IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR CLUBS AND COACHES – INSURANCE & ACCIDENTS

A reminder that combined liability insurance for clubs and coaches have eligibility criteria and there are very limited circumstances that clubs can offer fencing activities to non members. 

Following a recent investigation into accidents in fencing this is a reminder to club officers (eg committee members, welfare officers) and club coaches of the eligibility requirements for valid insurance cover:

1. Club Membership – The Club must be a valid member of BF. Club Membership Information can be found here: Club Membership
2. Club Officials – All Club Officials undertaking club duties (e.g. club secretary, president, coach, committee member, welfare officer) must be individual members of BF – supporter will suffice. Information on membership types can be found here: Membership Types
3. Individual Membership – All fencers in the club must be members of British Fencing. There are only very limited circumstances in which a club can offer services to non members (eg temporary international visitors with membership of their respective country’s federation, licensed ‘come and try’ events, contact events@britishfencing.com for more information.
4. Welfare Officers – Clubs which offer fencing activities to members of the public must have at least one welfare officer who is listed on the BF welfare office register. If they do not have a welfare officer there must be in place a  welfare officer training and recruitment plan agreed with BF’s Lead Safeguarding Officer which demonstrates their route to compliance.
5. Coaches – All Club coaches must be listed on the BF Coach Register and operate within their qualification level. Club Members supporting a registered coach in coaching duties on an ad-hoc and unpaid basis are covered
6. Safety – BF Safety guidelines must be followed.
7. Risk Assessment – this must exist (Template can be found here: Resources for Clubs) and regularly reviewed for each venue where the club operates. It is recommended that these are uploaded to the Sport80 profile.
8. Events/Competitions – Where clubs are holding events for people that are not members of the club, these events must be licensed appropriated. This includes come and try events for non members. (More information on event licensing can be found here: Event Licensing – An Introduction)
9. Policies and Procedures – the club must adhere to the BF policies and Procedures including but not limited to the Equality Policy, Anti-Doping Policy.
10. Ad-hoc, unpaid volunteers – If a club has a fencer or parent who, on an ad-hoc basis volunteers at a club it is not necessary to be on a British Fencing workforce register. The club is expected to ensure that the task that they permit the volunteer is reasonable and appropriate to their skills, qualifications and any mandatory checks including DBS or HC equivalent must be performed.  Alongside this the volunteer must receive adequate training (if applicable) prior to engaging in any activities.  The volunteer must be a British Fencing member.

Important Note – The BF insurance policy is designed for not for profit committee run clubs, constituted clubs, clubs that have been registered as CASC status, or community group clubs (that don’t necessarily have a constitution).  If you are a club set up as a limited company for commercial profit please contact marshsport@marsh.com to discuss your situation and to check cover.

INSURANCE – ELIGIBILITY

INSURANCE – POLICIES & GUIDELINES

In the event of an accident – All accidents must be recorded (BF Accident and Injury form). It may affect your claim if you do not report an accident when it happens.

Club administrators and event organisers are able to check memberships via their BF membership account. Further information can be found here: CLUB & EVENT ADMINISTRATOR MEMBERSHIP CHECKER

Policy Schedules valid from 1st May 2025 are now available to members, please login to download them.

If you have any questions about this news post, please contact membershipqueries@britishfencing.com.

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