What policies does a small charity need?
You don't need a filing cabinet of policies on day one. Start with the core few that match your risks, then add more as you grow.
Core policies most groups need
- Safeguarding — if you work with children or adults at risk
- Data protection and privacy — if you hold anyone's personal details
- Health and safety — for activities, events and premises
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Complaints
- Conflicts of interest — for trustees or directors
- Financial controls — who can sign, spend and approve
Often asked for by funders
- Reserves
- Volunteer
- Whistleblowing
- Environmental
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Questions people ask
How often should a charity review its policies?
Most groups review core policies yearly, and safeguarding after any incident or change in law.
Do trustees need to approve policies?
Yes. Trustees should agree and adopt each policy, and record this in their minutes.
Written by Jessie Joe Jacobs. Jessie has worked in the UK voluntary sector for around 25 years and founded the Teesside charity A Way Out. She founded Charity Builder to give small groups the support a local CVS would.