Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to continue to support the Countryside Alliance, you can donate as a one off or as a regular donation to a budget that suits your circumstances. Your support enables the Countryside Alliance to challenge bias and misinformation about countryside activities, and to represent your voice in parliament, in the media and on the ground.
- Access to dedicated experts who are working to influence all political parties' policies.
- Insurance cover for hunting, shooting, fishing and many other of your favourite country pursuits needs.
- Our membership magazine, "My Countryside", which is packed with expert insights and updates on our work.
- Our objectives are to secure and enhance the long-term sustainability of shooting and its associated land management practices, and to manage and reduce political risk at all levels.
- We have a pivotal role in promoting and protecting shooting in parliament, across the devolved administrations, in the media, and on the ground.
- We challenge misinformation and bias; promote the considerable environmental, economic, and social benefits of shooting; and positively influence policy.
- We are constantly looking to hone arguments, develop research, and when necessary, we will lead radical reform.
- For politicians and journalists, we are frequently the first to be contacted when input on shooting issues is required, and our coverage both in the national and regional media is extensive.
For more information on the campaign for shooting click here
- Be a fully signed-up member of the Countryside Alliance
- Hear the latest updates from our campaign through our email newsletter.
- Enter our prize draws to win fantastic prizes such as driven grouse days or new steel-proofed guns, or simply make a donation today.
- Purchase and wear our Campaign for Shooting pin badge each season, to show your support both to us and to your shooting friends.
- Share our work with your friends and families to enable the whole shooting community to support each other.
- Share our world of shooting and game with all those you know who have not yet had the chance to get involved; get them out in the field!
You an purchase the current Shooting season badge here
• Animal health and welfare
• Food quality
• Environmental enhancement and protection
• Staff training
• Health and Safety
This Code sets out the framework that enables shoot managers, Guns, gamekeepers and their employees to deliver sustainable shooting, paying attention to management of habitat and avoiding nuisance to others. All who shoot, or are involved in shooting in any way, should abide by and remind others of the provisions set out within this Code.
To read the Code in full, click here
The apprenticeship takes place over 18 months and covers all the key areas of gamekeeping. Candidates will work alongside keepers while also receiving off the job training at several land-based colleges around the country to achieve the required qualifications. Read more here
• Promotes high standards of hound and horse welfare as well as hunt conduct, both on and off the hunting field.
• Liaises with the general public, hunts, politicians, institutional landowners, the police and the media to create a better understanding of how hunting with hounds fits into modern society.
• Lobbies MPs and other decision-makers to help prevent unjust changes to legislation which may affect the future of hunting with hounds or have an impact on our way of life.
• Engages with councils and councillors to enable hunts to retain access to council-owned land whilst challenging motions which propose to enforce restrictions.
• Creates positive news stories which are circulated to local and national press, including broadcast media, whilst responding to hunting-related content and providing spokespersons who can comment and give interviews where appropriate.
• Helps promote hunting to a wider audience by supporting hunts to engage with the public both face-to-face, and through the use of print and social media, plus other digital channels.
• Works alongside packs of hounds to ensure they continue to offer a legal wildlife management service and retain the support necessary to sustain the infrastructure of hunting and the jobs that go with it.
• Dispels misconceptions about foxhunting and combats mistruths spread about legal hunting activities.
We encourage those who want to protect the future of hunting to sign up to take action for hunting. You may be asked to take direct action, including signing e-lobbies, online petitions or lobbying candidates of all parties ahead of the most important election since before the Hunting Act became law. To sign up click here
- Be a fully signed-up member of the Countryside Alliance.
- Receive the latest updates about our campaigns through our email newsletter.
- Share our work with your friends and families to enable the entire hunting community to support each other.
- Visit our stand to discuss our work with our representatives at shows and events across the country.
- Follow our social media profiles on different platforms then share and engage with our posts.
- Advise us of any newsworthy hunting news so that we can generate press releases and help to promote the good work carried out by hunts and the hunting community.
- Engage with our Action for Hunting initiative.
Your Countryside Alliance membership fee is used to support a range of activities that protect and promote the rural way of life, including:
- Campaigning: The Countryside Alliance lobbies for policies that benefit rural communities and the countryside, such as, protecting rural activities, promoting access to the countryside, protecting wildlife and habitats, and supporting rural businesses
- Public Liability Insurance: All individual members receive public liability insurance, covering a wide range of activities like hunting, shooting, fishing, and working with animals.
- Member Services: The Alliance provides members with access to a variety of services.
- Publications: Members receive a quarterly magazine, "My Countryside," and regular newsletters about the Alliance's campaigns.
- Discounts and Benefits: Members can access discounts on various products and services with some of our partners.
Countryside Alliance membership includes public liability insurance, up to a limit of £10 million, for a wide range of countryside activities.
It's important to note that Countryside Alliance is not the insurance broker but rather a facilitator. They have partnered with an insurance provider to offer this coverage as a benefit of membership.
If you have any questions please contact the Countryside Alliance Insurance Helpline.
By using this link
The Insurance Centre is designed to provide all the information you should need, including Frequently Asked Questions, Product Summaries and Policy Wordings. However, should you require any further details please contact the team, as follows:
T: +44 (0) 1234 230279
E:insurance@countrysideallianceinsurance.co.uk
Please note: all information relating to insurance is valid only until the renewal date of any particular policy. For details of cover after that date please contact Howden.
(For those remaining eligible for Personal Accident benefits (having joined the Countryside Alliance or renewed their insurance in 2024) the maximum age is 75 years.)
A significant exclusion has been added for those who are joining the Countryside Alliance or renewing their insurance in 2024.
- Competitive riding events
- Property in member's custody or control.
- The insured person participating in any sport as a professional.
- Competitive riding events other than team chasing, hunter trials, showing and dressage.
- Pony Club and gymkhana activities undertaken by any member aged 19 or over.
- The carrying on of any trade business or profession where it is the member’s principal source of income.
- Fundraising activities which include bungee jumping or activities involving bungee ropes or cords, fireworks or other forms of pyrotechnics, rock climbing, mountaineering or orienteering, obstacle courses, “It’s a Knockout” type competitions, swimming or diving in any body of water including swimming, baths, pools, ponds, lakes rivers and the sea.
- Liability arising from non-compliance of the provisions contained in the Firearms Act(s)
- Motor Liability where such liability requires compulsory insurance by legislation governing the use of such motor vehicle or trailer.
- Aviation or Marine Liability (but not watercraft less than 25 metres in length for use in inland waterways or up to twelve miles offshore not owned but being used for entertainment purposes)
Examples of typical extra activities covered by our policy that a group could be involved in beyond the specifics of simply carrying out a recognised activity are summarised as follows:
Administration and officer/committee meetings
Maintenance activities
Conservation activities
Ownership of property and/or land
Fundraising activities – with specific exclusions as detailed in the policy and cover summary
Exhibiting, participating, demonstrating at country fairs and similar events
Social events
Competitions and events
Coaching
from the time of such cancellation or non-renewal.
The Countryside Alliance Foundation is the charitable arm of the Countryside Alliance, a leading advocate for rural communities and the environment. The Countryside Alliances Foundations mission is to:
- Promote the health and educational benefits of experiencing the countryside.
- Inspire a passion for protecting the natural environment.
- Helps individuals benefit from being involved in the natural environment.
The Countryside Alliance Foundation's two programmes; Fishing for Schools and Castaway, serve an important purpose. If you would like to donate to the Countryside Alliance Foundation you can do so by clicking here