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Health and safety considerations

The most important factor in a successful fundraising event is that everyone has fun! With some careful planning, you can ensure that you, your guests and volunteers can be safe and have a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Think it through!

  • Do a risk assessment - think about all the possible hazards and risks that might befall you, your guests, volunteers, equipment etc.
  • Try and minimise these risks, or think about alternative ways of doing things.
  • A badly organised or dangerous event could result in legal action being taken against you or the MS Trust, so it's important to plan for every eventuality.

Signage and safety

  • Make sure you have clear direction signs, route markers, and if necessary, marshals.
  • Walk round the event site to make sure there aren't any hazards in the way. Is anything blocking the fire exits? Can people get to the toilets easily?
  • If children are to be involved, pay particular attention to any water dangers.
  • Any electrical equipment should be checked for safety.
  • Keep children well away from parking areas.

Top nosh!

  • If it's appropriate, consider hiring food contractors rather than trying to do too much yourself. Ice cream vans, hot dog stands, refreshment tents...
  • If you do the food yourself, make sure the preparation and serving areas are hygenic. Keep raw and uncooked food away from cooked food, avoid serving sea food, keep sharp knives somewhere safe and lockable, keep food chilled, and wipe surfaces regularly.
  • If you are serving alcohol, ensure you have the proper licence. (Talk to the MS Trust if you're in any doubt.) Think about how you might deal with potential trouble makers.

Stash the cash

  • Nominate one person as treasurer, to be in charge of the money, but ensure that two people are with the money at all times.
  • Money must be kept in a lockable box.
  • A float is useful to give change. Make a note of how much money you put in the float and remember to deduct it from profilts at the end of the event.
  • Think about how you will bank the money at the end of the event.

Put first aid first

  • Have someone on hand to administer first aid. Contact your local branch of the St John's Ambulance and the British Red Cross.
  • Have a first aid representative permanently on site, with transport in case anyone needs to get to hospital.