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Trustee indemnity insurance
Specialist trustee indemnity insurance tailored to you from £3 a month.*
Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds
24hr legal advice helpline included
No hidden fees or cancellations
Trustee indemnity insurance (also known as trustee liability insurance) can cover your legal fees, expenses and any damages awarded against you following an allegation of negligence.
Regardless of how well intentioned your decisions as a trustee may be, claims or allegations of negligence could be made against you during (or after) your time as a charity trustee. Such allegations could cost thousands of pounds in legal fees, expenses and compensation – and without trustees indemnity insurance, you may be liable to pay them out of your own pocket.
Arranging the right trustee indemnity insurance is a worthwhile consideration, however it can be a complicated process. We have insurance experts who can answer any questions you may have about trustee insurance and explain what it can cover. Alternatively, you could get a trustee indemnity insurance quote now or call us today.
Cover at a glance:
- Cover for legal costs and damages from trustee decisions
- Protection against claims of mismanagement or breach of duty
- Helps safeguard personal assets of trustees
- Suitable for charities, CICs, clubs and associations
What is trustee indemnity insurance?
Trustee indemnity insurance is designed to protect trustees and officers of charities, clubs, and not-for-profit organisations against potential claims that may arise from decisions or actions taken in their role. Trustees carry significant responsibilities, and if they are accused of breaching their duties, such as mismanaging funds or failing to comply with regulations, they could face legal action.
This form of insurance could help cover the associated legals costs. By ensuring you have the appropriate level of trustee indemnity insurance in place, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re protected against unexpected claims.
At Markel Direct, our specialist trustee indemnity insurance can cover your legal fees, expenses and any damages awarded against you following an allegation of professional negligence – giving you the peace of mind that your personal wealth won’t be at risk if a claim is brought against you.
Our insurance for trustees covers:
- Your legal liability as a governor, director, council member, officer or trustee of the organisation
- The defence of any legal action seeking your disqualification as a director
- Any investigations you are requested to attend
- Extradition proceedings (including appeals)
Why choose Markel Direct for trustee indemnity insurance?
Here are some of the reasons why you can trust us as your trustee indemnity insurance provider:
Trustee indemnity insurance cover starting at
£3.00 per month
*Trustee liability insurance cost based on a community group requiring £500,000 of professional indemnity and trustees liability insurance.
Why do I need trustee indemnity insurance?
Trustee indemnity insurance can be an important safeguard as trustees can be held personally liable for decisions made while carrying out their duties, even when acting honestly and in the best interests of the organisation. Allegations such as mismanagement of funds, failure to comply with regulations or breach of trust can lead to legal investigations or claims.
Trustee indemnity insurance can help to protect trustees by covering legal defence costs, expenses and any damages awarded following allegations of wrongdoing or negligence. It can also provide reassurance that their personal finances are protected if a claim is brought against a trustee in connection with their role. Securing this cover reflects good governance, helping organisations to attract and retain trustees by giving them confidence they will be protected whilst carrying out their responsibilities.
How it works
Choose the cover you require
Get a quote you need in minutes
Buy online or contact one of our advisors
What does trustee indemnity insurance cover?
Trustee indemnity insurance claims can be wide-ranging, but some examples are given below of what can be covered and what is not covered:
What is covered
What is not covered
How much trustee indemnity insurance do I need?
The amount of trustee indemnity insurance required is typically enough to ensure your organisation and its trustees are protected against the risks you may face. The right level of cover can depend on the size of your organisation, the decisions trustees are responsible for, and the potential financial impact if something goes wrong.
Most organisations choose a limit that reflects their annual income, the value of any assets they manage, and how complex their activities are. A lower limit may be required for smaller charities or community groups – larger organisations, or those handling significant funds or sensitive services, often need higher protection to match their exposure.
Example policy documents
If you have an existing policy with us, please sign in to view your policy documents.
Below you will find examples of the documents provided.
Indicative quotes
Education or training group
- Community group
- 0 volunteers
- £125,000 turnover
- Luton
- (£269.92/yr)
- £26.99/mo
- Trustee limit £250,000
- Public liability £5m
- Employers' liability £10m
- Cyber
Community hall
- Community group
- 10 volunteers
- £70,000 turnover
- Bristol
- (£179.20/yr)
- £17.92/mo
- Trustee limit £250,000
- Public liability £5m
- Employers' liability £10m
- Cyber
Counselling support group
- Community group
- 10 volunteers
- £103,000 turnover
- Hereford
- (£285.60/yr)
- £28.56/mo
- Trustee limit £250,000
- Public liability £5m
- Employers' liability £10m
- Cyber
*Final price payable is subject to underwriting criteria and acceptance. AI images are used on this website to depict example customer types. Any resemblance to an actual person is purely coincidental.
How much does trustee indemnity insurance cost?
At Markel Direct, we offer trustee indemnity insurance from £3 a month for £500,000 worth of professional indemnity and trustees liability cover*. When it comes to insurance, the cost varies from business to business depending on;
- The size of your organisation
- The level of cover you choose
- The types of projects you work on and the equipment you use.
To get a clearer idea of how much you’ll pay, simply get a quote online.
Ready to build your quote?
Our simple quote process will help you to find the right business insurance for your individual needs.
[No text in field]*Trustee liability insurance cost based on a community group requiring £500,000 of professional indemnity and trustees liability insurance.
More specialist cover
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Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance covers the cost of defending your business (including damages awarded against you if unsuccessful) if someone is injured, or their property damaged, which arises from you going about your business or supplying products. The legal fees alone could cost your business thousands of pounds. If you regularly visit client premises as part of your consulting activities, you may need this cover. Limits range from £1m to £5m.
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Professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity insurance covers the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice) and any compensation or damages subsequently awarded against you. This is essential insurance if you provide advice, designs or services to your client. Cover is available with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m.
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Employer's liability insurance
Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement if your business has employees. It covers your business against claims for injury or illness suffered by employees arising from their employment. If you employ staff, even on a part time basis, you almost certainly need this cover. Cover for £10m.
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Office insurance
Office insurance covers your office buildings, office contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises. You can also choose to cover your business equipment (such as laptops and mobile phones) on a worldwide basis, and insure your business against loss of income and/or additional trading expenses following events such as damage to your property.
Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
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Why is trustee indemnity insurance important?
Obtaining the appropriate level of trustee indemnity insurance is a worthwhile consideration, because it could protect trustees from personal financial strain if they are accused of wrongdoing in their role.
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Do I need trustee indemnity insurance?
It's a little known fact that trustees can be held personally accountable for wrongful actions and decisions during their tenure at a charity - even if the intent was good.
It's well known that the Charity Commission has taken a hard stance on mismanagement of charities in recent years, and the legal costs involved with defending an allegation of wrongdoing or an investigation can be eye wateringly high. Every trustee should give serious consideration to trustee indemnity insurance - without it, should a claim be brought against the trustee, they may have to fund their defence out of their own personal wealth.
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Can we get insurance if we’re not a registered club?
Yes – you don’t need to be a registered charity to get cover for your group. Many of our clients are small charities or community organisations that are new or are too small to be a registered charity.
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What limit of cover should I choose?
Many clients and industry bodies with regulatory requirements will require you to have a minimum level of cover for you to undertake a contract, so it's worth checking this before you arrange cover. If you're unsure, give some thought to a worst-case scenario and the likely costs involved in putting your mistake right. We offer a range of limits on insurance, so you're sure to find the right cover for your business.
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Why should I insure with Markel?
Established over 25 years ago, we've gained an expert understanding of the risks facing small charities and community groups, and our policies are specially designed to protect you.
We actively support the third sector. Since 2008, we have donated more than £150,000 to our supported charity, Carers Trust, and have supported numerous charity awards including the Third Sector Excellence Awards and Britain's Best Volunteer in partnership with Small Charities Coalition.
We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s and London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of $2.4bn in 2023.
Still not sure? Call us on 0800 640 6604 – one of our insurance experts will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and talk you through the insurance we offer so you can choose the right cover for your charity or group. Alternatively, get a quote now and call us later if anything needs clarifying.
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We don't have a regular meeting place - can you insure us?
Yes. We cover hundreds of small charities, community groups and clubs that don't have a regular meeting place and instead rotate between different venues, such as members' homes, village halls and community centres.
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How are Markel Direct regulated?
Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Find out more on the Financial Services Register.
We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s of London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of £2.4bn in 2023.
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