Making your
fundraising safe
When you’re organising a fundraising event of any kind it’s important to identify potential risks so that everyone involved stays healthy and safe.
UNICEF is supported entirely by your donations so stay safe while fundraising and together we can help make a lasting difference for children worldwide. Take a look at our checklist to make sure you keep the fun in fundraising.
Cash handling
The easiest and safest way to collect donations is by using an online fundraising page. If you do need to handle cash, make sure you keep it somewhere safe and secure. Wherever possible, have two people available to count or transport cash, and bank as soon as possible. If you are confronted by someone demanding the cash, hand over the money and report to the police as soon as possible.
Insurance
If you’re organising your own fundraising event, you are responsible for making sure the event has sufficient insurance.
You may need public liability cover for some events to help protect you should a third party make claims due to injury or damage to a property. Please check with your insurer or the venue insurer if they can provide suitable cover. UNICEF UK is unable to provide public liability cover for your event
Carry out a risk assessment
Identify all the potential hazards that might cause harm to yourself and/or others at your fundraising event by following the checklist below.
- Identify who could be injured or made ill.
- Prioritise the risks as low/medium/high.
- Record the actions you need to take to remove or control those risks.
- Review your assessment as you plan/once you have set up your event to check for any additional hazards or risks.
- You could also contact your local council for resources, advice and guidance within your local community, or search online for template risk assessment forms.
Health and safety checklist
The venue
- Have you got a back-up plan in case of bad weather or a problem with the venue?
- Have you put safety measures in place to make sure equipment is properly situated?
- If your event is in a public place, do you have permission from the council or landowner?
- Have you informed your local highways office or police if you are likely to cause any disruption to traffic?
- If members of the public will be attending your event, have you made sure that this is covered by public liability insurance?
Weather
- Have you considered how the weather could affect your event? What will you do to reduce the risks?
Fire hazards
- Have you double-checked fire exits to your venue, and do you know where the assembly points are?
- Are all the fire exits clearly marked?
- Will there be marshals to direct people to a safe place?
First aid
- Have you arranged adequate first aid supplies at the event?
- Do you have qualified first aiders at the event?
- Check with an organisation such as St John’s Ambulance. They will be able to advise you further and can also provide first aid support for your event.
Food hygiene
- Please take care when handling food and work to basic rules for safe preparation, storage, display and cooking. See the Foods Standards Agency website for guidelines on preparing, handling and cooking food for community and charity events.
Children
- Will children be attending and have you organised enough marshals to station hazardous areas (for example, where there might be hot food and drinks or sharp objects)?
- Have you set up a system for lost children?
- Do you need Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for individuals looking after the children?
Adequate helpers
- Have you got enough volunteers to help you in case of emergency?
- Have you put together a list of key contact phone numbers in case of incident?
- Have you sent them the risk assessment and briefed them about health and safety?
- Have you organised a briefing for the start of the event?
Under 18s – legal guidelines
If you are under 18 and holding a fundraising event, there are certain things that you will need help with. You should always ask an adult to help you with your fundraising to make sure you are safe.
If you’re under 18 you must ensure your parent/guardian reviews our volunteer fundraiser terms and conditions and assumes responsibility to ensure compliance with them.
Our liability
UNICEF UK accepts no liability for third-party events. The advice given above is not exhaustive, it is simply for guidance to help you organise your event, so please consider other potential risks, and seek further advice where required.
