Can I protect my organisation with business insurance instead of charity insurance?

Theoretically yes, you could take out a business insurance policy that would provide some of the covers you would need for a charity - such as property insurance and public and employers’ liability insurance.

However, because charities are unique and often complex organisations, charity insurance policies will usually provide protections above and beyond those you would get with a standard business insurance policy – such as charity event insurance or protection for volunteers.

Charities also differ from businesses in that they usually have a board of directors, trustees or officers. If so, you may find you require charity trustee indemnity insurance to protect them from legal defence costs and compensation payments arising from a wrongful act in the course of their statutory duties.