![\"Charity](\"https:\/\/www.policybee.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/young-girl-carrying-recycling-rubbish-collection-bin-volunteers-litter-pick-chairty-community-concept_shutterstock-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSo, you\u2019ve done the difficult bit. You\u2019ve laid the foundations and got your charity up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that\u2019s only the first hurdle. Because now you need to get down to the hard work of everyday operations and fundraising. Also, of securing your charity\u2019s future so it can keep on doing its good work not just today but tomorrow too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which is where charity insurance comes in. And why you need an answer to the question: ‘What insurance do charities need?’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, we\u2019re only too aware of how confusing insurance can be. And that insurers have a habit of making things worse by speaking in jargon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Only it doesn\u2019t have to be that way. Take out the long words and the legalese and the mist lifts. It becomes much easier to grasp what insurance does and how it works. Also, to decide what insurance your charity needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, here really is a simple<\/strong> explanation of the cover your charity can rely on to help it flourish both now and into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Precisely what charity insurance you need depends on what your organisation does and how it operates. Is there contact with the public? Do you offer a service or advice? Are employees or volunteers involved? Do you store personal information electronically?<\/p>\n\n\n\n All these things matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, the simplest approach is to look at the different types of cover one by one. We\u2019ll explain what they\u2019re for, what they do and how they can protect your charity. We\u2019ll even throw in examples of when you can call on your cover to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the obvious one. And you\u2019ll need it if you have any dealings with the public. That could be anything from visiting people at home to them visiting you at your premises, or gatherings like coffee mornings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, accidents happen. And whether that means someone tripping over an electrical lead at a group meeting or skidding on a puddle of water at a Christmas party, the outcome can be serious injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same goes where damage is concerned. You could accidentally ruin someone\u2019s expensive laptop either in their home or at your own premises by knocking over a cup of coffee. It happens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like it or not, we live in litigious times and the \u2018where there\u2019s blame, there\u2019s a claim\u2019 school of thought predominates. So, if someone says it\u2019s your fault they were injured or their property was damaged, they could easily make a claim for compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The bad news is that compensation claims can be for many \u00a3thousands, especially if someone\u2019s suffered a debilitating injury. The good news is that charity public liability insurance<\/a> pays for your legal costs and defence, as well as covering any compensation you owe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about public liability insurance for charities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fundraising provides a vital lifeline for charities. It helps bring in essential revenue so you can continue to do what you do best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although digital fundraising has mushroomed, fundraising events remain a crucial part of the mix. And whether it\u2019s a fun run, a summer fete, a bake sale or anything else, it relies on members of the public getting involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we know, humans can be accident-prone. And even taking into account the most rigorous of risk assessments, things can still go wrong. Like a rope snapping and the tea tent collapsing on top of those inside queuing for cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Happily, public liability can also do the job of covering your events. Some policies have limits on how many people can attend, and what your event can involve, so check the policy wording carefully. For example, some won\u2019t cover activities considered more risky, like fireworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s more about charity fundraising event insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Got people working for your charity? Then you need charity employers\u2019 liability (EL) insurance<\/a>. It\u2019s as simple as that. It doesn\u2019t matter whether they\u2019re full or part-time, doing work experience or on a temporary contract. The law says EL is a must.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It covers both them and you if someone claims they were injured or made ill by working for your charity. Say they slip a disc while bending to lift a heavy box. If they claim you didn\u2019t train them properly and it\u2019s your fault they got hurt, EL pays your legal costs and any compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another reason to buy EL, besides staying on the right side of the law, is that you can be fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for not having it. Up to \u00a32,500 for each day you were meant to have it but didn\u2019t, to be precise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And you have your volunteers to think about. The HSE defines what an actual \u2018employee\u2019 is in very broad terms. Plus, you have a duty of care to your volunteers under civil law, meaning unpaid helpers can easily bring a claim against you if they allege your negligence harmed them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about charity employer\u2019s liability insurance<\/a> and volunteers\u2019 insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n As a trustee you\u2019re responsible for looking at the wider picture, taking decisions and helping to guide your charity\u2019s direction. Individually responsible, that is, despite the fact you might be working alongside others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That individual responsibility is important because it means you can be held personally liable if there\u2019s a legal claim against your charity for any sort of wrongdoing. Perhaps there\u2019s a question over misuse of finances. Or someone says your charity failed to pursue its stated aims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, a trustee\u2019s personal liability also puts your personal finances at risk. If a claim of wrongdoing against your charity is successful and there\u2019s compensation owing, you\u2019ll have to pay out of your own pocket \u2013 whether you’re individually responsible for that wrongdoing or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trustee indemnity insurance<\/a> pays for a legal expert to represent you and covers costs, as well as picking up the tab for any compensation in civil cases. So, if you\u2019re joining a charity as a trustee, check whether they have cover. And if you\u2019re an existing trustee, you\u2019d be wise to do the same – or you could find yourself exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More about trustee insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether or not your charity offers any kind of service or advice dictates whether you need charity professional indemnity insurance or not. If you do, it helps protect you against legal claims that your actions were responsible for someone suffering financial harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you employed an agency worker to help out without checking their credentials properly. And that worker then failed in their care of a service user, leading to a claim of negligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Or your charity was employed on a contract basis to provide services to a local authority. Only that local authority then alleged you didn\u2019t do all the things you said you would, and they didn\u2019t get what they\u2019d paid for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If something like this happens, your charity professional indemnity insurance steps in to help. It pays for your legal defence and covers any compensation if necessary. And it does all that whether the allegation is valid or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s more about charity professional indemnity insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because there are always risks, whatever you do and however you do it, there\u2019s more cover you can buy to safeguard your charity. There\u2019s a policy to protect practically everything if you want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But bearing in mind most charities don\u2019t have endless resources, here\u2019s a quick run-down of the main contenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Property and contents insurance<\/a> does pretty much what it says on the tin and acts in the same way as your home contents insurance. Only it covers your charity\u2019s fixtures, fittings, IT and any other equipment you use. It\u2019s especially important if you have your own premises or rely on certain kit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If anything\u2019s damaged (say by water), lost or stolen, your cover pays either for repairs or to replace items as new. You can also get portables insurance to protect the things you take around with you, like laptops and phones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cyber and data insurance is a good buy for charities that operate digitally, store donors’ or clients\u2019 information electronically, or have websites. It\u2019s relevant even if you simply communicate by email. And who doesn\u2019t do that these days?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps if you\u2019re the target of cybercriminals who infiltrate your IT systems, or if a worker clicks on a malicious link that lets hackers in. The result can be crippled websites, stolen data and a serious blow to operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cyber insurance<\/a> helps by providing the technical expertise to get your IT up and running again and to restore systems. It can cover lost income while you can\u2019t operate as normal. It also pays to deal with legal claims and regulator enquiries if a data breach means you lose people\u2019s sensitive information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more about cyber insurance for charities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So that\u2019s it. Simple, huh, just like we promised. However, if you do have any other questions about insurance for charities<\/a>, feel free to give the team a call on 0345 222 5391<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Image used under license from Shutterstock.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, you\u2019ve done the difficult bit. You\u2019ve laid the foundations and got your charity up and running. But that\u2019s only the first hurdle. Because now you need to get down to the hard work of everyday operations and fundraising. Also, … Continue reading So, what insurance do charities need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Charity public liability insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Charity fundraising event insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Charity employers\u2019 liability insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trustee indemnity insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Charity professional indemnity insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other types of charity insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Combatting cybercrime<\/h2>\n\n\n\n