Insurances

Insurance for the group

As a group, you are insured for…

Public liability insurance (PL)

Damage to property or bodily injury caused to third parties as a result of a fault by the group is covered. If the group is held liable for damage caused by a volunteer while carrying out activities on behalf of the group, the insurance provides the legally required cover as set out in volunteer legislation.

Specific types of claims are also covered.

• Claims relating to nuisance between neighbours are included.
  
• Claims for environmental damage are covered, provided this results from an unforeseen event, in other words accidental pollution.
  
• Claims for food poisoning are covered. If food or drinks served during an event cause harm to the health of those present, the group is insured for this.

Entrusted goods

Claims for damage to movable and immovable property rented from third parties or made available to the group for use or on loan are covered. Indirect damage, such as loss of income, as well as damage to artworks, vehicles, and animals, is excluded. Damage to the group’s own property used during an activity is not covered, as liability insurance does not cover damage to your own possessions.

Entrusted buildings

Claims for damage caused by fire, explosion, smoke or water to buildings and their contents are covered, as long as the buildings do not belong to the group and are only used occasionally. A rehearsal space used regularly, or a venue where performances are frequently organised, is not eligible. In those cases, the group must take out its own fire insurance as tenant of the premises, possibly supplemented with coverage for the association’s stored belongings.

Legal assistance

The insurance protects the interests of the insured group, covering fees and costs to recover damages and/or providing defence if criminal proceedings arise. Contractual disputes (such as disagreements about rental prices for hired equipment) are not covered.

Professional liability for travel mediation

If the group organises a trip or transport for its members and something goes wrong for which the group is held liable, coverage is provided.

Temporary insurance

It sometimes happens that non‑members occasionally help with a production. As an organising group, you may want to offer these people the same protection as fully affiliated members. This is what the temporary insurance is for.

For €5, you can insure a collaborator for up to 10 non‑consecutive days within one theatre season. They do not become an OPENDOEK member, but they are insured in the same way as fully affiliated members.

(A collaborator who participates for more than 10 days should be registered as an OPENDOEK member.)

How to insure? Provide the first name, surname, address, date of birth, and the days for which the insurance should apply to OPENDOEK’s membership administration as soon as possible.

Important: As with a regular member, the insurance company can only intervene if all details are known and the premium has been paid. Be proactive: make sure everything is arranged well before the day you want the collaborators to be insured, and take into account several days of administrative processing time for registering the data, sending the invoice, and completing the payment.

Exclusions

The insurance offered is extensive and tailored to the needs of association life. However, it only applies when acting as a “prudent and reasonable person”. This means that each type of coverage includes exceptions, as is standard in any insurance policy. Situations involving intoxication, acts of violence, malicious damage, failure to take basic precautions, the use of firearms or explosives, or the failure to take out legally required insurance are typical examples in which the insurer may declare a claim inadmissible.

In the context of civil liability, we emphasise once again that family members can never be considered third parties to one another. Therefore, no compensation can ever be paid for damage occurring between family members.

Directors’ liability

Through OPENDOEK, affiliated non‑profits and their members are insured for civil liability, legal assistance and personal accidents during activities. Directors’ liability is not included.

It is important for a non‑profit and its board members to consider taking out such a policy. This insurance protects the insured persons (the board members of the non‑profit) and their private assets against the financial consequences of a liability claim brought against them.

As a board member, you are expected to be aware of all legal regulations relevant to the organisation’s activities. This is not easy in a world where regulations change quickly and become increasingly complex. Not being aware of a legal requirement is considered an error made by the board member. If the non‑profit fails to comply with a legal regulation and this results in damage to third parties, the injured party may hold both the organisation and its board members liable. For example: a victim is injured because fire‑safety regulations were not in order at a location project. Such a case is covered under a directors’ liability policy.

What is covered? There are two types of coverage:

1, Civil liability

• The civil liability of the directors arising from the exercise of their mandate for the policyholder (the non‑profit itself).
• The civil liability of the policyholder (the non‑profit) when it is held liable for an error committed by one of its directors.

2. Legal assistance

Legal assistance ensures that the interests of the insured (the non‑profit and its board members) are protected as soon as a claim is brought against them, they suffer damage, or they are placed under suspicion in the context of criminal proceedings.

A directors’ liability policy is not expensive. For most non‑profits, the annual premium is €219.

Interested? Complete the questionnaire and email it, together with the requested information under point 1, to filip.van.hoof@verz.kbc.be.

You can also contact Filip with any questions.