Insurance for individual members
From 1 January 2024, Standard (Practitioner) and Joint (Practitioner) members are covered, with certain exceptions, within the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s Public Liability Insurance.
Subject to terms and conditions, other individual memberships are entitled to cover up until this date.
Read more: Rationalising benefits, and increasing charitable income
If you are currently an Individual or Joint member and would like to request PLI cover in 2024, please email
Insurance for Group members
Groups are covered, with certain exceptions, within the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s Public Liability Insurance.
All members’ enquiries about Public Liability Insurance should be directed to Bryan James:
Insurance Certificate
(‘To whom it may concern’)
for the 12 months from 31 December 2022
Q&As: PLI changes on 1 January 2024
Q: Why have you changed eligibility for PLI?
A: 1. To save costs, meaning that we only pay for PLI cover for those members who actually need it. 2. To increase our charitable income, as from 2024 non-PLI personal membership will become eligible for Gift Aid claims. Read more: Rationalising benefits, and increasing charitable income
Q: I have Standard membership. Will I continue to be covered?
A: Yes, but you need to tell us that you require Standard (Practitioner) membership. Standard (Supporter) membership, which is the default membership package, does not include PLI cover. There is no difference in cost between these two strands, and both are available as either Individual or Joint membership.
Q: I have Senior membership. Will I continue to be covered?
A: No. You will need to convert to Standard (Practitioner) membership. The extra cost to upgrade is still exceptionally good value compared with the price of PLI on the open market.
Q: I have Life membership. Will I continue to be covered?
A: Yes, all Life members as at 31 December 2023 continue to be covered into 2024 and beyond.
Q: What are your longer-term plans for Public Liability Insurance?
A: Despite ever-increasing costs we are determined to continue offering PLI as a benefit for Group and Standard (Practitioner) memberships for the long-term. We know how important it is for the many members who present valued folk activities in their communities, and more widely.
Other Common Q&As
Q: Am I covered when my workshop for 20 people is part of a bigger festival/event which has an attendance of considerably over 500?
A: Yes, the 500 limit applies to the people who are actively attending your own activities.
Q: You say that we are covered for ‘any folk activity’, but what are these?
A: The English Folk Dance and Song Society’s aims are to promote folk music, dance and song. This includes, for example, solo or ensemble music performance, for entertainment or enlightenment; social or display dancing; dance calling; solo or ensemble singing; or educational work concerning any of these activities. But this is not an exhaustive list.
Q: Does the folk activity have to be English?
A: No, your traditional or folk activities can originate from anywhere around the world.
Q: We are a folk band and we charge a fee for our services. Are we covered?
A: Yes! As long as you never have an audience of more than 500 people, meaning that your band is not fully commercial.
Q: I am a folk caller/educator/musician/etc and I charge a fee. Am I covered now?
A: Yes! As long as you never have an audience of more than 500 people.
Q: We distribute ‘bring and share’ food. Am I covered?
A: Yes!
Q: Is further documentation or a policy schedule available?
A: See the download links above on this page (efdss.org/insurance).
Q: How long will my policy last?
- Please note that your insurance cover runs for twelve months from the day of your membership purchase.
- Each year at EFDSS we take out our own policy, which covers all sorts of things such as activities in Cecil Sharp House and our historical collections. We are also able to offer this insurance as a benefit to our members.
- Whilst our own certificate is renewed each year and runs from January to December, your qualifying activities are covered for twelve months from whenever you join or renew. You will simply receive a new insurance certificate at the end of the calendar year when we renew our own, which will continue to cover you until you lapse. As we re-negotiate this policy each year, insurance from 1 January each year is not guaranteed; however it is expected to be equivalent, barring exceptional unforeseen circumstances.
Q: What if I have read the guidance and am still unsure – can I speak to someone?
A: Yes, contact Bryan James:
