Fundraising activities requiring closer safeguarding

When it comes to specific fundraising techniques, there are certain areas that will inevitably need greater consideration for safeguarding. This will include any form of fundraising that includes direct contact between fundraisers or volunteers and the public, such as:

• Public collections; ensuring that anyone who collects funds publicly or on the doorstep has been authorised to collect on your behalf and that appropriate background checks have been carried out.
• Events; taking all reasonable measures to protect the safety of anyone involved or attending a fundraising event.
• Major gifts and legacies; never getting involved in drafting an individual’s will or accept a personal donation without reporting the situation to a line manager, and be alert to potential money laundering issues.
• Fundraising overseas; carrying out due diligence in researching travel, accommodation, the location and venue of any overseas fundraising activities (or working with approved third parties) to protect the safety of all those involved. 

• Is the venue suitable; does it comply with legal requirements and is it safe?
• What risks are raised by the event itself and how should we mitigate against those?
• Have all participants consented to take part?
• How can we ensure the health and safety of employees, participants, volunteers, spectators and others?
• What specialist and first aid equipment will be needed and how can we ensure it is adequate?
• What are the travel arrangements to/from the event? 
• Which third parties are involved and how will they help protect people from harm? 
• Do any products sold at the event comply with safety standards?
• Is the food safe and does it comply with regulations?
• If alcohol is being served, have the relevant licences/permissions been secured and age limits adhered to?
• What due diligence should be carried out in respect of safeguarding at third party events?

Volunteers play a vital role in raising funds for UK charities. Some volunteers work ‘on behalf of’ the charity, meaning that the charity has appointed them and takes responsibility for his or her acts. Others act ‘in aid of’ a charity. This is the term given to those individuals raising money with little knowledge or involvement from the charity themselves, responsible for their own actions. From a safeguarding perspective, volunteers acting on behalf of a charity give the organisation both greater responsibility and greater control.

For charities running volunteer fundraising programmes, it is important to recognise your role and responsibility in managing those volunteers, applying for the right licences and giving volunteers appropriate guidance and support. 

• What type of relationship do you have with your fundraising volunteers (are they fundraising ‘in aid of’ or ‘on behalf of’)?
• What responsibility do you have for their actions and safeguarding requirements?
• What guidance, training, support and supervision is needed to enable volunteers to fundraise in a legal, open and respectful manner, and to protecting themselves and others from harm?
• How can you make it clear to all volunteers that any money collected in the charity’s name must be received by the organisation?
• What are the health and safety requirements for working with volunteers?
• What are the risks linked to volunteer fundraising and how will they be recorded?
• What a preventive and protective measures could be put in place to mitigate against those risks?
• What fundraising activity are our volunteers entitled to carry out and have the right background checks been carried out.

Children often get involved in fundraising and this takes many forms; as event participants, local fairs, at school or taking the initiative with their own fundraising activity. Wherever possible, charities should provide guidance and support for those children, their parents, teachers and guardians.

• DBS checks are usually needed for any staff members or volunteers working with children and/or vulnerable people.
• Regular donations should not be sought from under 18s.
• Consent must be given by a parent or guardian if you are to process or disclose a child’s personal details, or to photograph or publish images. (For further information, see requirements relating to data protection.)
• Contact with school children will need the approval of the head or relevant teacher (see our Fundraising in Schools guidance).
• ü  Many children fundraise, but there are age limits on certain fundraising activities, which must be observed. (For example, children can’t collect donations or sell raffle tickets without adult supervision.)
• Children and parents/guardians will need to be supported and given guidance for fundraising safely and legally.

When working with third parties (whether that be a corporate partner, commercial participator or specialist supplier), fundraisers must make reasonable efforts to monitor performance and to exert diligence in working with suitable organisations whose values align with their own and will adhere to industry standards. Any safeguarding requirements should be covered in the contract or working agreement, monitored and reviewed.