Please ensure that you indicate if your services are predominantly influenced by any one Home Nation government.

Sector Survey II : Recovery Planning

Help us report to Home Nation governments the breadth and scale of the impact of Covid 19 is having on our sector.

Read more here https://bit.ly/3dZSdfG

The survey is designed to capture the challenges outdoor providers are facing in planning their way out of the crisis.

Survey Link – https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/OLCovidSurvey2

Closing date : 14th July 2020

 

COVID 19 – Support for Businesses – Government Guidance

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We wanted to provide the latest Government Guidance on support for businesses.  This update includes guidance for providers of outdoor facilities:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-providers-of-outdoor-facilities-on-the-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-phased-return-of-sport-and-recreation/guidance-for-the-public-on-the-phased-return-of-outdoor-sport-and-recreation?fbclid=IwAR1bZs9FLgvTWN9a5ee4EaX97pkxnNtP7verYrPX2gG3LewaVaxJ8HrNdXA

 

 

COVID 19 – Latest Update

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Supporting our Members through COVID 19 – UPDATE 6

We hope that you had an enjoyable bank holiday.  We all waited on Sunday evening for guidance from the Government on the next phase and hoped to have some clear messages for you all regarding next steps.

It is clear that as the current lockdown situation has not been eased, we think it is too premature to offer opinion or more detailed plans at this stage, needless to say that any business looking at reopening would need to adhere to Government guidelines to ensure they are complying for staff and implementing required measures regarding social distancing and hygiene.

As mentioned in the previous update it is sensible to review all risk assessments for each of your activities now and consider if these need to be revised or rewritten to allow for ongoing social distancing.  

Sport England

We have found the following link from Sport England which may be of interest to you regarding their Community Emergency Fund.  Please note the deadline of Thursday 15th May 2020 for new applications.

https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/coronavirus-funding-and-flexibility

Countryfile

Andy Robinson at Institute of Outdoor Learning appeared on BBC’s Countryfile at the weekend.  In case you missed it please view the link below which talked about the current impact on outdoor learning (8min 04 sec onwards).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000j4wr/countryfile-helens-home-patch

The North Face

North Face have launched an initiative called Explore Fund which aims to assist companies that fall into the following criteria.

  • Conservation groups and organisations​
  • Outdoor charities​
  • Outdoor industry associations​
  • Organizations or companies involved in the following sports/ activities:​ camping, environmental education, hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, indoor rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, trail running, alpinism​

Applications can be made until 22nd May 2020

https://www.thenorthface.co.uk/about-us/explore-fund.html

Please join our closed Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/798451153625523/

Or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/activitiesindustrymutual/

 

 

COVID 19 – Latest Update

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Supporting our Members through COVID 19 – UPDATE 5

We hope that you are keeping safe and well and that we may soon be at the end of the current lockdown.  We await the further information from the Government regarding any easings they consider can be brought in, and we will update you as soon as we have this.  We thought might be useful to consider how the future might look, and what you can be doing in anticipation of reopening, as we all start to plan for getting back to normal (or whatever the new normal might look like!)

  • Reopening: this will of course depend on any easing of the lockdown, but you could start to plan now for how you might be able to carry out some or all of your activities taking into account the potential need for social distancing
  • Risk assessments: it is sensible to review all your risk assessments for each of your activities now, as well as any pertaining to your staff, and consider if these need to be revised or rewritten to allow for ongoing social distancing. Consider specific Covid-19 measures and if separate specific risk assessments are required.
  • PPE: will we need to wear it? We do not as yet know, but would you be able to carry out your activities if this is a requirement?
  • Economics: can you afford to operate and provide the activities even with social distancing requirements? Or is it better to wait until you can resume fully?

We appreciate that we do not have the answers to these questions now, and much will depend on the Government advice and next steps on emerging from lockdown which we hope we will obtain this weekend.  AIM is here to support you, and we will keep you updated and suggest ways on how best you can seek to resume your normal business activities.

Please join our closed Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/798451153625523/

Or follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/activitiesindustrymutual/