Introduction
Whether you are planning a street party, a village fête or music festival for thousands of visitors, if you are the organiser you must plan for and manage safety at your event.
Guidance for events
Please see links to guidance and other pages of interest for Event Organisers.
The Purple Guide to health, safety and welfare at music and other events
In some areas, the Purple Guide signposts users to other sources of information that may be helpful. At time of publication all the links were checked, and it is intended that these will be regularly updated and amended if necessary. The new Purple Guide can be accessed here: The Purple Guide to health, safety and welfare at music and other events
Smaller events and volunteers
Safety Advisory Group
Temporary Event Notice (TEN)
If you want to hold a public event that involves the retail sale of alcohol, the provision of regulated entertainment or the provision of hot food or hot drink served between 11pm and 5am, you can do so using a temporary event notice.
Risk assessment
See our Risk Assessment Template with some examples of the sorts of controls needed for some of the risks to help you plan for your event.
Event Management Plan
We have produced some guidance documents to assist you in planning:
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT)
Notify SWASFT about your first aid or medical plans
The second document is a guidance document for event organisers. It includes a section for the organiser to self-assure their own medical provision for an event to keep for their own record.
The notification and medical provision Guidance forms can be found on the SWASFT website.
Local EPRR contact for Somerset – eprr.somerset@swast.nhs.uk
Food at the event
Whether you are attending a community party or hosting one of your own, it is important to be aware of food safety and hygiene as food legislation may still apply. Visit How to safely host a street party | Food Standards Agency for some practical tips and advice on best practice so that everyone can trust the food they’re eating.
If you are organising an event with catering or running a food stall, see our Catering at shows and events document for more information.
If you are preparing food at home, you can find advice on the Food Standards Agency website for how to prepare food safely.
First aid
For small community-based events like fêtes and street parties, you do not have to provide first aid for the public, but it is a good idea to have a first aid kit to hand and someone prepared to take charge in the event of an emergency.
Public liability insurance
If you are engaging contractors whether to put up a marquee, provide a bouncy castle, or run a food stall, you should check that they have public liability insurance in place. Somerset Council requires all hirers of their land to have cover, but for community-run very small events it may not be necessary.
Road closures
Road closures for special events are provided under Section 21 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847. These events can vary in size from a small village fête to a large carnival, festival or procession.
See our Apply for a temporary road closure for an event page for more information.
Events on council land
See our Booking events and permits page for more information.
Fireworks
Related documents
- Home Office – guide for small and sporting events on the highway
- HSE – avoiding danger from underground services
- HSE – electrical safety – a brief guide
- HSE – fairgrounds and amusement parks good practice
- Fire safety – 5-step checklist
- Fire safety – open air events and venues
- HSE – first aid – guidance on regulations
- HSE – guidance on inflatables
- HSE – health and safety made simple
- Safe and successful firework displays
- HSE – working at height – a brief guide
- Guidance for event organisers
- Fireworks policy
- Balloon and lanterns policy