Keeping your fundraising safe and legal

Dyslexia Scotland is unable to accept any liability for third-party events. Here are some hints and tips to staying safe and legal. This is not a definitive list. Please make sure you have insurance cover where appropriate for any accidents or legal liabilities, consider all potential risks and seek further advice.

• Anticipate potential problems and take sensible precautions. You can create a risk assessment using templates available at hse.gov.uk
• If there are health risks to you as an individual or others in your fundraising team, take medical advice or advise them to do so.
• Photos are great to promote your fundraising before, during and after the event but you must seek permission to share them. For children, this must be from their parents.
• For guidance on food safety at community and charity events check out  Food Standards Scotland. Pay particular heed to intolerances and allergies.
• Organising a big event? Check if you need permission from your local council or the property owner.
• Keep cash secure. Count and record the amount with another person who is not related to you and bank it as soon as possible.
• Alcohol involved? Check if you need a licence with your local council.
• There are some fundraising activities that children cannot be involved in – see ‘Fundraising and Children’ guidance produced by the Fundraising Regulator.
• Holding a public charitable collection? You must seek permission from the local authority or face a fine.
• You do not have to register raffles, sweepstakes and tombolas as long as tickets are sold and the winners announced at the event, no more than £100 is deducted for expenses, and no more than £500 is spent on prizes (excluding donated prizes). Find out more with the Gambling Commission’s guidance ‘running raffles and lotteries’.