How to keep your fundraising safe and legal

Activities such as raffles, lotteries and prize draws, where a winner is chosen by chance, are governed by gambling legislation. These activities are permitted when they take place at a fundraising event and the winner is announced at the event, otherwise a licence may be required. You can find out more information on the Gambling Commission website.

• On private property: If you would like to collect on a private property, for example in a shop, pub or supermarket, you will need to ask the owner’s permission in advance. Leave plenty of time in case the person you ask has to check with someone else.
• On public property: If you would like to collect on public property, for example in a park or on the street, you will need to apply for a licence. You can get these from your local council, but this can take a few weeks or even longer, so make sure you allow plenty of time before your collection date. You may also need to inform your local police – check with the council when you apply for the licence.

Please also let us know when and where you are collecting as we may be planning a collection in the same area.

Please take care when handling food and follow the basic rules for safe preparation, storage, display and cooking. You can find more advice on the Food Standards Agency website. A licence is needed if you plan to have alcohol at your event (unless you are holding it at licensed premises). Contact your local council to apply for a temporary licence.

If you’re planning an event in a public place like a park, you will need to get a licence from the local authority. If you’re planning a large public event, you may also need to inform the police and fire service. Please check your local council website for more information.

To keep you and your event attendees safe, you may need to complete a risk assessment. This will depend on the size of your event, who is attending and what you have planned.

You should consider getting insurance if you’re planning a large event. It can help protect you against cancellation and in the event of an accident.

Gift Aid is a great way to boost your fundraising total. We can claim 25p for each £1 donated, if your supporters are eligible UK tax payers. Please ensure you use the donation and Gift Aid forms we provide you with to ensure that we can claim the Gift Aid.

Please note that we cannot claim Gift Aid if the supporter received something in return for the donation, for example, a raffle ticket or an event ticket.

If you are collecting personal information from attendees at your event, make sure you follow data protection guidelines. You can find more information on the Information Commissioner’s Office website. See our website for how we look after your data.

Make sure you have a plan for how you will securely collect and store cash at your event. If you are expecting large amounts of cash at the event, you should consider getting insurance.

Think about whether you may need first aid at your event. Some venues can provide a first aider, so check with them first. You can get advice from St John Ambulance or contact us for more information.