Purpose of this Guide

1. You Are Covered by Ramblers Insurance

The Ramblers provides £10 million civil liability insurance for all registered volunteers and members. This protects you if someone is accidentally injured or property is damaged during an official Ramblers activity. Who is covered:

• Registered Ramblers volunteers (including walk leaders and committee members)
• Ramblers members
• Non-members on up to three taster walks
• Children under 18 (with a responsible adult)
• Voluntary carers accompanying a covered person What is covered:
• Led walks
• Social events
• Committee meetings
• Publicity and recruitment events
• Campaigning activities

2. Personal Liability – What You Need to Know

Walk leaders and organisers are not personally liable for accidents that occur during properly run Ramblers activities. The insurance is designed to protect you as long as you act responsibly and within your volunteer role. You could only face personal liability if you:

• Act deliberately or recklessly

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• Ignore obvious safety risks
• Run an activity outside the Ramblers framework
• Lead an event that is not officially publicised or approved

3. Group Liability

Local groups like Chelmer & Blackwater Ramblers are part of the national Ramblers charity.

4. When Problems Can Arise

Issues typically occur only when:

• The activity is not an official Ramblers event
• A leader acts outside their role or behaves negligently
• A joint event has unclear insurance responsibility

5. Good Practice for Walk Leaders & Organisers

To ensure protection:

• Publicise all walks/events through official Ramblers channels
• Refer to the C&B generic risk assessment
• Check the route in advance where possible
• Ensure all volunteers are registered with the Ramblers
• Follow Ramblers guidance on safety and group management Date: February 2026 Author: Peter Jepson

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