Charity and street collection

Street collection

This permit is required by anyone wishing to collect money in the street from a set position, for charitable purposes. Collections are only allowed on Tuesday, Friday or Saturday. Money must be collected in sealed tins.

There is no charge for this permit.

Each year a reminder is sent to charities that collected in the district the over the past year asking that they submit their applications for the following year. It may not be possible to allocate the dates or location of your choice and organisations may not receive a permit every year. Priority is given in the following order:

• National flag days
• Local organisations
• Local branches of national organisations
• All other applicants

Applying for a permit

You can apply and supply a return online on the Business Link website:

• Apply for a street collection permit (opens in a new window)
• Supply a return for a street collection (opens in a new window)

When applying for a permit:

• Submit your application at least 28 days before the intended day of collection
• Please give at least three alternative dates spread throughout the year if possible (Saturdays are generally oversubscribed)

After your collection

After your collection has taken place, you must:

• Make a return to us within one month stating the amount collected and expenses deducted. This must be signed by a chartered or certified accountant
• Include a separate list of the collectors, together with the amount collected in each tin
• Publish a prescribed notice in a local newspaper

Failed application redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

Licence holder redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice (see link below). From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (see link below).

House to house collection

This permit is required for house to house charitable collections made with collecting tins or by returning to collect a previously posted envelope. It also covers activities such as collecting money on a pub crawl, the collection and redistribution of canned foods or jumble for charity sales. No person under the age of 16 years shall act as a collector. There is no charge for this permit.

Applying for a permit

You can apply and supply a return online on the Business Link website:

• Apply for a house to house collection permit (opens in a new window)
• Supply a return for a house to house collection (opens in a new window)

Applications must be made no later than the first day of the month before the month in which the collection takes place.

After your collection

Returns must be made to us within a stipulated time.

Failed application redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

You have the right to appeal to the Minister for the Cabinet Office. Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of the refusal.

Licence holder redress

Please contact us in the first instance.

You have the right to appeal to the Minister for the Cabinet Office. Appeals must be lodged within 14 days of the decision.

Consumer complaint

We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the first contact is made with the trader by you - preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked, if you are located in the UK, Consumer Direct will give you advice (see link below). From outside the UK contact the UK European Consumer Centre (see link below).