Apply for a charity collections permit

Any collection, whether cash or goods (including envelope collections), undertaken in any street or public place, should be permitted by the Council in accordance with the House to House Collections Act 1939. The purpose of the regulations made under the Act is to ensure that collections are controlled to prevent nuisance to members of the public and to provide an audit trail with regard to the allocation of funds.

If you are collecting on behalf of another charity you must provide written authorisation from that charity with your application.

You will need to:

• give written permission to any person collecting on your behalf
• advise your collectors of the collection regulations (collectors cannot be under 16 years of age)
• ensure every collector wears a prescribed badge and carries a certificate of  authority that can be produced on demand to the occupant of any house or any police officer
• if necessary, provide a sealed and numbered collecting box that is clearly marked with the name of the charity and where necessary the organisation making the collection
• ensure that if money or goods are collected by any other means, a receipt is issued and the donation entered in a receipt book 

A permit is not required if pledges are made for direct debit donations but you must notify the Council that a collection is taking place.

You can apply for a house to house collection permit using the online form. You will need to provide:

• the name and contact details of the applicant 
• details of the charity, including the registered charity number if it has one
• details of the collection, including proposed dates, locations and methods of collection
• details of what you will be collecting, such as money, goods or property
• any deductions that will be made
• details of any other local authority that has licensed the collection
• supporting documents and any necessary additional information

Apply for a house to house collection permit

If your charity has been granted a National Order of Exemption you must still inform the Council that you want to hold a collection. It will be added to the Council's calendar and should it receive any calls from the public, the Council will know your collection is genuine.