MINUTES OF THE 37th MANAGEMENT MEETING
7TH SEPTEMBER 2025
Present: Glen Fiddy (President) (GF). Rev Clive thrower (CT). Chris Idle (CI), Steve Harpham (SH), Richard Taylor (RT), Elizabeth Heaton (EPH), Mike Lawton (ML) by Zoom, Andrew Hall (AEH), John Thorpe (JT) and Jane Boden (JEB).
| 1. Apologies for absence | There were none. |
| 2. Minutes of the last meeting | The minutes of the meeting held on 6th July 2005 having been previously circulated were taken as read. |
| 3. Matters Arising | a. Insurance – see Appendix one below. A documenthas been prepared showing comparisons. We have
Chubb insurance; Parishes use Parish plus. It was pointed out that ‘our’ Parishes may only cover us in ‘our’ Parish; having Chubb we are covered outside our own Parish. It was agreed that we continue with Chubb. The website will be updated. |
| b. Website – A meeting will be held to discuss the website. | |
| c. Scouting for bells – a syllabus is being completed, and the Education Committee will coordinate with Andrea Haynes (CCCBR) to ensure we have similar aims.A badge has already been designed. | |
| d. Triennial review of Districts – This needs to be done. Suggested that members of all four districts, not on the MG be invited to comment. | |
| 4. Safeguarding | The Safeguarding Officer has replied to the invitation to the CCCBR Safeguarding hub.It has been clarified that the Management Group had accepted but not endorsed the Derby Diocesan’s safeguarding policy. “A Safer Recruitment” module has been added to the training. This module deals with modern slavery as well as safe recruitment. |
| 5. Wombel | The Wombel was to be loaned to Nottingham University in September – there was a query regarding the insurance cover which would be required. Derby Cathedral are going to use it for a Scout Group visit in October. Winchester & Portsmouth Association want to borrow for about 6 months as they were considering obtaining one. It was agreed that an initial 3 months period could be agreed, in case it was required, but a rolling extension for 3 months was probably possible. |
| 6. 80th Anniversary celebrations | It has been agreed that we should use this as a legacy issue; whether it is advancement in ¼ peal or peal ringing’ teaching, handling etc. Aspirational goals to be set and once achieved recorded in a book. All ¼ peals, performances, or peals which involved a 1st being rung during the year should be recorded on Bellboard, with a special titled page, and If appropriate in the local media etc. Any ideas please pass to Elizabeth Heaton. A letter will be sent out to all members in due course. |
| 7. Review of the Association rules and Objectives | A subcommittee is currently reviewing these and will report back to the MG. |
| 8. Draft agenda of October Meeting | This was accepted with minor amendments to wording. The ringing arrangements needed to be finalised, but a Judge has been booked. It was agreed that the Subscription Rate for 2026 would remain unaltered. Transfer of funds from the general fund to the Bell Repair Fund or REF – It was agreed that £5,000 be transferred from the General Fund to the BRF. If the BRF agreed any grants from REF over £1,000 the Management Group would need to approve this, however, this may be obtained by email. Grants less than £1,000 were to be notified to the Management Group by the BRF for information only. |
| 9. AOB | We have received a request for dates for the Man Gp meetings to be put on the website – this had been done for tonight’s meeting. Notes of the previous meeting would be on the website at least 2 weeks before the next meeting. |
| 10. Date of next meeting | Sunday 30 November 2025. |
Appendix One – Insurance
DDA – Personal Accident Insurance
The DDA has a Travel and Personal Accident policy with Chubb.
A member had asked if we need to provide this cover and has claimed that individual churches’ insurance covers their ringers for personal accident insurance and that the DDA cover is unnecessary
The table below compares cover provided by:
- Chubb,
- Ecclesiastical Insurance’s Parish Plus policy (used by most churches) and
- Cover offered by Unity Insurance (our general insurers and underwritten by Ecclesiastical Insurance) when we renewed policies for 2025.
I don’t have all premium details for comparison.
| Chubb | Parish Plus | Unity | |
| Age covered – full cover | 18-75 | 16-80 | 16-65 |
| Death | £20,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Permanent Total Disablement | £20,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Death | £20,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Permanent Disabling Injuries* | £20,000 | £10,000 | £10,000 |
| Temporary Total Disablement | £100 per week | £100 per week | ? |
| Benefit Period | 104 weeks | 104 weeks | 104 weeks |
| Deferment Period | 7 days | ? | ? |
- Defined as loss of sight, one or more limbs, speech or hearing
Notes on specific policies
Chubb policy
There is no age limit for the Personal Accident and Travel policy for members but there is a limitation of certain benefits for members aged over 75. Details from the policy are:
Limited Benefits over age 75
If a person is aged 75 or over the date of sustaining Bodily Injury, cover applies only in respect death or Permanent Disabling Injuries (but only items 1 or 2 in the Scale of Injuries) and is limited to a maximum of GBP150,000 per Insured Person
i.e. Items 3-7 below are not covered and the maximum DDA cover is £20,000.
Cost per member in 2025 was £1.21 per member.
Ecclesiastical Parish Plus policy
Cover for 3–15-year-olds is half that of adults
Personal Accident covers accidental injury to, or death of, inter alia:
- Your employees and volunteers whilst carrying out your activities.
- Children aged 3 or over taking part in activities organised by you.
This policy covers ringers belonging to a church only whilst ringing at that church and not, for example, at a DDA District meeting.
Alternative providers
Unity Insurance
Only covers members aged 16-65. No details of temporary disablement cover provided.
Ecclesiastical
Ecclesiastical have a non-church charity and a small charity insurance policies. The cover is the same as Parish Plus and Unity.
Personal cover
Example from Aviva (Cheaper insurers are probably available):
Accidental death age 18-85 – £1.85 per month for £22,500 cover (minimum offered)
Permanent injury/disablement age 18-85 – £2.08 per month for £67,500 cover (minimum cover offered).
Temporary disablement – would need income protection cover. Usually requires person to be employed/self-employed and aged 18-65.