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Charity insurance from £1.15 a day*
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What is...
charity insurance?
Whether you’re organising events, charity fundraising or providing vital support to those who need it the most, you can still run into risks that could stop your charity in its tracks.
Sufficient small charity insurance is key for protecting the daily operations of your charity - keeping employees, volunteers and visitors safe and providing financial support in the event someone claims against you, or if you need to make a claim.
Charity insurance is a specialist type of business insurance for not-for-profit organisations. It can bring together covers like public liability, employers' liability, and trustee management liability — in one package to help the risks charities actually face, so you can focus on what’s most important — helping others.
What types of charities need cover?
We know that all charities are different; from homeless shelters to nature reserves. At Bionic, we understand how important it is to protect the vulnerable and those in need of support. We can help all sorts of charities, including:
- Local community groups
- Trusts
- Churches & religious groups
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
- Unincorporated associations (groups of volunteers)
- Charitable companies
- Mental health and wellbeing charities
- Youth organisations
- Environmental and conservation charities
- Arts, cultural and environmental groups
Still not sure if you need not for profit insurance? Start a quote online and a member of our insurance team will be on hand to help you through anything you’re unsure of.
Why do charities need insurance?
Even not-for-profits run into daily risks when operating, for example:
- A volunteer gets injured during an event
- You accidentally damage a venue you’re using
- A fire or flood disrupts your operations
- Your valuable equipment is stolen
- A donor or beneficiary sues over a legal dispute
- You could suffer a cyber attack and data breach. This would not included as standard and would be an additional policy.
If you operate your charity without any insurance and something unexpected happens, you could be liable to pay legal fees and compensation out of your own pocket. Not having employers' liability insurance in place if you have any employees, volunteers or helps can result in a fine of up to £2,500 per day.
What does charity insurance cover?
Policies will vary per provider, and terms and conditions apply, so always check the small print in your policy wording to see what’s included and excluded. Your insurance package could include:
Public liability insurance
Employers liability insurance
Trustee management liability insurance

Commercial building insurance

Business interruption insurance

Legal expenses insurance
Business equipment insurance
Cyber insurance
Or speak to one of our team on 0800 032 7925
Learn what insurance you need for your charity from Laura, our Small Business Editor.
How much is charity insurance?
Charity insurance could cost from £1.15 a day*
Costs aren’t the most important thing when it comes to insurance, but having sufficient insurance that protects your charity is key. The cost of this will vary on several factors unique to your charity that’s why it’s difficult to give a solid figure. Costs are based on:
- The policies you take out
- The level of coverage you need
- The insurer you choose
- Where your charity is located
- Charity size
- Claims history
- Whether you run events
If you’re looking for a charity insurance quote, we’ll need you to answer a few questions to see what your options are. Start a quote online and a member of our insurance team will be on hand to talk you through any specifics.
*This price is for a vector-multi cover third sector secure policy – 10% of customers who were sold with one of our panel providers paid £417.93 or less annually (excluding any additional administration fees) between 01/01/25 & 31/12/2025. Equivalent to £34.83 a month or £1.15 a day (and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly). Your actual policy and price may vary based on your business requirements.
Do charities need insurance for events?
Although not a legal requirement, if your charity hosts any events, it’s a good idea to look into public liability insurance for charities. This can cover your back financially in case any visitors injure themselves during your event and make a claim. Some councils, venues or partners may ask for evidence of public liability insurance before agreeing to let hire a space.
Other types of cover like buildings and contents can also help provide financial protection if someone damages your property during an event and you need to make a claim.
If you’re planning on having any events you must inform your broker to ensure you’re correctly covered.
Do you need cover for volunteers?
Volunteers are classed as employees (they are included under the definition of employees) so if your charity has any volunteers, you'll need to take out employers' liability insurance, even for one-off events. Volunteers will not be covered under public liability.
This will help to cover costs in case a volunteer makes a claim against you. Without it, you could end up paying out of your own pocket for legal fees or compensation.
What to consider when choosing charity insurance
You’ll want to make sure you’ve considered all aspects of your charity when arranging your non-for-profit insurance to make sure you choose all the right covers. You should consider the following:
- Do you have any paid employees, or volunteers, how many?
- Are you based in a permanent premises or office?
- Do you have any expensive equipment?
- Do you store any sensitive data?
- Do you give out any professional advice?
- Do you sell any products or services? For example, handmade cards or donated items?
- Do you organise public events?
- Are trustees actively involved in day-to-day decisions?
Our UK-based insurance team are on hand to guide you through the process and find the right small charity insurance that fit your needs. Get started with a quote online today.
Get your charity set with insurance from Bionic
At Bionic, we champion UK business owners and charity organisations and want to help in every way we can. That’s why we work with a panel of trusted insurers to provide insurance options for the majority of small, non-profit businesses.
We focus on getting you the right cover, whatever your business story. Get in touch with us today by starting a business insurance comparison online.
Or speak to one of our team on 0800 032 7925
How Bionic business insurance comparison works
Start your quote online
Speed up the process by submitting basic business details online – whenever you have time.
Speak to our UK-based team
Schedule a call with one of our insurance brokers to discuss the details to ensure they’re correct.
Compare tailored quotes
Get your quotes from our panel of trusted insurers and through any questions with our team.
What do I need to get started?
You only need a few details to get started with getting a free business insurance quote online, so it’s best to have the following information ready to go:
Your business name and trade
Your policy start date
Your name and contact details to receive your quote options
You may be asked additional questions about business activities
Charity Insurance FAQs
Do charities have to get trustee management liability insurance?
Although trustee management liability isn’t a legal requirement, trustees do have a level of responsibility to protect the organisation and people who work with it and in it.
Here is an example of how this type of insurance might work:
During an event a volunteer has a terrible accident and as a result, an investigation is carried out into the trustees around their health and safety training, procedures and failure to provide the correct training and supervision. This element of cover would help the legal implications and damage caused directly to the trustee involved, but it would not cover any compensation costs.
Can I use charity money to buy insurance?
The short answer is - yes in certain circumstances. If you are a trustee, the law allows you to insure any property owned by a charity against the risk of loss or damage due to any insured event and to pay the premiums out of its funds. Learn more on the UK government website.
*Bionic Financial Services does not provide financial advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for financial advice. You should consult your own financial advisors for advice.
Is employers' liability insurance a legal requirement for charities?
Yes if you have employees or volunteers. Under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, charities with staff or volunteers must hold at least £5 million of cover. Not having it can result in a fine of up to £2,500 per day.
Is public liability insurance for charity organisations a legal requirement?
No, public liability insurance for charities is not a legal requirement but can be essential in the event a member of the public makes an injury claim against you.
Do charities need professional indemnity insurance?
It is not a legal requirement — but should be considered if your charity gives professional advice, counselling, legal guidance, or educational services. It can help covers legal costs if someone claims your advice caused them harm.
Do small or micro charities need insurance?
Yes. Even charities with a handful of volunteers and a small income may still need public liability and employers' liability cover. We can help charities of all sizes find a policy that fits.
Is small charity insurance different from standard cover?
Standard business insurance is designed for businesses that make profit. Small charity insurance is built around the specific risks of not-for-profit organisations — including volunteer management, trustee liability, working with vulnerable people, and fundraising events.
Just because you a smaller charity doesn’t mean your legal obligations differ – if you have any employees or volunteers, you’ll still need employers’ liability insurance by law.
How quickly can you get a charity insurance quote?
After you’ve decided on a charity insurance quote, you can often get cover the same day you apply, depending on the insurance policy and your specific charity needs.
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