Affiliation and Insurance
Club Affiliation and Insurance
The Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs (UFRC) invites all clubs to re-affiliate for 2026, covering the period 1st January – 31st December 2026. This action should be completed by all clubs before the 31st December 2025. If you are unable to action this before the end of December please email Kerry admin@ulsterrambling.com to advise of when this action can be completed.
Re-affiliation Fee: £5 per person, inclusive of third-party insurance, payable as a single payment. Details of the UFRC Insurance Policy can be found below.
In 2026 UFRC have moved the affiliation process online and are using Survey Monkey as the method of collecting club information: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MVDC9NT
UFRC Insurance Policy for Clubs
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The policy is purchased and held by the Ulster Federation of Rambling Clubs (UFRC). Please note this policy does not cover those under the age of 18 walking unaccompanied.
2.0 COVER PROVIDED UNDER THE POLICY
The policy provides cover of up to £5,000,000 for any one incident relating to public liability to Third Parties – this cover extends to members of clubs which are affiliated to UFRC, and which have not opted out of the UFRC insurance scheme, for claims brought by others (individual members, members of the public and the owners of land which a club might happen to be traversing) for both Bodily Injury and Loss/Damage to Property.
The policy provides cover for activities which would fall within the “normal scope of a rambling club”, so obviously general hillwalking would be covered but climbing and mountaineering would not be.
The policy provides cover for activities in both the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.
The policy provides ‘member to member’ liability cover. This allows for one member inadvertently causing injury and/or loss to another member – for example, a member accidently standing on someone else’s foot. Acts which are either criminal or deliberately malicious are not covered.
The policy provides cover for a club leader should a walker in his/her party make a claim against the leader for negligence. An example might be, where a walker suffered an injury because the leader took the party along a dangerous path.
Only members whom the club has insured will be covered. However, a club may allow a new walking member up to two “free” walks before joining the club – but after this the person must be added to the UFRC scheme to ensure insurance cover.
It is recognised that many walking clubs do not have club premises and that rooms may be hired for club meetings, such as AGMs. The policy includes public liability cover for these “members only” club meetings. Should the owner request written proof of cover, please contact the UFRC at admin@ulsterrambling.com
Please note that the policy should not be considered as a substitute for a personal injury policy which, if needed, should be sourced separately by the individual. Every walker must accept the risks associated with the activity, and commonly sustained injuries and accidents in the hills are unlikely to be insured under this policy.
3.0 POLICY CONDITIONS
3.1 Walk Leaders
It is the responsibility of each club to ensure that its walks leaders have the correct level of knowledge and experience appropriate to the grade of walk which they are leading. This is to ensure the safety of participants and respect for private property and the environment.
Club officials must make a judgement on whether walk leaders have the required levels of experience and skills when producing walk programmes.
UFRC recommends that:
- Before being considered ready to act as a group leader, walkers shall normally have had at least three years’ experience participating in walks at the grade which they would propose to lead.
- Leaders must be able to demonstrate an appropriate level of leadership skills. These skills can be acquired within a club under the instruction and supervision of existing experienced leaders, supplemented by attendance at relevant training courses.
3.2 Walk Safety Management
The Policy requires that individual clubs take reasonable precautions during activities. For example:
- Each club walk must have a leader.
- Having at least one person in the walking group with a knowledge of First Aid.
- Letting a non-walking member know the proposed walk location and route so that in the event of an entire club going missing, someone knows to raise the alarm and give the rescue authorities an approximate location.
- Having a route planned, along with a note of known escape/alternative safe routes.
- Respecting landowner’s property, including closing farm gates.
NB: This list is not exhaustive. It is a guide to what the Insurer is likely to deem ‘reasonable precautions’ to be undertaken by a responsible club on a walk. What is reasonable will be determined on an individual basis, including all the factors at the time such as the numbers walking, weather, club guidance and practices.
Guidance on pre-walk risk assessments is available on the UFRC website.
4.0 REPORTING AN INCIDENT
An “incident” is considered to be an event which results in bodily injury or property damage, neither expected or intended from the standpoint of the Insured, and which may give rise to a claim under the policy.
Incidents which may result in a claim must be notified by a club to the UFRC immediately, followed by a full report in writing to the UFRC as soon as possible. The report should include the club name, date and location of the incident and a short description of what happened, who was involved and the consequences (personal injury or property damage). UFRC may request further information before deciding to forward to the insurer.
In the event of a claim arising from a Third Party, do not admit liability but contact the UFRC, forwarding copies of any correspondence received.
Notifications, reports or copies of correspondence relating to an incident or potential claim should be sent to UFRC via the admin@ulsterrambling.com email address, as should enquiries about any aspect of insurance cover.
5.0 POLICY DETAILS FOR 2026
Provider: Sportscover
Policy No: PLON99/0124155
Cover period: 1/01/2026 to 31/12/2026
Public & Products Liability: Limit of Indemnity £5m any one occurrence.
Issue date: 11/03/2026