The world of insurance is viewed as being such a mercenary and corporate one that people hardly ever associate it with the more altruistic side of society such as charities, community groups, and such. The fact is that just about all kinds of community groups need insurance, and for good reasons that we’ll explore further below. The good news is that you can choose an ethical insurer that’s committed to supporting and giving back to Australian community.
So what kinds of community groups are we talking about? Why exactly do they need and benefit from insurance?
Church and Faith Groups
Those running churches may think they’re well covered when it comes to insurance by insuring their buildings and other property assets, but it’s not the church building itself — or other faith community center, for instance — but rather the things that go on in and around it. For example, church and faith groups are well known for organising day trips, bible study camps, special retreats and more, for all members of the congregation.
Even those that don’t organise excursions have to ensure that they have sufficient coverage for the myriad activities that are often hosted within these churches and religious centres: children’s playgrounds, activity days, old folks’ bingo, bring and buy sales, bake sales, and so the list goes on and on. These events are well attended, and unfortunately accidents can and will happen.
The Care Sector
The care sector is so crucial as there always seems to be no end to the number of people who are in need of some level of care, be they our children, the elderly, the disabled, military veterans and others. Care depends so much on altruistic hearts, it’s difficult to factor mean-old corporate insurance into the picture, but it is needed.
First and foremost, there’s risk to both those in care and those who take care of them. It’s not unknown, for instance, for elderly sufferers of dementia to become violent or hostile towards carers, perhaps because they don’t recognise them for a moment, or because their illness makes them irrational and lose control. Other risks include fire, accidental damage of property, financial loss and more.
Some might assume that care is always carried out by professional medical organisations with their own insurance, but it’s not the case. A lot of care is carried out by smaller, privately run community organisations, volunteer groups and others who offer their time and effort to help. It’s allowed, and very helpful since the majority of care doesn’t require medical expertise, but it brings with it other risks.
Other Community-Based Groups
Communities across Australia and indeed all around the world are filled with examples of small clubs and other not-for-profit organisations. Sports clubs are a common example, of course, with many in Australia enjoying games of tennis, badminton, squash and other games. Any of these can lead to slips, falls, trips and injuries, of course, which is why insurance really matters. Even gentler games like table tennis and lawn bowling come with their own risks!
Not-for-profit organizations that run community events like block parties, car boot sales and others will always feel like their do-gooding work matters more than any practical financial consideration, but when it comes to insurance this isn’t true. The sad reality is that liability doesn’t disappear just because you’re doing something noble. Besides risks to attendees of community group events, there’s also risk of property damage, exposure to fraud and many other areas. Insurance coverage should never be far away from anything a community group is doing, no matter how beneficial and respectable
