The Willows holds current public liability insurance. This cover is in place for all sessions delivered at Oakridge, Buddenfield Lane, Shedfield, Hampshire, SO32 2HP, and applies to all young people, families, referring professionals, volunteers, and visitors attending the site in connection with The Willows.

Proof of insurance is available on request. Schools, local authorities, and other referring organisations are welcome to request a copy of the certificate as part of their due diligence process.

Public liability insurance protects against claims made by members of the public — including young people, parents, carers, and visitors — who suffer injury, illness, or property damage as a result of the activities or negligence of The Willows.

In plain terms: if someone is injured or their property is damaged while on site or during a session, and The Willows is found to be at fault, public liability insurance covers the legal costs and any compensation that may be awarded.

This is distinct from personal accident insurance (which covers the individual regardless of fault) and employers' liability insurance (which covers employees). Public liability insurance is specifically about The Willows' legal responsibility to the people who come into contact with the provision.

The Willows' public liability insurance covers:

• Bodily injury to a young person, parent, carer, visitor, or member of the public arising from the activities of The Willows.
• Damage to the property of a young person, parent, carer, or visitor caused by the activities of The Willows.
• Legal costs associated with defending a claim.
• Compensation awarded as a result of a successful claim.

Cover applies to all activities that form part of a session at The Willows, including work with horses and other animals, outdoor activities, and any other activities delivered as part of the provision.

Public liability insurance does not cover every eventuality. It does not cover:

• Injuries or damage that result from a young person's own actions where The Willows is not at fault.
• Incidents that occur outside of sessions or activities connected with The Willows.
• Personal belongings brought onto site by young people, families, or visitors — parents and carers are advised not to send young people with valuable items.
• Any activity that falls outside the scope of the provision as described in the referral and placement agreement.

Families and schools are encouraged to ensure that young people have their own personal accident cover in place where appropriate, particularly if the young person has a condition that increases their risk of injury.

Many schools and local authorities require evidence of public liability insurance as part of their approval process for external providers. The Willows understands this requirement and is happy to provide documentation to support any commissioning or due diligence process.

Our insurance cover is reviewed and renewed annually. Referring organisations will be notified if there is any change to our insurance status that may affect their approval of The Willows as a provider.

Insurance is one part of how The Willows manages risk — but it is not a substitute for good practice. Our primary commitment is to prevent accidents and incidents from happening in the first place through thorough risk assessment, careful session planning, appropriate supervision, and a culture of safety at all times.

Our full suite of policies — including the Risk Assessment Policy, Health & Safety Policy, First Aid Policy, and Accident Reporting Policy — sets out in detail how we work to keep everyone on site safe. These policies are available on our website and on request.

To request a copy of The Willows' current public liability insurance certificate, please contact Nicola Bevan directly:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 07939 630 106

Requests will be responded to within two working days.

This statement will be reviewed annually, in line with the renewal of The Willows' insurance cover. The policy owner is Nicola Bevan.