Public Liability Insurance covers injury to members of the public and damage to their property should something happen during an event or session you're hosting/running, so it’s important to have it in place.

In some instances, if you received financial help to run your event, having public liability insurance may also be a condition of your funder. Taking out your own cover is usually the best option, however it's also worth exploring the following:

Does the venue already have it? - If the space you're using regularly holds public events, it may already have cover for the whole venue and everything that takes place there. Speak to them to confirm they have public liability insurance in place, that it extends to covering your group whilst hiring the venue, and the specific activities you’re undertaking.

Umbrella bodies - Becoming a member of an umbrella body relevant to your art/craft form can prove helpful in many ways. Some of them offer exclusive insurance packages which, even with the membership fee, can work out cheaper than buying your own. Check out our list of Umbrella Bodies, to see if joining one might suit you. 

Partner with another organisation - Could you run your event in partnership with a larger group/organisation that has its own public liability insurance? If so, confirm they are happy to do this, and ask them to provide written confirmation and a copy of their insurance policy.

Buying your own - If you do have to buy your own Public Liability Insurance, it’s worth shopping around. Online comparison sites can be very helpful (although not all insurance companies appear on there, so do some separate online searches, too), and there are a number of excellent insurance companies that specialise in community/charity organisations, so will have a greater understanding of your situation.