How to Ensure you are Covered by Insurance

Who is covered by SUSU insurance?

The Union’s insurance and public liability cover is in place to protect all its members. All students studying at the University of Southampton are automatically members of SUSU and so are covered by our insurance when taking part in student group activities provided they are registered as a current member of the student group. If your student group has any members who are not students here (this includes University staff), then they will need to become associate members of the Union in order to be fully covered by our insurance. Membership to the Union can be bought online here.

What are members covered for?

All AU Clubs and 'high' risk Societies (this include all PA societies and non-AU sports as well as certain societies that may engage in high risk activities*) have their activity covered by our Platinum Group Personal Accident Policy. You can find details of this policy and what it includes here.

For all other societies their activity is covered by our standard Group Personal Accident Policy. You can find details of this policy and what it includes here.

*If you are unsure if your society is covered by our high risk policy and need to know please contact suactivities@soton.ac.uk. Please note that certain high risk activity may require further insurance.

What about public liability?

Student groups should be aware that they may be liable for injury to third parties or damage to their property, arising out of and in the course of the activities of the Student Group. All affiliated student groups are covered for Public and Product Liability and also Employers Liability which also covers volunteers. For any claim, our insurance providers will want to see if you have an adequate risk assessment, and so it is the responsibility of the student group to ensure that they always have up to date risk assessments.

You can view our Public Liability Certificate here.

What are members not covered for?

Most student groups will find that SUSU insurance adequately covers their activities. It is, however, worth noting the following when considering if any additional insurance is needed. It is entirely the group’s responsibility to decide if their activities merit additional insurance.

• Non-risk Assessed Activity. All Student Group members are covered by personal injury insurance for risk assessed activity (uploaded and signed off on your Groups Hub) that is in line with its traditional aims and objectives.
• Trips abroad. The Union strongly recommends that student groups make it compulsory that all members buy travel insurance when making trips abroad. The Union does not provide any central travel insurance.
• Vehicle insurance. Any groups using the Union minibuses will be covered by SUSU vehicle insurance. Details of how to also use SUSU vehicle insurance when renting a minibus from an external company can also be found in the insurance manual. However, when using vehicles owned by your members, it is essential that these members have their own vehicle insurance. It is the responsibility of the student group to ensure that any vehicles used for group activity have adequate insurance cover. Where appropriate an additional risk assessment may be required and should be uploaded to your Groups Hub page (i.e. if transporting equipment attached to personal vehicles)
• High Risk Activities. Certain student groups who partake in particularly high-risk activity are advised by their national bodies to purchase additional insurance. Any activity taking place abroad is unlikely to be covered by Union insurance. If you think that this may apply to your student group, please approach the student activities department or email suactivities@soton.ac.uk.

The Union also reserves the right to require that a Student Group has a particular insurance if it feels that they are not adequately covered.

How do I make a claim?

If your student group needs to make a claim, you should first follow the SUSU incident procedure, which can be found here. The incident report will then be passed to our Head of Finance who will approach our insurance company. If you are unsure whether your claim has been logged please email suactivities@soton.ac.uk. 

If you need any further advice on insurance please do not hesitate to come and speak to one of our staff members in the Activities Office located on level 2 of building 42 (next to the Sabbatical Office). Alternatively, you can email us on suactivities@soton.ac.uk.