Charitable collections
If you are collecting money or goods, or selling items for charitable purposes in a public place or house to house, you will require a permit.
Street Collections
A street collection permit is required from the Council if the collection is for charitable or similar purposes. The Council will vet the suitability of the applicant and will check that the monies collected will go to the stated recipient of the collection. Consideration will also be given to the number of other collections taking place on the appropriate date and to the location of the collection when we consider issuing any street collection permit.
Please be aware that those agencies carrying out Direct Debit Collections or Data Collections do not require a licence from the authority, although most charities will inform the Council of their presence in the area as a matter of good practice. These collections will be included on the Register where possible.
Where the collection is to take place in an area where the public have no right of access (shops, cinemas, theatres, private dwellings or business premises) then a street collection permit may not be required from the Council. Permission must be sought from the landowner however.
There is no fee payable for this service.
House to House Collections
A house to house collection permit is required from the Council in order to undertake a house to house collection under the House to House Collections Act 1939.
A house to house collection would include collections in public houses, factories and offices as well as residential premises if collecting money or goods on the basis that part of the proceeds will got to a charity. It will also include leaving an envelope to be collected at a later date.
A few large charities will hold a National Exemption Order (issued by the Cabinet Office). These are charities that don't need to obtain licences from local authorities if they wish to conduct house to house collections. Only charities which have a National Exemption Order can carry out envelope collections when carrying out House to House Collections. All other charities or societies are required to collect in sealed containers.
The list of charities which hold an National Exemption Order can be viewed on the Cabinet Office register.
Bogus Charity Clothing Collections
The vast majority of leaflets distributed to households are from genuine registered charities. Some leaflets can, at a glance, look like they have come from a charity, but are actually from a company that profits from collections. An initiative to raise the public's awareness of the problem is being driven by a group of bodies including the Charity Commission, Cabinet Office, Trading Standards, and local authorities.
It is estimated that charities lose millions in lost revenue each year (some estimates suggest as much as £15 - 20 million) through theft and people giving clothing to organisations that they think are charities but are in fact commercial companies collecting for profit. While clothing collection companies may be acting legally, their leaflets can be largely indistinguishable from those of charities, unless people know what information to look for.
Top tips for spotting a genuine charity collection:
- Does the sack or leaflet say the collection is for a registered charity? If so, what's the registered charity number? Call 0845 3000 218 or visit the Charity Commission's online Register of Charities to check that it's genuine.
- Do they only give a registered company number? This just means that the organisation is registered with Companies House.
- Is the charity actually named? Be wary of wording that just says 'families in need' or 'sick kids at Christmas'.
- Does the leaflet or bag give a phone number? The absence of a phone number may mean the collectors don't want to answer questions.
Charitable Collections Application Form
Apply for a house to house collection
What Happens After the Collection
Once you have been granted a permit, you will need to complete either a street collection return form or house to house collection return form following any collection that you carry out. This will need to be completed within one month of the collection date and will show the amount received and any expenses and payments incurred.
Information on Other Websites
Regulatory Business Support
Address: Horizon Building, Broadland Business Park, Peachman Way, Norwich, NR7 0WF