Stay safe while fundraising
Fundraising should be fun, but it’s important that everything is safe and legal, for everyone involved.
British Heart Foundation cannot be held liable for accidents, injuries, loss or damages as a result of your event.
We've created the following tips to help you plan ahead and get things right.
Permission
If you’re holding an event in a public place, you must get permission first. This can be from either the local authority or the property owner.
Photos
If you plan to take photos of other people at your fundraiser, please make attendees aware.
First aid
If you’re holding an event involving many people, make sure that you have appropriate first aid support in place. You can get advice from the following organisations:
As a basic guide, there should always be someone on hand to help at smaller events. If you’re holding a larger event involving around 500 people, there should be a minimum of 2 qualified first-aiders on site.
If your event is even bigger than this, please give our fundraising team a call on 0300 330 3322. We can provide information and advice to support you.
Insurance
If your event involves the general public, it’s important to have Public Liability Insurance in place. Check first to see if your venue already has this (as will often be the case). If you’re holding an event at home or on private property, check your insurance covers this too.
Fundraising with food
To keep everyone safe, check the Food Standards Agency guidelines on preparing, handling, cooking and storing food.
Public collections and lotteries
If you are planning to hold such an event, please call our team first as you may need a licence. You can call us on 0300 330 3322.
Other fundraising which may require a licence
In addition to public collections and lotteries, some other things require a licence. This includes using recorded music and putting banners or signs in public spaces. Please contact your local authority to find out which licences you need for your fundraising.
Data protection
Only collect the information you need. Keep it safe, do not share it, and only keep it for as long as you need. You can find information about how we protect and use personal data in our privacy policy.
If you have any questions about fundraising and the law, please call us on 0300 330 322. We’ll be more than happy to help.
If you are under 18
If you’re aged under 18, you must have your parent or guardian's permission to fundraise.
Useful resources
If you have any more questions about your fundraising event, please get in touch. We’re here with all the help and information you need:
