Risk Management Policy

Storykeepers Community CIC

Last Updated: August 2026

Purpose

Storykeepers Community CIC is committed to identifying, assessing and managing risks that may affect our organisation, our participants, our projects or our partners.

Effective risk management enables us to deliver safe, sustainable and high-quality community programmes while protecting the people, resources and reputation of Storykeepers Community CIC.

Our Commitment

We recognise that all organisations face risks. Rather than avoiding them entirely, we aim to understand potential risks, minimise their impact and respond appropriately should they arise.

Risk management is an ongoing process and forms part of the planning and delivery of every Storykeepers project.

Objectives

We aim to:

  • Protect participants, volunteers, staff and visitors.

  • Safeguard the organisation's reputation.

  • Protect organisational assets and finances.

  • Support good decision-making.

  • Ensure legal and regulatory compliance.

  • Promote safe and effective project delivery.

  • Maintain the confidence of funders, partners and the wider community.

Types of Risk

Storykeepers will consider risks including, but not limited to:

Governance Risks

  • Poor decision-making

  • Conflicts of interest

  • Failure to meet legal obligations

Financial Risks

  • Loss of funding

  • Fraud

  • Cash flow difficulties

  • Unexpected project costs

Safeguarding Risks

  • Concerns involving children

  • Concerns involving vulnerable adults

  • Failure to follow safeguarding procedures

Operational Risks

  • Staff or volunteer shortages

  • Event cancellations

  • Equipment failure

  • Venue issues

Health & Safety Risks

  • Accidents

  • Fire safety

  • Manual handling

  • Accessibility

Information Risks

  • Data breaches

  • Cyber security

  • Loss of records

Reputational Risks

  • Poor communication

  • Complaints

  • Inaccurate information

  • Failure to deliver projects as expected

Managing Risk

Storykeepers Community CIC will:

  • Identify potential risks during project planning.

  • Assess the likelihood and impact of identified risks.

  • Put appropriate control measures in place.

  • Monitor risks throughout projects.

  • Review incidents and learn from experience.

Where appropriate, written risk assessments will be completed before activities take place.

Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for overseeing risk management across Storykeepers Community CIC.

Everyone representing Storykeepers has a responsibility to:

  • Report concerns promptly.

  • Follow organisational policies.

  • Help identify potential risks.

  • Take reasonable care for their own safety and that of others.

Reviewing Risks

Risk management is a continuous process.

Risks will be reviewed:

  • Before major projects.

  • Following incidents or near misses.

  • When significant organisational changes occur.

  • As part of the annual governance review.

Business Continuity

Where significant disruption occurs, Storykeepers Community CIC will seek to:

  • Protect the safety of participants.

  • Communicate promptly with partners and stakeholders.

  • Minimise disruption to projects.

  • Resume activities safely as soon as reasonably practicable.

Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated whenever necessary to reflect changes in legislation, organisational activity or identified risks.

Our Commitment

Storykeepers Community CIC believes that thoughtful planning creates stronger communities.

By identifying risks early, responding responsibly and continually learning from experience, we aim to protect the people who place their trust in us and ensure our projects continue to create lasting positive impact.