Fundraising event health and safety

Children playing tug of war.

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.

The Ramblers relies on your generous support so stay safe while fundraising and together we can help in the fight for walkers’ rights, protecting our green spaces and ensure that everyone gets to enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.

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 these steps:

Identify the potential risks and hazards by using the health and safety 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, for example, Healthy Working Living.

Insurance

By organising your own fundraising event in aid of the Ramblers, you are responsible for taking adequate steps to make sure that the event poses no risk to others. Check that any buildings or equipment that you hire are covered. Insurance is often included in the hire fee but not always so it is best to check.

You may need to consider arranging public liability cover for some events, which will protect you against claims made by third parties for injury or property damage as a result of negligence. In most cases, for public and/or hazardous events, you may need public liability cover in place. For private events this may not be necessary. Please get in touch with us if you are unsure.

The Ramblers is unable to provide public liability cover for your event, but if you do have any questions, give us a call on 020 3961 3300 or email fundraising@ramblers.org.uk

Health and safety checklist

The venue

Have you got a backup 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 you will 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?
Have you checked the maximum capacity of the venue and how will you check that you do not exceed that?

First aid

Have you arranged adequate first aid supplies at the event?
Do you have qualified first aiders at the event?

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 DBS checks for individuals looking after the children? For more information, see the Online DBS Check website.
Do children need to be accompanied by an adult as this might need to be stated in your promotion if so.

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?
Don’t forget to ensure you have adequate support planned to help with handling and counting money as well as someone to accompany you when travelling with money safely.

Our liability

The Ramblers accepts no liability for third-party events. The advice given 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.

Need more help?

Email fundraising@ramblers.org.uk
Call our supporter care team on 020 3961 3300