by Ed Davies

Insurance company, Caravan Guard, has seen its amazing support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance soar well above its initial target

The Halifax-based company handed over a huge cheque for £6,000 to their “angels in the sky” – three months earlier than expected.

Caravan Guard and Leisuredays donate £2 to the charity for every new Gadget and Leisure and Home Emergency policy they sell to their customers.

The firm set a target to raise £5,000 by the end of the year for the air ambulance service, but other fundraising activities have meant the charity has got the money sooner.

A team of 10 runners from Caravan Guard and Leisuredays took part in the Leeds 10K this summer and employees dressed up in yellow for Yellow Yorkshire Day – seeing their fundraising fly further.

“We’re very proud to support this life-saving charity, which relies on the generosity of people and companies like ours to continue its vital work,” said Caravan Guard director, Louise Menzies.

“Now that Yorkshire Air Ambulance has its new state-of-the-art H145 Airbus, we’re hoping our donation will help fund night vision goggles so they can become truly night capable and be able to fly in the skies for longer.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep its helicopters flying. The charity serves five million people across Yorkshire, attending on average, more than 1,000 incidents a year.

Kerry Garner, regional fundraising manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the continued support we have received from Caravan Guard, it is support like this which enables us to save lives across Yorkshire.

“To keep both of Yorkshire’s Air Ambulances maintained and in the air we need to raise £4.4M every single year and the vital funds raised by Caravan Guard and their staff will contribute to our life-saving service.”

To donate to Yorkshire Air Ambulance visit www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/donate/

by Ed Davies

Once you have decided to insure your caravan, as we discussed in our previous feature, choosing a particular policy should be considered and thought through

Although, possibly obvious for some, a first-time buyer could be lost at sea when looking for a new policy but heaven forfend lest you feel anxious as CaravanTimes is here to light the way.

We have chatted to the well-meaning insurance director of Caravan Guard, Neil Menzies, about the best policies to go for and those sneaky little conditions you need to look out for.

His in-depth advice

First of all, comparing policies, he says, to make sure you are getting the right level of cover is always worthwhile.

Mr Menzies said: “A Defaqto star rating is an indication of the level of cover offered by different policies, with a 5 star rating being the most comprehensive.

“Look out for “new for old” cover for your caravan. At Caravan Guard we will pay for a new caravan and equipment if your unit is stolen or written off as long as a customer has taken out this level of cover.

“This is available for caravans that are up to 15 years old. It is worth bearing in mind that you will be insuring at the cost of a brand new caravan and equipment, so you can expect to pay a higher premium.”

If this is not done and you insure your caravan at market value your policy will obviously be cheaper but will pay out the current value of the caravan in the event of a total loss claim.

“One of our most common claims is storm damage to awnings,” added Mr Menzies. “It is worth checking to see if your awning would be covered if bad weather strikes.

“Look for the ability to be able to pick and choose from various cover options to suit your needs. For example, with Caravan Guard you can choose from different levels of European cover and emergency accommodation and can choose to add on legal expenses and protect your no claims discount.

“The level of the excess you pay can also be increased to reduce your premium.”

Another suggestion by our insurance guru was to do some research into the insurance underwriter, checking they are well-known and solvent.

There are also feedback sites like reviewcentre.com to see what kind of service existing customers have received.

Mr Menzies added: “You can’t put a price on excellent service especially in the event of a claim.

“The opening hours of the insurance broker and a 24 hour claims helpline will also help you to sort out any problems or make necessary changes quickly and smoothly.

“At Caravan Guard, we’re open seven-days a week and from 8 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday, with friendly insurance advisers on hand to deal with any queries or provide a quote.

“We have a 24 hour claims line. Customers can also get a quote online 24-7.”