Keeping your fundraising safe and legal

Public collections take place in a public space. Public collections are governed by strict legal requirements and must be licensed by the local authority. Talk to your local council or the landowner to ensure that they are happy for this to take place. Most public collections will require a permit. All collectors must be 16 years or older.

We can provide collection materials, and confirm that we don’t already have a Cransley Hospice Trust organised collection or another supporter applying to collect at the same location.

Some popular premises for public collections may require you to arrange public liability insurance. It’s worth checking with your contact beforehand.

Private collections take place on private premises and do not need the permission of the local authority. If you’re organising a private collection, for example inside a train station or at a supermarket, you need the permission of the owner of the premises.

When handling cash, make sure that you have plans in place to keep the money somewhere safe and secure. When collecting or taking payments, use a cash box with a lock or a sealed collection bucket.

Wherever possible, have two people available to count or transport cash, and get it to the bank as soon as possible after the event. Choose busy and well-lit routes if you need to transport the cash and try to conceal it – don’t carry it in a Cransley Hospice Trust bucket.

If you are ever confronted by someone demanding the cash, just hand over the money and do not put up a fight. This should then be reported to the police as soon as possible.

There are strict legal requirements about the organisation of raffles, lotteries and prize draws. More information about these rules can be found on the Gambling Commission.

As a rule, if you are planning a raffle or other game of chance (such as a tombola or duck race) as part of an event, and tickets will only be sold at that event, you would not require a licence. If, however, you wish to sell tickets in advance, or to people not attending the event, this would require a licence, or an alternative such as a prize draw.

It is not possible for supporters to use our licence, and only a non-commercial organisation can apply for a lottery licence, which is done via your local authority.

Please check with our fundraising team on 03000 274040 before you plan your raffle. We’ll be able to help you make sure you’ve thought of everything.

Make sure any electronic or paper record you keep about people involved in a fundraising event complies with data protection law. As a rule of thumb, don’t keep information about people any longer than you have to, and don’t share information or data about someone without their permission. More information can be found on the Information Commissioner’s Office website.

If there are children attending your event, you should ensure that they have permission to take part and have someone to look after them. Adults looking after children should have carried out appropriate checks. See the government’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) information for more guidance.

Whilst we really appreciate your support our insurance will not provide indemnity cover for you. Events and fundraisers are carried out at your own risk so make sure you check that the venue you are using has public liability insurance and you complete a full risk assessment to ensure you are prepared for any eventuality.

If there is physical activity involved in your event make sure that there is a qualified first aider on site. St John’s Ambulance or the Red Cross can often provide these services for larger events but do contact them as soon as possible as they can get booked up well in advance.

Use your contacts to help you. Local businesses are often willing to donate raffle prizes.