As WRS celebrates 60 years in business, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on how the charity risk landscape has evolved.
While WRS began in 1966, our specialist work with charities started just over 40 years ago. Since then, we’ve seen first‑hand how technology, workplaces and community needs have reshaped the challenges organisations face.
Making sure your Charity Insurance reflects the work you do is an essential part of protecting the people and communities you support.
From traditional risks to modern challenges
When WRS began in 1966, traditional areas of insurance such as property, vehicles, workplaces and liability were key concerns.
During the 1970s and 1980s, organisations continued to adapt as workplaces, transport and ways of doing business changed.
By the 1990s, computers had become part of everyday business. Technology was no longer something separate from day-to-day operations; it was becoming an important part of how organisations worked.
The arrival of the internet and digital communication brought another significant shift in the 2000s. Organisations became more connected, creating new opportunities but also greater reliance on digital systems and information.
Today, a disruption to IT systems, a cyber incident or a loss of data can affect far more than technology. It can impact day‑to‑day operations, service delivery, and the people who rely on your charity, which is why many organisations now consider Cyber Insurance an essential part of their protection.
New ways of working
Technology isn’t the only factor that has changed the risk landscape for charities.
Remote and hybrid working have become part of everyday working life, creating greater flexibility while bringing additional considerations around employee and volunteer wellbeing, premises, equipment, and data security.
Does your Charity Insurance reflect the way you work today?
When reviewing your Charity Insurance, consider whether anything has changed since your last renewal:
- Activities or services
- Premises or how you use them
- Equipment, vehicles or assets
- Number of employees or volunteers
- Working patterns
- Technology and digital systems
- Information you hold
These changes don’t always mean you need additional cover, but they do mean a conversation is worthwhile to ensure your policy still reflects your charity’s current circumstances.
Six decades on
The risks may look very different today, but having the right support remains just as important.
WRS has been providing Charity Insurance for more than 40 years, and we’re proud to continue supporting the organisations that make a difference.
Here’s to what comes next.
About WRS
At WRS Insurance Brokers, we are specialists in Charity Insurance. As a business with a strong social conscience, we’re passionate about supporting the work of organisations that make a difference.
WRS is proudly part of the Benefact Group, a diverse international group of financial services businesses that exist to give our profits to good causes.