Charities and voluntary organisations make a huge contribution to society — but running on goodwill and goodwill alone is not enough when it comes to Health and Safety. Whether you have paid staff, rely entirely on volunteers, or a mixture of both, you have legal responsibilities to protect everyone involved in your work. The law applies to charities in exactly the same way as it does to any other employer or organisation.
⚠️ Being a charity or not-for-profit organisation does not exempt you from Health and Safety law. Trustees can be held personally liable if the charity fails in its duty of care. If a volunteer, service user or member of the public is harmed as a result of your organisation's failure to manage risk, the consequences — legal, financial and reputational — can be severe.
Which Activities Need a Risk Assessment?
Every activity your charity carries out — whether in a fixed premises or out in the community — requires a Risk Assessment. Below are common charity activities and the key Health and Safety considerations for each.
Volunteer Management
Volunteers are covered by your duty of care just as paid staff are. You must ensure:
- Volunteers receive appropriate induction and training
- Risk Assessments cover volunteer roles and tasks
- Lone working arrangements are assessed and managed
- Volunteers know what to do in an emergency
- Adequate first aid provision is in place
Community Outreach & Home Visits
If your charity visits service users in their homes or in the community, specific risks must be managed:
- Lone worker safety — check-in procedures
- Risk assessment of home environments
- Manual handling if assisting with mobility
- Personal protective equipment where relevant
- Clear escalation process for safeguarding concerns
Fundraising Events
Public events — from sponsored walks to large fundraising dinners — introduce significant risks:
- Crowd management and maximum capacity
- Food preparation, hygiene and allergen management
- Temporary structures, staging or marquees
- Electrical equipment and generators
- Parking, access and egress for the public
- First aid provision scaled to event size
Working with Vulnerable Adults
If your charity supports elderly, disabled or otherwise vulnerable adults, additional considerations apply:
- Manual handling — lifting and moving assistance
- Medication management procedures
- Accessibility of premises and activities
- Emergency procedures tailored to individual needs
- Infection control and hygiene standards
Working with Children & Young People
Activities involving under-18s carry heightened responsibilities. Alongside safeguarding, you must ensure:
- Appropriate supervision ratios at all times
- Age-appropriate equipment and activities
- Secure premises with controlled access
- Allergy and medical information held for each child
- Risk Assessments reviewed before every session
Minibus & Transport
If your charity provides transport for service users or volunteers, you must manage:
- Vehicle safety checks and maintenance records
- Driver licence and competency checks
- Seatbelt use and passenger capacity
- Appropriate insurance for the type of use
- Manual handling when assisting passengers with mobility needs
Food Preparation & Provision
Many charities provide meals or refreshments. Food safety and Health and Safety overlap here:
- Kitchen Risk Assessment covering burns, cuts and slips
- Food hygiene training for anyone preparing food
- Allergen information displayed or communicated
- Hot water and beverage scalding risks
- Equipment maintenance — ovens, fryers, microwaves
Outdoor & Off-Site Activities
Residential trips, outdoor activities, or working in parks and public spaces:
- Site-specific Risk Assessment for each location
- Weather and environmental conditions
- Emergency communication — mobile signal availability
- Appropriate supervision and first aid cover
- Transport to and from the activity
Do Charities Need a Written Health & Safety Policy?
If your charity employs five or more people (including part-time staff), a written Health and Safety Policy is a legal requirement. Even for smaller organisations and those run entirely by volunteers, having a written policy is strongly recommended — it demonstrates to trustees, funders, and regulators that you take your duty of care seriously.
A basic policy should state your commitment to safety, identify who is responsible, and outline how you manage specific risks.
Trustee responsibility: Charity trustees have a duty to ensure the charity is well-managed and its beneficiaries, staff and volunteers are kept safe. The Charity Commission expects trustees to take Health and Safety seriously. Where a serious incident occurs due to a failure in safety management, trustees may be asked to account for their actions — or inactions.
Fire Safety in Charity Premises
If your charity occupies premises — even if you share a building or only use it occasionally — a Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This must identify fire hazards, assess the risk to people in the building, and ensure appropriate measures are in place: fire exits, extinguishers, alarms and an evacuation plan.
Funding, Insurance and Risk Assessments
Many grant funders and insurers now require evidence that your charity has carried out Risk Assessments and has appropriate safety policies in place. Having documented Risk Assessments not only protects your people — it can also be a condition of funding and is essential for adequate insurance coverage.
We Understand the Challenges Charities Face
We know that charities and voluntary organisations often operate on tight budgets. We offer practical, proportionate advice that keeps your people safe without unnecessary complexity or cost. Get in touch to find out how we can help.
Request a Same-Day Quote →