Charitable collections

There are various ways that money is raised for charities and for other purposes. Two of the commonest methods are house to house or street collections.

House to house collections

If an organisation or individual wishes to make a collection from house to house for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes it is necessary to obtain a licence form the Council. Certain collections are exempt such as those organised on a national basis by large charities but otherwise a local licence is necessary. Normally such collections invite cash donations but collections involving the sale of tickets or collection of goods also have to be licensed. Promoting or undertaking a house to house collection without a licence is an offence.

The Council can help to ensure that house to house collections do not cover the same area at the same time and will also check that money collected is properly accounted for.

If you are interested in promoting a house to house collection or would like further information please contact Environmental Health

Street collections

Street collections which involve collecting money or selling goods in any street or public place for the benefit of charitable or other purposes require a permit issued by the Council. Failure to have permit for such a collection is an offence.

Many organisations like using street collections and the Council endeavours to manage this demand to ensure the days available are allocated in a reasonable way. The Council has adopted a policy for such matters which is attached. The policy makes it clear that applications have to be submitted before the 15 September of the year preceding the year of the proposed date for a collection. This date is crucial and anyone interested in having a collection would be advised to contact Environmental Health as above for further information.

House to House Collection Application (Word 63kb)

Street Collection Application (Word 76kb)