Some types of insurance may be a legal requirement. Others will protect you and your charity shop in the event of a claim but are not compulsory. Your charity will likely be interacting with members of the public on a daily basis, which means there's a risk of your charity's activities causing injury, illness or property damage to a third party. If an unexpected situation occurs, then you could be held liable for the damage, and financially responsible for legal fees and compensation. Public liability insurance for charities could cover you in this situation.