Charity’s compensation-culture fears allayed

by David Masters

Story link: Charity’s compensation-culture fears allayed

A UK-based charity is celebrating after the Court of Appeal ruled in their favour in a civil damages case.

Portsmouth Youth Activities vs Poppleton was seen by many as a landmark case in which the legal liability of charities would be put to the test.

Novice climber Gary Poppleton was seriously injured when he fell from the low climbing wall and the Peter Ashley Activity Centre in Portsmouth.

The High Court awarded Mr Poppleton damages, but the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling and absolved the activities centre of any negligence.

It is being hailed as good news for the third sector, as charities had begun to fear the worst in today’s culture of compensation.

A spokesperson for Ecclesiastical Insurance said that the case demonstrates how charities with good risk management procedures have nothing to fear from litigation.