Apply for a charity collections permit

Street collections

Any collection, whether cash or property, undertaken in any street or public place, should be permitted by the Council in accordance with the Police, Factories, etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. 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. Applications should be submitted at least one month before the proposed collection date.

You will need to:

  • give a registered charity number - the Council will cross-reference with the Charity Commission to ensure it is valid, a permit cannot be issued if it is not
  • 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)
  • provide every collector with a sealed and numbered collecting box that is clearly marked with the name of the charity and where necessary the organisation making the collection

The approval process will take into account other collections or Council-run events taking place at the same time to avoid a clash.

A permit is not required if the collection is on private land - for example, a supermarket, railway station or shopping centre.

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

  • your name and contact details
  • 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
  • any deductions that will be made
  • supporting documents and any necessary additional information

Apply for a street collection permit