Having a charity shop on the high street can help your organisation achieve greater visibility and establish a community presence. But whether you are a small, local charity, or part of wider network, it is important to protect your shop and the work you do.
In many ways, the practicalities of running a shop for a charity or non-profit organisation are similar to running any other physical retail outlet. You will need to consider numerous risks—from vandalism or accidental damage, to third party injury or property damage, as well as the potential for interruption to trading should you be unable to use or access your premises for a period of time.
What types of insurance does a charity shop need?
Charity shop insurance, just like other retail business insurance, can require several different covers. One of the key covers in a charity shop insurance policy is property insurance, which is designed to cover the cost of any rebuild or repair costs following an insured event. Public liability and employers’ liability cover will also typically form part of an insurance policy, to protect the organisation from legal costs should an employee or a member of the public make a claim against the charity. Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have staff working in your shop, and this includes all volunteers and work experience placements.
You may wish to consider adding further insurance covers to your policy, for example, to cover the stock and/or money you hold on the premises, or any goods you deliver to customers, such as furniture. It is also advisable to think about how your organisation might be affected by prolonged business interruption—not only if your premises were to become damaged or unusable following an incident such as a flood, but also due to denial of access to your location, for example because of a security incident nearby.
What does charity shop insurance from Gallagher include?
No two charity shops are the same, so the covers included in your policy will depend on your unique needs and requirements. Covers can include (but are not limited to):
- Public liability
- Employers’ liability
- Property/buildings
- Contents and stock
- Business equipment
- Cash on premises
- Goods in transit
- Business interruption
- Legal expenses
We will work with you to determine the most suitable covers for your charity shop, and can organise them under a single insurance policy.
