Charity Collections 

Asking members of the public to give to charity is a very familiar way of fundraising  whether by way of a collection box at your local pub or shop, or what was often known as a "flag-day" when you collect from passers-by in the street.

Before you embark on a charity collection, there are two important questions you need to ask:

·          is it the most effective way of raising funds for your charity

·          what are the rules

Are charity collections effective?         

It depends!

There was a time when you could be fairly confident that most people would put their loose change into a charity box and without giving much thought to what charity they were supporting.

These days, there is what's known as "giving fatigue" and, although the public can respond magnificently to a major disaster appeal, they can also feel under pressure from all the TV and newspaper adverts for other charities (and perhaps from appeals whenever they go shopping on a Saturday) and are much less willing to give as a matter of course.

A charity collection can take a lot of time to organise and a lot of volunteer effort. You need to weigh it up: are you likely to raise more by appealing to the wider public than you would from a fundraising event with your own members, family, friends and other supporters.

The success of a charity collection might depend on whether your charity is well-known. That doesn't mean you have to be a "household-name" national charity just that you're well known among local people where you're holding the collection.

If your charity isn't well-known locally, then shortly before you hold the collection  you could try to get some news about your charity in the local newspaper. If you can, make that a "human interest" story about the people your charity helps, and why you're trying to raise funds.

Make sure that those who are carrying out the collection know enough about the purpose of the collection to be able to respond helpfully if asked by members of the public.  If you're putting a charity box on a pub or shop counter, then see if you can also put up a poster – or leave a stack of leaflets.

And a charity collection will of itself help to raise your profile locally to make you known to many more people.

What are the rules?

There are laws about charity collections and with which you must conform.

The laws are different depending on whether you are holding the charity collection in England and Wales, or in Scotland, or in Northern Ireland. Though the laws have a lot in common, there are some major differences.

For the law on charity collections in England and Wales, click here 

For the law on charity collections in Scotland, click here

For the law on charity collections in Northern Ireland, click here