Charities Combined

Charities face unique exposures: volunteer liability, safeguarding, events, cyber, and data. Standard business policies often exclude these exposures, but Charities Combined gives brokers the tools to close coverage gaps and reassure clients that their risks are fully managed.

Underinsurance is far costlier if a claim arises. Charities Combined is flexible and scalable, with cover starting from £85. This enables brokers to provide affordable, appropriate protection for smaller organisations.

Our product supports small charities and community groups with turnover or premises exposure up to £2 million. Eligible entities include Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), Unincorporated Charities, Charitable Trusts, Charitable Companies, Community Interest Companies (CICs) and Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs).

Public or employers’ liability won’t cover everything. Many charities also need cyber, management liability, legal expenses, and business interruption. Brokers can use Charities Combined to offer holistic protection and close dangerous gaps.

Partner or contractor policies usually don’t extend to the charity itself. Brokers should advise clients that independent cover is essential to protect against their own liabilities, especially for joint projects or events.

Even volunteer-led operations need protection. Good practice includes recording volunteer roles, training/safeguarding checks, and incident reports. Our Business Hub provides templates and guidance written by experts to help your clients navigate these risks.

Consider Public & Products Liability, Employers’ Liability (if they have volunteers or employees), Directors & Officers (D&O) cover and Safeguarding Liability. Charities Combined offers these modules to reflect an organisation’s governance risks.

The Directors & Officers (D&O) section in Charities Combined safeguards trustees and committee members against claims for mismanagement, breach of duty, or regulatory investigations.

Trustees can be held personally accountable for decisions impacting the charity. Dedicated management liability cover protects against claims for mismanagement, breaches of duty, or regulatory investigations, helping brokers reassure clients and attract skilled trustees.

Operating a retail outlet or fundraising platform introduces property, business interruption, and liability exposures (including contactless payments and Gift Aid obligations). Charities Combined includes modules for Property & Business Interruption and Payment-/Fundraising-related risks.

If your client’s organisation hosts public events or uses premises that could be subject to the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, they may need to implement counter-terrorism measures. This could impact their risk profile and the cover they require. Discuss with us to ensure they’re appropriately protected.

With Charities Combined, your client gains access to our Business Hub, Tax & VAT helpline, PR Crisis Management helpline and Cyber Helpline (if the Cyber module is added). These services are tailored to charity operations, not generic add-ons. Policyholders can also get access to our Markel Care Practitioners whenever they need it most, for guidance across risk management, regulatory compliance, workforce development, and strategic growth. This is on a pay-as-you-go basis at a discounted rate.

When a charity accepts donations or operates via online fundraising, there are additional risks: fraud, data breach, regulatory scrutiny. Gift Aid also involves declarations and HMRC compliance, and our Tax & VAT helpline can be accessed by policyholders to help with any specific queries they’re unsure about. Charities Combined offers optional cyber/data cover plus management liability to help cover these exposures.

Yes. Charities increasingly face data-breaches, phishing, ransomware, and digital fraud. Cyber cover in Charities Combined protects against data loss, network interruption, fraud and regulatory/legal costs, which is especially relevant if an organisation handles donor, volunteer, or service-user data.

Standard liability cover doesn’t protect against cyber risks. Charities often hold sensitive donor, volunteer, or beneficiary data, making them vulnerable to cybercrime. Cyber insurance within Charities Combined covers data breaches, ransomware, and regulatory costs, giving brokers a strong risk management proposition.

Risks evolve as charities grow - new services, volunteers, or technology can change exposures. Our expert underwriters are always on hand for you to discuss any queries around new exposures, particularly before quote, mid-term adjustment, and renewal.